COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia city leaders are kicking off National Community Development Week.
“Community development for us is the cornerstone for us rebuilding,” Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said.
Columbia community leaders are celebrating 50 years of receiving federal funds from the Community Development Block Grant, a program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“If it's weatherization, it’s home ownership, it’s an opportunity for us to leverage these federal dollars really to rebuild our community,” Rickenmann said.
The program provides funds across the country to develop urban communities. Supporters says it provides opportunities for housing and better living environments.
Here in Columbia, the funding has been used to pave roads, develop local parks and increase affordable housing.
“Where would those people live, where would those people go? The pavement of the roads help improve those local neighborhoods, those communities as they continue to develop new homes in those areas. it’s definitely a needed source of income that we must continue to receive,” Felicia Kilgore said.
Kilgore is the director of community development for the City of Columbia. She says there are many different opportunities for the use of this funding.
“Going forward, I'd really like to see us be more proactive and more in partnership with developers and nonprofits to develop more affordable housing units. There's a shortage across the nation in regards to affordable housing. I'd like to be able to utilize those dollars, maximize dollars, leverage those dollars, to assist with affordable housing,” she said.