Community Development

Making a Difference for Individuals and Neighborhoods

Richland County Community Development is committed to improving the quality of life in unincorporated areas of the County through housing, education, economic opportunities, and revitalization to make a difference for low- and moderate-income people, one household at a time.

Public Notices

Who We Are

The Office of Community Development is part of the Grants and Community Outreach Department. The Office manages and oversees Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to positively impact low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals and neighborhoods, along with special need priority groups.

Grants managed by this Office are allocated annually to the County by HUD, including:

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),
• HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funding, and
• Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).

This Office also manages one-time allocations from HUD including:

• the CDBG-CV (a COVID-19 relief grant) and
• HOME-ARP (an affordable housing stimulus grant).

What We Do

Community Development staff use HUD funds to support the following activities for unincorporated areas of the County, often in partnership with local organizations and partner agencies:

• Affordable Housing Development through rehabilitation and construction
• Minor Home Repair
• First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
• Public Facility and Infrastructure Improvements
• Public Services supporting low/mod populations
• Homelessness Outreach and Services
• Fair Housing Advocacy

Community Engagement

Each community that receives funds from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is required to maintain and follow a Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) to guide the use of all HUD awards. The primary goal of the CPP is to provide citizens -- especially low- and moderate-income citizens of the community where HUD-funded activities will take place -- an opportunity to participate in an advisory role in the planning, implementation, and assessment of the programs and projects.

Throughout the year, this Office hosts Public Hearings, Public Comment Periods, conducts Needs Assessment surveys, and engages with Community partners to assess the needs of the Low/Mod residents of the County. We strongly encourage participation by County residents to help guide the investment of valuable Federal dollars to meet local needs.

Learn about the Programs and Services available through Community Development.

Review current Community Development Plans and Reports.