City of Dillon To Receive $250,000 For Department of Commerce Strategic Planning Initiative

By Betsy Finklea
City Manager Burt Rogers presented information to the Dillon City Council at their recent meeting on a strategic planning initiative by the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
The initiative is called the Rural Development and Strategic Planning Initiative.
Rogers said they are offering the city a $250,000 grant for strategic planning for rural development. He said they singled out a certain number of counties in the state and they chose Dillon County and then the City of Dillon to represent Dillon County because Dillon is the county seat.
He said they are going to hire a consulting firm that specializes in strategic planning. The firm will identify a project that they think will best enhance Dillon and the surrounding communities. The Department of Commerce will completely fund the consulting fees plus give the city $250,000 to complete the project. The city’s portion is a 10 percent match which is $25,000.
The project will be something that enhances Dillon and that should be able to be paid for with the $250,000.
Rogers said they were considered a Tier IV community based on the unemployment rate and median household income.
Rogers said the Dillon City Council had to approve it before moving forward.
Upon a motion by Councilman Phil Wallace, the council unanimously approved.
The funds must be expended within a 24-month period.