(Columbia, SC) – Today, Congressman James E. Clyburn announced that South Carolina Head Start programs will receive more than $17 million in federal funding. These funds were secured as part of the American Rescue Plan, which was passed by Congressional Democrats without any Republican support to provide relief from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation was signed into law by President Biden in March.
“As we begin to recover from this pandemic and parents start to return to work, it is essential that our children have the necessary childcare, education and nutrition services to ensure their success,” said Congressman Clyburn. “This significant investment will help low income and rural communities across South Carolina and will allow Head Start to continue the great work they have done for the past 56 years.”
Below is a list of funds allocated for Head Start programs across South Carolina:
| Grantee | ARP Amount | Congressional District Served |
| Berkeley County School District | $738,241 | SC01 SC06 |
| Beaufort Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission, Inc. | $668,844 | SC01 SC06 |
| Carolina Community Actions, Inc. | $838,747 | SC05 |
| Vital Connections of the Midlands, Inc. | $95,720 | SC06 |
| GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission, Inc. | $1,914,400 | SC02 SC03 SC05 SC06 |
| Lancaster County School District | $242,890 | SC05 |
| Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. | $769,350 | SC06 SC07 |
| Richland County First Steps | $178,279 | SC02 SC06 |
| Piedmont Community Action, Inc. | $835,157 | SC04 SC05 |
| Aiken County Public School District | $459,456 | SC02 |
| Pee Dee Community Action Partnership | $1,036,169 | SC06 SC07 |
| Charleston County First Steps | $114,864 | SC01 SC06 |
| Wateree Community Actions, Inc. | $1,117,531 | SC05 SC06 |
| South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships | $303,911 | SC01 SC02 SC03 SC05 SC06 SC07 |
| Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Inc. | $1,599,721 | SC03 SC04 |
| Charleston County School District (Inc) | $1,197,697 | SC01 SC06 |
| East Coast Migrant Head Start Project | $3,155,171 | SC 05 SC06 |
| Lancaster County First Steps to School Readiness Partnership | $86,148 | SC05 |
| Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc. | $823,192 | SC02 SC06 |
| Chesterfield-Marlboro Counties Economic Opportunity Council | $561,159 | SC07 |
| Low Country Community Action Agency, Inc. | $339,806 | SC06 |
| First Steps of Spartanburg County | $239,300 | SC04 |
| ISWA Development Corporation | $134,008 | SC05 |
| TOTAL | $17,449,761 |
The funding for Head Start comes in addition to the $708,998,741 in the American Rescue Plan to help South Carolina childcare providers reopen safely, keep workers on payroll, and lower childcare costs for hardworking families.
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