June 2026

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT

Laurens County Courthouse Reopens After Restoration

Laurens County recently celebrated the reopening of the county courthouse after a restoration project. The iconic courthouse in downtown Laurens is listed in the National Register as part of the Laurens Historic District.

The ribbon cutting was followed by guided tours, which offered those in attendance an inside look at the craftsmanship, history and revitalization of this historic landmark.

NEWS

Seizure First Aid Poster Now Available for Local and State Governments to Display

County Libraries Receive Accessibility Grants

Five South Carolina county libraries have been awarded accessibility grants through the American Library Association's Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities Initiative. These grants will help libraries enhance accessibility and better serve all members of their communities.

Grants were awarded to the following libraries:

• Harvin Clarendon County Library
• Orangeburg County Library, Holly Hill Branch
• Horry County Memorial Libraries, Green Sea Floyds Branch
• Saluda County Library
• Dorchester County Library, St. George Branch

Reminder: Applications Now Open for 2026 SCAC Annual Awards Competition

Don't forget to submit your applications for this year's J. Mitchell Graham Memorial Award and Barrett Lawrimore Memorial Regional Cooperation Award.

The deadline for submissions is Aug. 10. All applications must be submitted online at sccounties.org/awards.

The SCAC Awards webpage includes a toolkit, frequently asked questions, a library of past presentations and winning applications, as well as more resources to help entrants prepare and submit their projects.

If you have any questions about the awards program, contact Susan Turkopuls at sturkopuls@scac.sc or 803-252-7255 ext. 115.

Inaugural SCAC Golf Tournament Now Accepting Sponsors

The inaugural SCAC Golf Tournament is set for Monday, Oct. 26, at Fort Jackson Golf Club, and sponsorship opportunities are open!

Available sponsorships can be found at sccounties.org/golf.

Team and player registration is not yet open.

For questions about sponsorship opportunities, contact Abby Stiver at astiver@scac.sc or 803-381-9096.

EDUCATION

Orientation for New County Council Members Set for December

SCAC will hold its Orientation for Newly Elected Council Members from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Columbia. This session will be offered free of charge to newly elected county council members across the state.

It is designed to provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of county council members, forms of county government, and the Association’s programs and services. Participants will learn about the State Ethics Act, the Freedom of Information Act, budgeting and county risk management and liabilities. 


SCAC will send letters of invitation to newly elected council members in November as soon as General Election results are finalized.

GFOA Offers Free Learning Pathways Webinar

The national Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) is hosting a free webinar from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, regarding its new Learning Pathways program.

Learning Pathways is a professional development platform designed to help public finance professionals identify educational opportunities, build skills and advance their careers with confidence. During the one-hour session, attendees will see a live demo of the platform, explore its learning resources and participate in live polling questions.

The webinar is free and open to GFOA members and non-members.

Registration is required to participate.

GRANT CENTRAL STATION

NACo to Host Webinar on Proposed Federal Grant Changes

The National Association of Counties and partners will host a webinar at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, to cover how proposed changes to federal grant disbursements could affect counties and their budgets.

The Office of Management and Budget is proposing sweeping changes that could drastically alter grant administration.

Learn more and register.

RIA Offers Webinar for FY2027 Grants

The South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) is offering funding through its Basic and Economic Infrastructure programs. These grants support a wide range of improvements to publicly owned water, sewer and stormwater systems. RIA also plans to continue the Regional Planning and Viability Improvement Programs.

More information will be shared in the Grant Program Updates Webinar at 10 a.m. July 15. The webinar will cover the funding available, eligible projects, grant amounts and other program requirements.

Registration is required to participate.

USDA Grants for Rural Communities Applications Due 6/30

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants are now accepting applications. This competitive program helps rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other and the world. Applications are due June 30.


USDA estimates that approximately $27 million will be available. It also will make available any unused appropriations from prior fiscal years and can increase funding if additional appropriations become available.


See recently funded projects.

Learn more on the USDA website.

COUNTY EMPLOYMENT

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