Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to let you know that grant dollars continue to be awarded to Winthrop--this
time $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce for disaster recovery and resiliency
infrastructure upgrades. This particular grant application was brought to our attention
by the Catawba Council of Governments. Staff there worked with CFO Justin Oates and
others at Winthrop to submit the application.
I can’t say enough about how grant dollars like these help offset funds needed for
infrastructure work across our campus. When we talk in the Winthrop Plan about developing
and implementing innovative approaches to fundraising, grants fit the bill and free
up other funds that would have to be earmarked for these improvements and/or requested
from the state.
Please read the news release below for additional details on this exciting project
to help ensure our campus response in case of future disaster-related events. Also
note in the release kind words by Fifth District U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina,
about Winthrop and its impact on our region.
Sincerely,
Dan
Winthrop Receives $1.2 Million from U.S. Department of Commerce for Disaster Recovery
and Resiliency Infrastructure Upgrades
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University will receive a $1.2 million grant
for electrical upgrades to reinforce the campus’ infrastructure to prepare for extreme
hazardous weather.
The university’s grant was one of two S.C. awards recently announced by the U.S. Department
of Commerce as part of a congressional appropriation for disaster relief and recovery.
President Dan Mahony said the improvements will help make the campus more resilient,
especially in regard to disaster-related events. “In the past two years, South Carolina
has endured hurricanes that caused crippling flooding and damage across the state.
Thankfully Winthrop was spared a lot of the storm damage, and now with the assistance
of this federal grant, we will be able to improve our infrastructure to prepare for
future storms,” Mahony said.
Fifth District U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina, said the grant from the U.S.
Economic Development Administration will help ensure the university’s electrical infrastructure
can meet its current and future needs.
“Winthrop is an invaluable part of our community, and provides much more than an excellent
education to thousands of students,” Norman said. “The university is also responsible
for hundreds of jobs, well-regarded research, and numerous economic and cultural initiatives
throughout our area. Its value cannot be understated.”
The project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Catawba
Regional Economic Development District. EDA funds the Catawba Regional Economic Development
District to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development
roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and
create jobs.
These projects are funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123) (PDF),
in which Congress appropriated to the Economic Development Administration $600 million
in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) funds for disaster
relief and recovery as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires and
other 2017 natural disasters under the Stafford Act.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu
or at 803/323-2404.
