Community Development 2019-20 Budget Adopted

Greenville City Council has adopted the 2019-2020 operating budget which included Community Development activities. Awards to non-profits for development of affordable housing were made in collaboration with funding from the Greenville Housing Fund. Awards from the City of Greenville include:

United Housing Connections - $95,240 to construct one home on Bigby Street in the Nicholtown neighborhood
Allen Temple, CEDC - $175,000 to construct two homes on Monteith Circle in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood, and
Neighborhood Housing Corp - $51,037 to rehabilitate a home on Colorado Street in the Nicholtown neighborhood

Funding for owner-occupied rehab programs, down payment assistance, financial empowerment counseling, fair housing counseling, after school tutorial programs, property acquisition and neighborhood engagement also was made available.

Michael Williamson, Community Development Project Manager, presents at homeownership event

Greenville Housing Authority Hosts Homeownership Event

In celebration of National Homeownership Month, the Greenville Housing Authority held its second annual First-Time Home Buyers Seminar on Saturday, June 15, at the Greenville Convention Center. The City's Community Development staff participated and provided information on current and upcoming opportunities for home purchase.

The event was designed to give anyone interested in homeownership the knowledge and resources needed to make owning a home a reality. Topics included preparing for home ownership, the power of the credit score, the home buying process, homeownership programs, down payment assistance programs, home inspections, the closing process, why you need a will and what happens after you buy a house.

For more information on the City of Greenville’s homeownership program, visit https://greenvillesc.gov/1635/Homeownership-Opportunities.

Neighborhood leaders honored at park dedication

Green Avenue Neighborhood Dedicates Park to Neighborhood Leaders

On June 8, the Green Avenue Civic Neighborhood Association dedicated its community park in memory of Officer Allen Jacobs and in honor of community leaders Velma Gooch, Etta Patterson and Shirley Gambrell.

Additionally, Velma Gooch was honored with a proclamation by Greenville City Council on June 10 for her long service as neighborhood president, assistance in the creation of the Green Avenue Multi-Service Center in 1991, and leadership that led to the improvement of neighborhood infrastructure.

"Ban the Box" Resolution Adopted by City Council

On June 24, City Council approved a resolution supporting an effort to ensure that information regarding an applicant's criminal record is considered in the proper context on job applications. The resolution supports hiring practices that do not unnecessarily place jobs out of reach for citizens with criminal records.

This resolution came with support from Jerry Blassingame, chair of the Greenville Reentry Coalition. For more information on the coalition and their mission, visit greenvillereentrycoalition.org/.