Investing in Our Hometowns: Why the MASC IMPACT Fund Matters
by S.C. Rep. Blake Sanders, Dist. 9
As the Representative for South Carolina House Dist. 9, I have the privilege of serving the people of Anderson County, including the Towns of Pelzer, West Pelzer, Williamston, and the City of Anderson. But before I came to Columbia, I served as Mayor of the Town of West Pelzer. This role taught me firsthand how hard it can be for small towns to make big changes with limited resources. I also know what it feels like when the right partners step in at the right time. West Pelzer was a proud recipient of the Municipal Association of SC’s Hometown Economic Development Grant (HEDG) and later honored in 2023 with the Strong Towns Award. Those opportunities helped us transform small, placemaking projects into visible wins that built confidence, attracted investment, and strengthened our community’s sense of pride.
That’s why I am so excited about the Municipal Association’s new IMPACT Fund, “Innovative Municipal Projects for Advancing Change and Transformation.” This grant program takes the proven success of HEDG and expands it, offering towns and cities across South Carolina the tools they need to solve immediate challenges and pursue bold new visions. With $25,000 Problem Solver Grants for practical fixes and $100,000 Big Idea Grants for transformative projects, both requiring just a 5% local match, the IMPACT Fund is designed to meet communities where they are and help them take the next step forward.
We don’t have to look far to see how past HEDG grants made a difference. They helped Belton launch a façade grant program for small businesses and supported the redevelopment of a vacant downtown block in Woodruff. In Conway, the grant funded a shared refuse and stormwater facility that was vital to helping riverfront businesses thrive. Other towns used grants to repair public buildings, plan for amphitheaters, clean up blighted properties, and improve accessibility. These projects show that modest, well-placed investments can spark momentum that ripples through a community.
For Dist. 9, the opportunities are clear. In Pelzer and West Pelzer, where major infrastructure upgrades are already underway thanks to state and federal partners, an IMPACT grant could deliver visible, above-ground improvements like façade updates, wayfinding signs, and outdoor gathering spaces that bring new life to Main Street. In Williamston, building on the strength of Mineral Spring Park, an event-ready pavilion or downtown vendor infrastructure could be the next step in drawing visitors and energizing Main Street businesses. And in the City of Anderson, pairing infrastructure upgrades with a creek-to-Main “blue-green corridor” could not only address flooding and capacity concerns but also create walkable connections, pocket parks, and shared business amenities downtown.
The formula for success isn’t complicated since IMPACT’s scoring is straightforward. Here’s a winning formula many HEDG communities used—and it still applies:
1. Pick a visible place (the block where people already want to be).
2. Solve a real friction (trash, lighting, ADA, stormwater, parking wayfinding).
3. Program it (markets, music, youth sports, seasonal events).
4. Measure it (sales tax, foot traffic counts, business openings).
5. Stack the funding (IMPACT + RIA, CDBG, hospitality or accommodations taxes, private sponsors).
South Carolina’s best municipal projects don’t just look good on a rendering; they work hard for residents and small businesses. The IMPACT Fund is designed for exactly that ethic. Let’s use it to turn Dist. 9’s momentum, and every town’s momentum, into durable main streets, resilient infrastructure, and places that feel like home. Learn more via the Municipal Association of SC’s IMPACT Fund page. Then put a project on paper that your council, merchants, and neighbors can rally around.
Applications are due September 26, 2025, with awards announced at the end of October. My hope is that every town in Dist. 9, and across South Carolina, sees this as more than a grant. It’s an opportunity to invest in ourselves, to build places that reflect our pride and potential, and to ensure our main streets remain the beating hearts of our communities for generations to come.
