Fort Mill and Sharon will share nearly $1.7 million in state grant funding for water and sewer upgrades after the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority approved more than $29 million in awards across 16 counties.
The Town of Fort Mill received $1,320,000 and the Town of Sharon received $378,875 in the latest round of grants, announced May 26 by the authority. They were the only two York County recipients in a slate of 22 capital improvement projects funded statewide.
The grants will help local governments pay for water main upgrades, sewer line replacements, pump station improvements, and stormwater drainage work. Authority officials said the funded projects will benefit more than 50,000 households and businesses across South Carolina by improving public health, protecting water quality, and supporting community growth.
Local impact
For Fort Mill, the $1.32 million award is among the larger grants in the round and reflects continued state investment in a town that has seen rapid residential and commercial growth over the past decade. The Rural Infrastructure Authority did not publish the specific scope of each project in its announcement, but the funded categories include replacement of aging or undersized water mains, rehabilitation of wastewater lines, and upgrades to treatment facilities.
Sharon, a small town in western York County with a population of roughly 500, received the smallest single award in the round at $378,875. For a town of its size, the grant represents a significant infusion of capital that would be difficult to raise through local utility revenues alone.
The Rural Infrastructure Authority generally awards grants twice a year through a competitive application process. Awards are scored on the severity of the infrastructure problem, the expected community impact, and the feasibility of the project. Recipients are required to share project costs by paying for non-construction activities and, in many cases, contributing additional local funds toward construction.
Statewide context
The May round combines $29 million in state funding with more than $35 million in local and other matching dollars, putting the total value of the funded projects at roughly $64 million. Sixteen counties received awards, with Spartanburg County leading the state in the number of grants at four.
Bonnie Ammons, executive director of the Rural Infrastructure Authority, said the awards reflect the state’s continued effort to partner with local utilities on long term system needs.
“We are proud to partner with local communities to build and maintain strong utility systems,” Ammons said. “These targeted investments provide the support needed to improve quality of life and facilitate economic opportunities across the state.”
Authority officials said four of the 22 projects are tied directly to economic development, funding wastewater capacity that supports residents, businesses, and industries.
In addition to the construction grants, the authority selected McCormick County and the Town of Olanta in Florence County to participate in its Visibility Improvement Program, a new initiative that pairs technical assistance with potential future grant funding for small and rural utility systems.
Source: South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority news release, May 26, 2026; South Carolina Department of Commerce.
