Anderson County was awarded a $500,000 grant from South Carolina’s Department of Commerce today.

The Community Development Block Grant will be used to extend public water service in Starr and Iva.

The grant is one of 31 across the state totaling more than $11.4 million in state funds.

“Our administration has focused on bettering the economic soil conditions to promote business growth throughout the state and enhance opportunities for community and economic development,” South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford said. “These grants will help a number of communities address workforce development and affordable housing needs helping them to become more competitive in attracting jobs and new investment.”

The project is expected to benefit 132 residents.

Community development block grants must meet at least one of three objectives: to benefit low- to moderate-income persons; to aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions or to meet other urgent community development needs where existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to public health and welfare and where other financial resources are not readily available to meet such needs.

The project is expected to eliminate problems associated with dry and contaminated wells in the Starr-Iva area.

Grants are allocated to South Carolina from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.