RCAP Visits Projects in Rural Communities in South Carolina

During the week of May 12, 2025, over thirty staff and board members from across the RCAP network gathered in South Carolina to visit projects in rural communities driven by the Southeastern Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP).

Branchville, SC 

The first stop was in Branchville, South Carolina (SC). The town is located in a county with less than 1500 people, with 20.7% of residents falling below the poverty line. The Town of Branchville was in dire need of additional emergency generators. In an emergency, they needed to maintain power at lift stations, located at local schools, to keep their wastewater collection systems functioning. The local high school also served as an emergency evacuation location and would also benefit from a generator. Emergency generators would keep both the schools and lift stations operating in an emergency.

SERCAP began working with the town to help them look for funding. SERCAP helped find funding opportunities, gather important documents and information, and secure support letters from a state senator and a house representative to include in the town’s application for the State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding. The Town of Branchville was awarded $426,000 with 100% principal forgiveness. Upon visiting, we toured their facilities and were shown the new, functioning generators.

Allendale, SC 

The next stop was Allendale, SC to tour the town’s waste lagoon. Previously, SERCAP has worked with the Allendale County School District through the Agua4All program which is partnered with organizations like the Chris Long Foundation, and Xylem. The project eliminated lead hazards from school drinking fountains by replacing or retrofitting six bottle filling stations at both the local high school and elementary school. Projects like these are essential to the health of rural school children.