Office of Community Development
The Richland County Office of Community Development is part of the Grants and Community Outreach Department. The Office was created in 2002 to administer Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funding. In 2023, the County became a Grantee for the Emergency Services Grant (ESG). These funds are allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to principally benefit the low- and moderate-income (LMI) population of the unincorporated areas of Richland County. LMI is an income threshold that is updated annually by HUD and is defined as a family household income at or below 80% of median area income. Click here for HUD income guidelines information. New income thresholds for the state of South Carolina were released April 1, 2024 (view limits here).
Richland County Community Development (RCCD) is committed to improving the quality of life for all citizens. Our mission is to transform lives in partnership with the Richland County community through housing, education and revitalization to make a difference, one household at a time. We assist residents as well as organizations who support residents with:
- Affordable Housing Development through rehabilitation and construction
- Homeowner and First-Time Homebuyer Assistance
- Public Services
- Financial Empowerment
- Neighborhood Revitalization
Public Notices
Richland County has issued the following Notices for upcoming Public Hearings, Displays, and Comment Periods:
6/13/2025 - PUBLIC NOTICE: Richland County‘s Draft 2025 Annual Action Plan (AAP) and Proposed CDBG Public Facility Improvement and Public Service Activities are on display in the Community Development Office and online for a 30-Day Public Comment period. This plan guides the investment of funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Citizens, non-profits, and community partners are invited to provide input on the AAP for community development, public services grants, homelessness prevention and services, and affordable housing for the next year. Instructions for submitting public comment are in the Notice.
Two Public Hearings will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 to present the plan, details are below.
Public Hearing #1: 12:00 PM virtually – Join the MS Teams meeting at 6 p.m. | Need help?
Meeting ID: 259 548 251 810
Passcode: DY3BD2v6
Public Hearing #2: 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers (also streamed on the County’s YouTube Channel)
6/1/2025 - PUBLIC NOTICE: Substantial Amendments to Five Annual Action Plans & Citizen Participation Plan | Richland County has proposed Substantial Amendments to the 2017 Annual Action Plan (AAP), 2018 AAP, 2020 AAP, 2021 AAP, 2024 AAP, and the Citizen Participation Plan. These plans guide the County’s investment of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. These Substantial Amendments are now on display for a 30-Day Public Comment Period. Details about the Amendments are available below or by visiting the Community Development Office.
Plans & Reports
As an Entitlement Community, Richland County is granted yearly allocations of three primary awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund activities that principally benefit low- to moderate-income residents of unincorporated Richland County -- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG). The County has a Five-Year Consolidated Plan and prepares a yearly Annual Action Plan (AAP) to engage public input and drive the strategic use of these Federal funds. The County published an annual report on the use and impact of these Federal funds called a C.A.P.E.R. in December of each year.
NOW ON DISPLAY: 2025 Draft Annual Action Plan & Proposed CDBG Activities
The Richland County 2025 Draft Annual Action Plan and Proposed CDBG Activities are on display from Friday, June 13 through Monday, July 14, 2025 for public review by residents, public agencies and other interested parties. This plan guides the investment of funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Citizens, non-profits, and community partners are invited to provide input on the AAP for community development, public services grants, homelessness prevention and services, and affordable housing for the next year. Two Public Hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 to present the plan. The County intends to submit its FY 2025 Annual Action Plan in the amount of $1,755,995 in CDBG funds, $792,557 in HOME funds, and $151,031 in ESG funds to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on or before Friday, August 15, 2025.
View the Plan:
The plan is also on display in the Community Development Office located on the third floor of 2020 Hampton Street in Suite 3058. These documents will be available for public display during normal business hours of operation for a period of thirty (30) days until 4:00 PM on July 14, 2025. The FY 2025 Annual Action Plan will be submitted to the Richland County Council for approval at a regular scheduled County Council Meeting on July 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM. Residents are encouraged to attend the Public Hearings on June 25th to provide input.
NOW ON DISPLAY: SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS
The Draft Substantial Amendments for Program Years 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2024 along with Substantial Amendments to the Citizen Participation Plan are now available for public review. These amendments were published for public display on June 3, 2025, and are open for a 30-day public comment period.
The proposed Substantial Amendments allow for more flexible and efficient investments into the development of affordable housing, reallocate CDBG funds to a shovel-ready Public Facility Improvement activity, and create a Disaster Relief & Recovery Clause for the Citizen Participation Plan.
A hard copy of the draft amendments is available at the Community Development Office, located at:
2020 Hampton Street
Suite 3058
Columbia, SC 29204
For instructions on how to submit your comments, please review the public notice document.
The Draft 2023 C.A.P.E.R. was published for public display on November 25, 2024 for a 15-Day Comment Period. The purpose of the C.A.P.E.R. is to allow the public an opportunity to review and comment on progress, achievements, and expenditures of these Federal programs which primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons in unincorporated Richland County during the program period from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
A hardcopy of the 2023 C.A.P.E.R. is available in the Community Development Office at 2020 Hampton Street or a digital copy may be downloaded here. Please review this PUBLIC NOTICE for instructions on providing comments on the report.
Below are links to current plans guiding Community Development programming in Richland County, as well as, the C.A.P.E.R reporting on Program Year 2022.
2023 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
2022 C.A.P.E.R.: Annual Report covering investments and activities from October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023.
2017-2022 FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN:
Programs
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): The CDBG regulations allow the use of these grant funds for a wide range of public service activities in the unincorporated areas of Richland County or that serve residents of the unincorporated areas of Richland County. The CDBG regulations allow the use of grant funds for a wide range of public services, including, but not limited to public safety, child care, health services, education programs, energy conservation, services for homeless people, etc. Applications closed.
***Guidelines for the CDBG Public Services Program can be found HERE
***Eligible Activities for CDBG can be found HERE
CDBG PROJECTS assist with the following: Housing Rehabilitation: Housing Rehab program is a 0% interest loan program to income-eligible homeowners for installation of roofs, soffit, gutters, electrical upgrades, plumbing, etc. Infrastructure: Expenses to be used to improve the public infrastructure. Economic Development: Expenses to be used to improve and expand employment opportunities in the County for low- and moderate-income persons and families.
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) (administered from HOME funds): A CHDO is a private nonprofit, community-based organization that has staff with the capacity to develop affordable housing for communities in the unincorporated areas of Richland County or that serve residents of the unincorporated areas of Richland County. In order to qualify for designation as a CHDO, the organization must meet certain requirements pertaining to their legal status, organizational structure, and capacity and experience. For eligible activities, please CLICK HERE
** Program Overview for HOME funds can be found HERE.
****The down payment assistance program is temporarily on hold. Please keep checking the website for the latest update.
Richland County Homeowner Assistance Program (RCHAP): CLICK HERE to learn more about the Richland County Homeowner Assistance Program (RCHAP), a down payment assistance program.
Operation One Touch: Minor home repair program
Incorporated towns and cities (Forest Acres, Arcadia Lakes, the Town of Blythewood, and the Town of Eastover) may be eligible to receive similar funding from the State of South Carolina Community Development Block Grant Program. Residents living in the City of Columbia must contact the City's Community Development Office at 803-545-3373.
Contact
Richland County Community Development
Richland County Administration Building
2020 Hampton St., Suite 3058
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone: 803-576-2230
Fax: 803-576-2052