Richland County is celebrating National Community Development Week, April 21-25.
The weeklong observance is designed to highlight and celebrate local projects and accomplishments funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) monies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to improve low-income neighborhoods.
To kick off the week locally, the County’s Community Development Department will hold a ribbon-cutting event Monday at the new Hopkins Family Practice – a nearly $800,000 project that will serve low income, underinsured and uninsured patients.
The need for the facility was identified from a number of County public hearings conducted as part of the Community Development five-year plan completed in August 2012. Until now, residents in Lower Richland had to drive to downtown Columbia for their health care needs.
The Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers will operate the new facility. The non-profit, community health center system is the largest non-hospital provider of primary care in the Midlands and operates a CDBG-funded center in Columbia and one in Lexington County.
Several events will be held in Richland County during Community Development Week, with many open to the public. Call 576-2063 or email jacksonv@rcgov.us for details.
Community Development Week – April 21-25, 2014
“40 Years of Building Strong Communities”
Open to the public – Community Development Week Kick-off Event: 11 a.m. Monday, April 21 at the Hopkins Family Practice, 9023 Garners Ferry Road, Hopkins.
Day of Action Event: Wednesday, April 23, Richland County Community Development Department will volunteer at Transitions to assist with meal service.
Mini Financial Empowerment Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 24 at the Cecil Tillis Center, 2111 Simpkins Lane. Workshop is for Columbia Housing Authority residents who have participated in the CDBG-funded job training.
Open to the public – Richland County Neighborhood Council Meeting: 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24 in Richland County Council Chambers, 2020 Hampton St., 2nd floor. Meeting to include presentation on “Fair Housing and Tenants Rights in Richland County.”
Annual General Contractors’ Workshop: Friday, April 25 at the Richland County Adult Activity Center, 7494 Parklane Road. Open only to approved general contractors for owner-occupied rehabilitation.
Open to the public – Columbia Housing Authority’s Annual Wall of Fame Ceremony: 11 a.m. Friday, April 25 at Charles R. Drew Wellness Center, 2101 Walker Solomon Way.