Federal grants will benefit Lee education, health care

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

BISHOPVILLE - Lee County will receive more than $500,000 in two grants as part of the federal omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2009, according to U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C.

The county will receive $285,000 for the Kershaw-Lee College Workforce Center scheduled to be located on the new campus of Central Carolina Technical College near Interstate 20 on U.S. 521 in Camden.

Lee and Kershaw counties are working together to secure funding for the project that is expected to increase training opportunities for Lee County residents, said Lee County Administrator Bobby Boland.

The county will also receive $235,000 for the planned Lee County Community Complex in Bishopville, Spratt said.

"Significant funding is needed to get the new complex off the ground, and I hope this appropriation helps," he said.

Ruby Gibbs-Williams, grant writer for the Lee County Council, said the community center will be located at a site in the Bishopville area yet to be determined.

"It's going to take millions of dollars to make this happen," she said. "This is just a beginning, but it's a good start." The complex is expected to offer educational and social programs and include a computer lab with internet access, otherwise unavailable to many residents; conference facilities; parenting center; and office space for a law enforcement substation, officials said.

Construction has begun on the new Camden campus of Central Carolina Technical College, officials said.

"Kershaw County and Lee County have partnered with Central Carolina Tech in proposing a facility to allow the college to offer health science and industrial training opportunities to residents of these two counties," Spratt said. "Since its establishment in 2001 in a renovated department store in downtown Camden, Central Carolina Tech has grown to serve over 400 residents. The ability to offer science labs and industrial training along with the increased classroom space would provide the necessary educational resources to serve over 1,000 students within five years." Lee County Administrator Bobby Boland said the new Camden campus will provide "tremendous training opportunities" for Lee County residents.

"It is a joint effort of Kershaw and Lee counties," Boland said. "The location is just off Exit 98 and will provide an easy access for Lee County residents."

Spratt said both the healthcare and industrial communities are facing a shortage of qualified employees, and the facility will be a plus for the economic development of the area.

"The proposed 60,000 sq. ft. campus will allow for an expansion of vital classroom space, with more science labs and industrial training facilities," Spratt said.



Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.