Stimulus funds flowing into Darlington County

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Funds from the federal Recovery Act have begun to flow into Darlington County, U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., said Tuesday, and one of the largest recipients is the Society Hill Library.

The planned new library will receive $787,200 in federal stimulus funds through the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture’s Community Facilities program, Spratt said in a news release issued by his office.

The program helps to finance and develop community facilities for public use in rural areas.

Spratt said the library would use the money to build a new, larger library building to house the Society Hill library collection.

“This project is one of many in the Recovery Act aimed at creating or saving jobs and helping rural communities expand their services,” said Spratt.

“I was pleased to learn that the library will be receiving funding.”

President Barack Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) into law on Feb. 17. It is designed to jumpstart the nation’s economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges.

The act includes measures to modernize the nation’s infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief and protect those in greatest need.

Spratt said other Recovery Act funds are slated for Darlington County, including:

$614,758 for CareSouth Carolina, of Hartsville.
$80,000 for repairs to the Darlington National Guard Armory.
$30,375 for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

“These funds are just a few examples of the Recovery Act at work,” said Spratt, chairman of the House Budget Committee. “Hopefully, stimulus funding will blunt the impact of the recession and help our economy recover.”