Persistence by Mayor Alton McCollum and the Bamberg City Council paid off with the city being earmarked to receive $1 million dollars to be used for upgrades at the Bamberg Civic Center as a staging area for troops in case of hurricane or other disasters.

“The mayor and council were instrumental, they didn’t give up when the federal dollars fell through on the Transportation Enhancement Grant,” Bamberg City Administrator Bruce Watson said.

According to Watson the mayor and council went to the Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to get a Transportation Enhancement Grant to help with upgrading at the Bamberg Civic Center. The city was later informed that the original amount of money they had requested had been cut significantly by the Federal Highway Board and would cost the city $50,000 to do what they needed to do. The city then decided to drop their application for the Transportation Enhancement Grant. Sixth District Representative James Clyburn’s office got involved when told the problems securing the first grant, and what the city’s plans were to use the Civic Center for among other things, a staging area for troops to deploy out of during hurricanes, the Red Cross also used the building in times of emergency, and fund raising, food distribution is held at the building frequently, a National Guard Recruiters office is located in the building, the building is used for voter registration, along with community functions, wedding receptions and other functions.

“Hearing the uses the city planned for the building including a staging area and recruiter’s office it should be able to get Federal dollars,” Watson said the city was informed by Rep. Clyburn’s office.

“We feel sure we can get the things we want done like fixing the roof, air conditioning, and upgrades to use the building as a community center and staging area,” Watson said.

Watson stated the city had already received a grant for $35,000 from the Budget and Control Board for work on the roof and air conditioning with the help of Rep. Bakari Sellers, and a $32,000 PARs grant for the new edition to the parking lot. He stated that Betty Kilgus with election commission received $18,000 or $20,000 last year to be used for upgrades to the building.

Watson stated that former Rep. Thomas Rhoad deserved to “be praised” because without him going to the Budget and Control Board the city wouldn’t be in possession of the civic center in the first place.