News
9/14/2021: Grace Orr, Civitas Program Manager and Homeless Solutions Specialist, was highlighted in Bloomberg Businessweek + Equality article: Women Fill Fewer MBA Spots Than Men, and Covid Isn’t Helping covering her experience in Charleston’s MBA program and finding support and opportunities to collaborate with other women as she advances her career ambitions.
7/13/2021: Coming Soon: the Opportunity Center - The Opportunity Center, a partnership of four South Carolina nonprofit organizations, is a unique collaboration focused on impacting low-wealth communities of the Tri- County. This innovative space will provide workforce development, small business incubators, and coworking spaces benefiting entrepreneurs and start-ups, while maintaining offices of local non-profits actively working in the community and economic development sector.
1/25/2021: Groundbreaking ceremony for new Opportunity Center! Buoyed by a $2.7 million grant awarded from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to Homes of Hope, Inc. this past May, the former 31,250 square-foot furniture store in North Charleston is undergoing the transformation into The Opportunity Center. The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation, Increasing H.O.P.E., Homes of Hope and the S.C. Association for Community Economic Development will be using the Opportunity Center not only as their headquarters, but as a training center and a business incubator all under one roof. The facility is located at 8570 Rivers Avenue in North Charleston.
Credit: Andrew J. Whitaker
10/1/2019: Civitas is proud to sponsor the Amigos for Christ 2019 Golf Classic at Lake Lanier Islands in Buford, GA. Amigos for Christ is a nonprofit organization that facilitates leadership, water, health, education, and economic development in rural Nicaraguan communities. Civitas principal Erich Chatham and his wife have supported Amigos for Christ for many years and Erich has completed two mission trips in Nicaragua. Erich and Civitas team member Vern Xiong actually met on one of these mission trips so naturally we are proud to support the great works of the Amigos team. Good luck to our golf team – bring home the big prize!
9/30/2019: Congrats to the City of Hialeah, FL on their $3.3 million Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program Grant award!
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $314 million to 77 state and local government agencies, a record investment to protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards.
9/15/2019: Congrats to Genesis Homes on being awarded $3,040,000 through SC Housing Trust Fund’s Small Rental Development Program. Genesis Homes continues to expand affordable housing in the Greenville, SC area.
Sketch of the Opportunity Center
8/26/2019 The Opportunity Center — Three Charleston-area organizations have partnered to set up the facility: Increasing H.O.P.E., the Center for Heirs Property Preservation, and the S.C. Association for Community Economic Development (Link). Civitas will assist in the operations and compliance for the construction of the local nonprofits headquarters and business incubator/career training facility.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing in Homes of Hope Inc. to renovate an existing building in North Charleston, South Carolina. Image credit: The Post and Courier
05/08/2019 - Business Incubator and Workforce Training Facility in North Charleston, SC - South Carolina nonprofit organization, Homes of Hope, Inc, is receiving a $2.72 million federal grant to create and open a business incubator and training center in North Charleston, South Carolina. Civitas performed the feasibility study for the project and coordinated with Homes of Hope, Inc to develop the successful grant application. Civitas will also be involved in the operations and compliance for the project. (Link)
Carver Grove Apartments opened in October to provide housing for disabled veterans.
Image Credit: WPDE ABC 15
10/18/2018 - New Apartments Designed for Disabled Veterans Opens - The Myrtle Beach Housing Authority, clients of Civitas, held a ribbon cutting ceremony in October 2018 for Carver Grove Apartments, a new complex designed specifically for disabled and homeless veterans. The complex includes eight one-bedroom units include first-floor units that are fully mobility accessible and second-floor units that include sensory adaptations for veterans with sight or hearing impairments. As a veteran-owned firm, Civitas has a special interest in expanding care for the men and women who have served in the military. We are proud to work towards ending veteran homelessness. (Link)
Ribbon cutting for two new affordable rental properties attended by leaders and residents
Image Credit: WSPA CBS 7
10/24/2018 - Affordable Rental Units Open in Greenville - Long-time clients of Civitas, Genesis Homes has recently opened up two new affordable rental homes in Greenville, South Carolina. Like many communities, Greenville is struggling to provide adequate housing for many LMI households. Genesis Homes works to fill this gap and Civitas assisted in getting funding for this project. Civitas assisted Genesis Homes with financial reconciliation and grant applications for these much needed rental properties. (Link)