Overview

On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law. The $1.9 trillion package, based on President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts.

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the $362 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLRF) provides local fiscal aid to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts, cover increased expenditures, replenish lost revenue, and mitigate economic harm from the COVID-19 pandemic. The SLFRF program provided governments across the country with the resources needed to recover from the economic impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project information is updated monthly as each accounting period is closed. 

ARPA Projects

Health and Human Services Building - The County renovated a 47,000 square-foot building, the old BI-LO building, at the intersection of Highway 17A and Orangeburg Road, to house the Department of Public Health, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Public Defender's Office. 

The project budget, approximately $11.2M, was primarily funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds (ARPA), of which 2.9M was used to purchase the facility. Ultimately, this project centralizes the operations of several outside agencies in a more energy-efficient and standardized facility in alignment with the County’s Strategic Plan. 

MUSC Health Primary Care - County staff identified an 6,336 square foot building on the corner of Sears Street and NW Railroad Avenue in St. George that was constructed in 2001 and used as the former female detention center. In partnership with USDA - Rural Development, the County utilized a $1 million USDA grant and approximately $2.5 million ARPA funding to renovate the space. The facility opened on March 2, 2026. 

The healthcare facility is leased by MUSC Health and includes seven exam rooms for primary and occupational health, and occupational health services. By-appointment and virtual visits are available to include annual wellness, physicals, and vaccinations; nutritional and diet support; sick and injury visits, chronic condition management; hospital discharge follow-up visits; and point-of-care laboratory testing.

The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities will also provide services in the facility. Their operations will include offering assessments, individual and family therapy for children and adults, nursing services, peer support, etc.  Dorchester Alcohol and Drug Commission will utilize the space as well to provide specialized counseling services.

With the assistance of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Dorchester County also received $709,000 in federal funding to support site work for a mobile MRI unit and the acquisition of x-ray equipment. The second phase of the partnership with MUSC Health is expected to be completed late 2027.