Sustainability Institute to get $2.65M to restore salt marsh, more

MORNING NEWSBREAK | The Sustainability Institute in Charleston will get $2.65 million in federal funding to support climate resilience work, such as salt marsh restoration, with partners in five historically-underserved S.C. coastal communities, according to a Wednesday announcement.

Among the areas to benefit from the funding by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are Rosemont in the Charleston Neck, the Maryville/Ashleyville neighborhoods in West Ashley and Battery Island on James Island. Other coastal communities that will get help include St. Helena Island in Beaufort County and Bucksport in Horry County.

“What we know now more than ever is that underserved communities are often the hardest hit by climate change and climate impacts,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves during the Wednesday ceremony.

The South Carolina project is one of 27 selected nationwide for federal investments totaling $45 million under NOAA’s Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities program.

According to a news release, the Sustainability Institute and its community partners will build local capacity through science support, community-driven coastal habitat and marsh restoration. As a partner in the newly established American Climate Corps,AmeriCorps members will assist in conducting marsh studies and restoration work and designing, building and maintaining rain gardens.

In other news headlines today:

CP NEWS: Rain, neglect cause worry for Monrovia Cemetery families. Heavy summer rains combined with the slow-moving Tropical Storm Debby swamped Monrovia Union Cemetery, flooding grave sites and partially exposing at least one burial vault.

CP FOOD: Charleston’s Hannibal’s Kitchen receives historic preservation grant. Last month Hannibal’s Kitchen was the only South Carolina restaurant awarded a grant for historic, small restaurants by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

S.C. to build monument honoring Smalls’ legacy. A legislative commission tasked with building a monument to Civil War Hero Robert Smalls met for the first time this week to lay the groundwork to permanently commemorate the former enslaved man on the grounds of the S.C. Statehouse.

PREVIOUS CP COVERAGE: S.C. forms Smalls Monument Commission

S.C. prison director says electric chair, firing squad, lethal injections are ready. S.C. Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said Wednesday that the state’s supply of a lethal injection drug is pure, its electric chair was tested two months ago and its firing squad has the ammunition and training to carry out its first execution next month in more than 13 years.

Lowcountry organizations raise awareness during National Overdose Week. Several organizations are coming together to bring awareness to the opioid crisis in the Lowcountry and to provide strategies and support to those who may be struggling with substance abuse.

Charleston’s new water plan cites climate-related challenges. After years of work, Charleston’s Water Plan — which aims to steer the city through decades of sea-level rise and a changing climate — is complete.

North Charleston police chief finalists to be named in September. The city of North Charleston is working to narrow down finalists for their new top cop.