SUMTER, S.C. — Sumter County is working to address abandoned and overgrown properties in local neighborhoods, but officials say they need the community’s help.

Thanks to a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the county is moving forward with a major initiative to demolish dilapidated structures and clear overgrown lots.

In 2022, Sumter County secured a HUD grant to tackle blight in the 6th District. According to a spokesperson for the county, the funding will be used to demolish more than 200 deteriorating structures—120 in the City of Sumter and 100 in the surrounding county—at no cost to property owners.

Sumter Housing Authority Executive Director Donna Lamer emphasized the significant impact of blight on the community, particularly in discou

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