One grant for $453,500 will be used to establish the Entrepreneurial Development Center at USC Salkehatchie in Allendale. Plans include renovating a building to house the center, which will provide technical assistance to small business enterprises at a reduced cost.

The center will offer marketing, counseling, business plan development, financing assistance, and business incubation for entrepreneurs who plan to start businesses and people with existing businesses.

When the center is complete, the project is expected to help in the development of about 130 jobs and provide assistance to more than 25 businesses.

The other grant for $125,000 will provide support for existing technical assistance programs at the USC Salkehatchie Leadership Center. The center provides technical assistance to citizens and small, emerging private business enterprises in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, and Hampton counties. The project will assist more than 100 existing and new businesses.