MONCKS CORNER, SC — The American Red Cross is in desperate need of blood donors.

The organization usually sees a dip in donations over the summer months with people on vacation, but the blood supply constantly needs to be replenished because donated blood has a limited shelf life.

A Moncks Corner mom is encouraging people to donate blood after her daughters needed countless transfusions to keep them alive.

Four-year-old twins Annalee and Kennedy Garvin are full of energy.

“They are wild from the time they get up to the time they go to bed,” says their mom, Dana.

But, when the girls were born, it was a different story. Both children spent over 100 days in the NICU.

Dana says the girls were born at 26 weeks gestation, receiving around the clock care to keep them alive.

“While in the NICU they both received blood transfusions, and without those blood transfusions I wouldn’t have two healthy little girls sitting right here with me today,” says Dana.

She says their first three years were full of doctors appointments.

"They've had occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists. They've had the works."

After watching her daughters fight for their lives, Dana now donates blood regularly.

“I didn’t even know my blood type until I became pregnant with them. But I’m O-negative which is good, my blood’s universal,” she explains.

With the nationwide blood shortage, Dana encourages her family and friends to donate blood every chance they get.

“You never know who might need that blood. It could be your own sister, brother, mother, father, child. Little babies born a little too early that might need it, somebody in a car accident, you just never know who’s going to need it.”

ABC News 4 has partnered with the American Red Cross for a blood drive. On May 19 you can donate blood from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. at Northwoods mall or from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Citadel Mall.

All donors will receive a $10 gift card and be entered to win a travel trailer camper. Use the sponsor code ABCNews4 to schedule an appointment here.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs is close to getting land for a new veterans cemetery from a public utility.

Santee Cooper would donate 90 acres near its headquarters in Moncks Corner in Berkeley County under a plan approved May 24 by the state legislative panel that oversees capital improvement projects, The State reported.

South Carolina has one of the nation’s largest per capita veteran populations, Veterans’ Affairs Secretary William Grimsley said. It has three national veterans cemeteries and one state veterans cemetery, and is looking to establish at least one more state veterans burial ground within the next decade, Grimsley said.

The state is home to about 400,000 veterans, nearly half of whom are 65 or older, and eight major U.S. military installations. While the veteran population in South Carolina is expected to decline somewhat in the decades ahead, the state should retain a higher concentration of veterans than most others, an advantage for securing federal dollars.

One or more new cemeteries would further expand the landscape of veterans services in South Carolina, which recently opened veterans nursing homes in Florence and Cherokee counties and has three more long-term care facilities for veterans in the works.

Over the past year, the veterans department has been scouting potential burial sites throughout the state and is attempting to get land donations in several locations, Grimsley said.

To qualify, a site must be easily accessible, have at least 60 acres of usable land with potential for expansion, be located more than 75 miles from any other veterans cemetery, among other conditions.

Once Veterans’ Affairs owns the land, the agency can apply for a grant from the National Cemetery Administration to cover development, construction and future burial costs, while the state would be responsible for day-to-day operations, staffing and landscaping, Grimsley said.

If Veterans’ Affairs does not receive federal grant approval, ownership reverts to the donor.

Local officials are talking with owners of sites in Bamberg and Union counties about possible donation, Grimsley said.

The Moncks Corner site is located along the U.S. Highway 52 bypass overlooking the Tailrace Canal and close to the historic sites of Fort Fairlawn, Stony Landing and the ruins of Biggin Church.

Santee Cooper acquired the land in 1991 but subsequently determined it did not need the property and has authorized its donation to Veterans’ Affairs.

“Santee Cooper is honored to have the opportunity to play a role in bringing a veteran’s cemetery to our community,” the utility’s general counsel wrote to the state’s Joint Bond Review Committee. The land, which currently serves as a recreation area that includes an off-road bicycle trail, has been appraised at nearly $2.2 million.

More than 45,000 veterans and their family members are buried in South Carolina’s four existing veterans cemeteries, located in Beaufort, Florence, Anderson and at Fort Jackson in Richland County, Grimsley said.

Beaufort, Florence and Fort Jackson are national cemeteries, accepting veterans from anywhere in the country. State cemeteries limit burial to South Carolina residents and service members who were stationed in the Palmetto State.

In addition to veterans, the cemeteries will accept one immediate family member.

All four of South Carolina’s veterans cemeteries are active and accepting new burials, but the Beaufort and Florence national cemeteries, which were established in the 19th century, are expected to be at capacity within the next two decades, Grimsley said.

M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery in Anderson, which opened in 2007, should remain active in its current configuration until about 2050. Fort Jackson National Cemetery, which opened in 2009, won’t be full until 2070, he said.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) — The Lowcountry is a premier spot in the state to fish and go on the water. Berkeley County is now making it easier to access those waterways.

The Berkeley County Roads & Bridges and Facilities & Grounds crews will unveil new improvements to the Cypress Gardens boat landing Wednesday at 4 p.m.

County officials said over 100 boats come through the landing a day.

Before the upgrades, there were only 35 parking spots for these boaters to use- forcing many to park farther down Cypress Gardens Road.

But with these new improvements, county officials said boaters will now have safer access to the water.

The Cypress Gardens boat landing now has over 91 boat and trailer parking spaces, as well as 47 passenger vehicle spots and four handicap boat trailer parking spots.

The additions make it one of the largest sites in the county.

Improvements were also made to the boat access points and a new pavilion was built for casual fishers.

The landing has fishing competitions- with nearly 90 boats regularly- held at this landing and county officials say these improvements will help provide the ample space needed for residents enjoy the water.

“In Berkeley County and in the Charleston area- but big time in Berkeley County- we have some of the best fisheries in the entire country,” Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb said. “We routinely had over 100 boats or 100 users. So, the project wasn't 'if you build it, they will come'. It was, they're already here and what are you gonna do about it.”

The improvements cost about $400,000.

Cribb says the manufacturing plant Dupont donated 100 percent of the land for these improvements, which eased the burden on the county's budget.

Not only do over 100 boats come through the landing a day, but officials say the number of casual fishers who come to the dock have increased ten-fold.

With the increased number of pedestrians in the area, county officials have some added new walkways and security measures for a safer experience.

The county planted new ropes and poles to carve out a safe pedestrian walkway, which they said was a priority at Cypress Gardens due to its proximity to the busy Cypress Gardens Road.

Additional security cameras and lighting have also been installed.

The Cypress Gardens landing is the first boat landing to receive these improvements by the county, with more planned improvements to others in the future.

County officials say it will cut down on traffic in the area and provide more access to waterways closer to home.

“Planting all those poles out there and rope is not inexpensive and easy to do. but it's really important to do so we can protect the pedestrians from the different vehicle traffic coming in,” Cribb said. “What you want to do is thin out the herd. The more quality safe boat landings you have, people want to go to the one closest to their home, but they will drive much further away if they need to. so, this helps us keep cars off the road needlessly.”

Cribb said the next project they are working on is the Spiers boat landing in Cross.

The brand-new site is planned to include 450 parking spaces for boaters and a full hiking trail for residents to use.

Amid the pandemic, labor shortages, and rising inflation, the Coalition to Back Black Businesses is providing funding and mentorship opportunities to help Black small business owners persevere and continue to grow their business.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced that the Coalition to Back Black Businesses (CBBB) has awarded 20 Black-owned small businesses from CBBB’s 2021 grant program an additional $25,000 enhancement grant to support their growth and long-term success. Among the 20 recipients – 45% of which started their business during the pandemic – 80% are women-owned small businesses and 85% have six or fewer employees.

“Employing nearly half of the U.S. workforce, the strength of small businesses is critical to the prosperity of our communities and our economic recovery,” said Carolyn Cawley, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “We’re committed to supporting the needs of Black small business owners in America through our Coalition to Back Black Businesses and equipping them with tools to thrive.”

Now in its second year, the CBBB initiative was established in September 2020 by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, founding partner American Express, and four leading national Black business organizations – the National Black Chamber of Commerce, National Business League, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., and Walker’s Legacy – to provide immediate financial assistance and mentorship opportunities to help strengthen the Black business community. Since its launch, CBBB has awarded grants to 1,091 Black-owned small businesses in 40 states to help cover essential needs as they navigated the pandemic, from covering rent and payroll expenses to expanding their online presence and marketing efforts.

“We proudly back small businesses because they are the backbone of communities across the country,” said Madge Thomas, head of corporate sustainability and president of the American Express Foundation. “In the second year of this program, we welcome the chance to continue to help Black-owned businesses recover from the pandemic, innovate, and grow.”

According to a survey conducted in January 2022, Black-owned businesses hit record levels of lower sales, with more than half reporting lower sales than in the previous year. Meanwhile, CBBB grantees report being optimistic about the future of their business, with 50% of them experiencing increased revenue in the second half of 2021. After more than two years into the pandemic, reduced consumer traffic, access to capital, and employee availability remain top obstacles to business growth.

“Because of COVID-19, the price of all raw goods has gone up – in some cases, three times as much, and the additional funds helped cover the cost of our raw goods,” said Nekia Hattley, owner of My Daddy’s Recipes in Inglewood, California. “The $5,000 grant was a blessing, it meant someone saw my dream and believed enough in it and in me to invest capital to aid in my growth. This support encourages me to keep growing, learning, and going.”

Additional funding from ADP, AIG, Altice USA (parent company of Optimum and Suddenlink), Dow, and the S&P Global Foundation, along with programmatic support from Stanley Black & Decker, Shopify, and Firefli, will provide $14 million in grants and other critical resources, like mentorship, to support Black small business owners across the country through 2024.

“The mentorship and coaching support that we have received from the Ureeka platform has been phenomenal. It is unmatched,” said Bupe Mulenga, owner of Stephens Southern Delights in Detroit, Michigan. “That in and of itself supplied so much encouragement, support, and reassurance that although we dream big, we can definitely achieve what we set out to do.”

Enhancement Grant Recipients

Twenty grantees were selected by a panel of judges to receive the $25,000 enhancement grant out of the 491 businesses in CBBB’s 2021 cohort. Businesses are located in cities across the country. Top reasons for requesting an enhancement grant included developing a stronger online presence, relocating to a larger physical space, and hiring additional staff.

“The enhancement grant will support us with crucial costs to propel our growth forward for 2022, including hiring more pilots, investing in SEO marketing, web platform improvements, rent, and more,” said Bronwyn Morgan, owner of Xeo Air in East St. Louis, Illinois.

The full list of grantees includes:

Learn more about the winners and how the CBBB program has positively impacted their businesses at webackblackbusinesses.com/recipients-2022. Applications for the fall 2022 cohort will open in August. For more information on eligibility and the application process, visit webackblackbusinesses.com.

These are the issues coming before various City of Charleston boards and committees and the application results specific to Daniel Island and the Cainhoy area.

City of Charleston Technical Review Committee (TRC)

June 16: A preliminary subdivision plat (fourth review) for Cainhoy First Light Phase 2, a major residential subdivision plan at Hopewell Drive on Cainhoy, a 46.9-acre plat road construction plan for 96 single-family lots.

June 16: A road construction plan (fifth review) for Cainhoy First Light Phase 2, a major residential subdivision plan at Hopewell Drive on Cainhoy, a 46.9-acre plat road construction plan for 96 single-family lots.

June 16: A preliminary subdivision plat (third review) for Parcel K Infrastructure at 2000 Daniel Island Drive on Daniel Island, a 36.9-acre plat for public roadway, utilities, stormwater and an eight-lot major subdivision or future development.

June 16: Road construction plans (third review) for Parcel K Infrastructure at 2000 Daniel Island Drive on Daniel Island, a 36.9-acre plat for public roadway, utilities, stormwater and an eight-lot major subdivision for future development.

June 23: A site plan (third review) for the Foundation Place at Point Hope, a commercial development located at 826 Foundation Drive in Cainhoy and including 5 buildings totaling 38,000 GFA on 4.1 acres.

June 23: Site plan (first review) for Mikasa Apartments on Clements Ferry Road in Cainhoy, a 19.55-acre site plan for the construction of multifamily residential buildings and a parking lot to house 320 units.

June 23: A site plan for Parcel K Office & Parking at 2000 Daniel Island Drive on Daniel Island (second review), a 36.9 acre site plan that calls for the demolition of existing parking lot and infrastructure, upfit of existing office building, new parking, and parking infrastructure.

June 23: A site plan for Nowell Creek Multifamily at Daniel Island Drive on Daniel Island (second review), a 9.02-acre plat for a 320-unit multifamily development.

City of Charleston Planning Commission (PC) – An upcoming meeting on June 15 concerns 11.4 acres properties on Travis Lane (Honey Hill-Cainhoy Peninsula), requesting a rezoning from single family residential to diverse residential.

Berkeley Co. Bd. of Education meets twice each month. Executive Committee meets at 5:30 p.m.; meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Berkeley Co. Council meets 4th Mon. of each month, 6 p.m., Berkeley County Admin. Blg., 1003 Hwy 52, Moncks Corner.

City of Charleston Council typically meets the 2nd and 4th Tues. of each month, 5 p.m., City Hall, 80 Broad Street, Charleston, SC and/or virtually via Conference Call #1-929-205-6099; Access Code: 912 096 416. Exceptions: Summer Schedule - 3rd Tues. of June, July, and August; December meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tues. Dates and locations subject to change.

City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meets every Thurs. at 9 a.m.via Zoom.

City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Site Design meets the 1st Wed. of each month at 5 p.m. (Board meetings returned to in-person April 6.)

City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Zoning meets the 1st and 3rd Tues. of each month at 5:15 p.m., except for January and July when no meeting is held on the 1st Tues. (Board meetings returned to in-person April 5.)

City of Charleston Design Review Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mon. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

City of Charleston Planning Commission meets the 3rd Wed. of every month at 5 p.m. (Board meetings returned to in-person March 16.)

City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Large projects meets the 2nd and 4th Wed. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Small projects meets the 2nd and 4th Thurs. of every month at 4:30 p.m.

All meetings are open for public comment except the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meetings.

For more information, contacts for specific projects and on location and time of the meetings or to learn more, visit charleston-sc.gov/AgendaCenter/.