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Senior Centers and Permanent Improvement Project (PIP) Grant

Senior Centers and Permanent Improvement Project (PIP) Grant

The PIP application is posted annually in January. Applications are currently not being accepted. When the application opens, it will be posted directly on this page with further instructions.


PIP Grant Program: Funds are awarded for eligible senior center projects, including specific renovation, expansion, and emergency repairs necessary to resolve health and safety hazards.


Background: In 1991, the South Carolina State Legislature created the PIP grant program, allocating $948,000 annually from State Bingo tax revenues to fund 74 specific capital improvement projects. Funding for this initial list wrapped up in 2000.  In 1997, the General Assembly amended the original legislation to extend the program. The SCDOA assumed responsibility for managing an ongoing, competitive grant process to select and fund future senior center improvement initiatives.  


The South Carolina Department on Aging (SCDOA) intends for all senior centers to act as central community hubs. Under the Older Americans Act (OAA), these facilities bring together and coordinate a range of services for older adults under one roof. While services may vary by location, locations provide active older adults with programs focused on health, education, and social connection.
 

Senior Center: A single, dedicated facility that provides a range of services to help older adults remain in their homes.
 

Multipurpose Senior Center: A type of senior center that integrates multiple services in one location. It is designed to coordinate and deliver a broad array of programs in a single setting. 


Programs and services offered may include:

  • Health, fitness, and wellness initiatives
  • Educational, arts, and intergenerational programming
  • Information, assistance, and public benefits counseling
  • Social and recreational activities
  • Transportation and employment assistance
  • Volunteer and civic engagement opportunities
  • Meal and nutrition services


Consequently, all senior centers funded through PIP must function as primary service centers for older adults within their communities.


Standards of Excellence: Applicants are to satisfy the National Council on Aging’s Senior Center Standard of Excellence to serve as a primary village square and coordination center for aging services.  Although NCOA originally established a formal peer-review accreditation process to evaluate senior centers, financial constraints limited widespread participation and the accreditation process ended in 2022.  To ensure all senior centers can elevate their quality without financial barriers, NCOA strategically shifted its focus from costly accreditation to a universally accessible model of service excellence. Central to this approach is the free "Building Excellence" initiative, which provides a comprehensive self-assessment framework for centers to evaluate and enhance their operations. By removing cost barriers, this transition empowers senior centers nationwide to continuously improve, align with core operational standards, and better serve their communities.

  • If you're a current NISC Affiliate Member, you can gain access to Building Excellence, the national standards manual for senior centers, by emailing the NISC Membership Team at membership@ncoa.org. If you aren't an Affiliate Member, NISC is free to join. Become a member of NISC today and get connected to a national network of support.


NCOA explicitly recognizes these three facilities for successfully completing the rigorous peer-review and operational evaluation process prior to the program's conclusion. Today, they stand as legacy accredited centers that set the state benchmark for operational excellence and community-centered aging services:

  • Lake City Senior Center (Lake City, SC)
  • The Lourie Center (Columbia, SC)
  • Lowcountry Senior Center (Charleston, SC)


Eligibility & General Requirements:

  • Applicant: Must either be a local or county governmental entity/subdivision recognized by the State of South Carolina; an established not-for-profit entity that provides services for seniors using Older Americans Act or State aging funding; or a not-for-profit human services organization designated by their Area Agency on Aging (AAA) as a contracted provider of aging services. 
  • Centralized senior center: A facility dedicated to offering local leadership on aging issues, providing older adults with direct access to customer-oriented services in one convenient location, and connecting community members with essential aging resources and information. 
    AAA Support: Proposals must be reviewed and supported by the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Director. Unsupported applications will not be considered.
    Full eligibility requirements are to be referenced within the PIP application.

  
Grant Evaluation & Application Process:

  • Submission Review: Applicants submit their required application packages to the SCDOA by the specified deadline.
  • Compliance Check: The PIP Coordinator and evaluation panel examine all submissions to ensure adherence to application guidelines.
  • Applicant Meetings: The evaluation panel conducts standardized meetings with applicants to review project specifics, financial commitments, and long-term center sustainability.
  • Final Selection: Following site meetings and a final proposal review, the PIP Coordinator briefs the SCDOA Director, who makes the final award approvals.
  • Award Execution: Selected recipients and their local AAAs are notified in writing. Grantees complete required documentation within 30 days to receive their official Notification of Grant Award (NGA). Construction and renovation projects are to be “shovel ready” within 90 days of the execution of the NGA. Emergency PIP recipients will only have 60 days to complete the total project from execution of the signed NGA.