Midlands nonprofits receive $113,000 in grants

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Two Midlands nonprofit organizations have received a total of $113,000 in grants from the John. S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The Cayce Arts District will use its $63,000 grant to create a downtown arts district. Abandoned buildings will be painted and sculptures and other artwork installed, according to a news release.

Central Midlands Justice Ministry MORE Justice project is establishing an affordable housing trust fund with a dedicated source of annual funding. Its $50,000 grant will fund training sessions teaching grassroots leaders how to engage their communities.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation provided donations to the Central Carolina Community Foundation, which administered the grants. Since 1993, the Knight Foundation has contributed more than $2 million to the Columbia area.

“The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is a national foundation with deep local roots in Columbia,” JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation, said in the release. “We are thankful for Knight’s investment and ongoing support of our community.”

The foundation invests in 26 communities where the Knights once operated newspapers.