The Town of Seabrook Island is now accepting applications from eligible organizations for funding from the 2026 Discretionary Grants Program

​​The Seabrook Island Discretionary Grant Program was established by Town Council in 2026. The Discretionary Grant Program combines and replaces two prior grant programs - the Community Promotion Grant Program and the Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grant Program - into a single program.
 
The Discretionary Grants Program is intended to support eligible organizations in carrying out projects that advance a legitimate public purpose and provide a direct and demonstrable benefit to the Town of Seabrook Island, including, but not limited to, its residents, property owners, visitors, and/or businesses.

​Grant funds must be used to promote community wellness, civic engagement, cultural and historical awareness, economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and wildlife conservation in a manner consistent with applicable law, Town policy, and sound fiscal accountability.
 
FY 2026 Discretionary Grant Program Summary

• Total Funds Available in 2026: $30,000.00
• Maximum Grant Amount: $5,000.00
• To Apply: Grant applications will be accepted starting April 1, 2026. The first review of applications will take place on April 22, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted until the earlier of October 1, 2026, or upon the commitment of all available grant funds for 2026. Please refer to the grant application form to view the application deadlines for each Committee meeting in 2026.

 
For more information about the Discretionary Grant Program, or to download a grant application form, please click here.

​Dear Residents, Property Owners, Employees, and Friends of Seabrook Island:
 
The leaders of the Town of Seabrook Island, the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association, and the Seabrook Island Club are united in asking for your help.
 
Charleston County Council is currently preparing a Transportation Sales Tax referendum that may appear on the ballot in 2026. The draft project list under consideration includes approximately $4.25 billion in funding for road, transit, bike/pedestrian, and greenbelt projects throughout the county.
 
Unfortunately, the draft project list does not include a single dollar for projects within the town limits of Seabrook Island.
 
This omission is particularly concerning given the importance—and vulnerability—of Seabrook Island Road, the only means of vehicular access to and from our community.
 
Low-lying segments of Seabrook Island Road regularly experience tidal flooding during high tides and storm events. When flooding occurs, access to the island can be significantly restricted or completely cut off. This creates serious risks for residents, employees, and visitors and can delay response times from police, fire and emergency medical services.
 
During a nor’easter in December 2023, first responders were forced to rescue occupants from vehicles stranded in floodwaters on Seabrook Island Road. The roadway became impassable, and our entire community was effectively cut off from the rest of the county until floodwaters receded.
 
Each day, approximately 7,700 vehicle trips travel along Seabrook Island Road. The corridor serves more than 2,100 full-time residents, 2,600 dwelling units, and thousands of visitors, while also supporting more than 2,400 businesses, contractors, and employees who rely on safe and reliable access to the island. It is also a vital gateway to destinations such as the MUSC Medical Pavilion, Bohicket Marina, Freshfields Village, St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center, and numerous local employers.
 
For years, improving Seabrook Island Road has been identified as the Town’s highest transportation priority. The proposed Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project would elevate flood-prone segments of the roadway and improve drainage to reduce tidal flooding and improve reliability.
 
Importantly, this project is already well advanced in design and permitting and is expected to be shovel-ready by the time sales tax collections begin in 2027.
 
Simply put, this project must move forward. Reliable access to Seabrook Island is not optional—it is essential for public safety, emergency response, evacuation, and the continued vitality of our community.
 
If the Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project is included in the countywide transportation sales tax program, it can be funded through a revenue source Seabrook Island residents and visitors are already paying. If it is not included, the Town will need to pursue other funding options, such as bonds repaid through property taxes or other local taxes.
 
That outcome would be fundamentally unfair. Seabrook residents, property owners, employees, and visitors already contribute millions of dollars to the county transportation sales tax—helping finance projects throughout Charleston County. It is only reasonable that our community receive an appropriate investment in return. The Town’s request amounts to roughly one penny for every $10 in transportation sales taxes collected.
 
Our shared message to Charleston County is simple: Seabrook Island deserves transportation funding that is Faster, Fairer, and Safer.

• Faster because this project is ready to move forward as soon as funding is secured.
• Fairer because Seabrook Island residents and visitors have contributed to the transportation sales tax for decades but have not received comparable investment within the Town.
• Safer because reliable access to the island is essential for emergency response, evacuation, and everyday travel.

 
We Need Your Voice!
 
Charleston County is currently asking the public to provide input through an online survey that will help determine which projects are included in the referendum. The survey will be available until Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
 
We encourage every resident, property owner, employee, and visitor who cares about the future of Seabrook Island to participate.
 
Please take a moment to complete the county’s survey and tell County Council that our community needs Seabrook Island Road Now!
 
Take the survey here:
https://charlestontransportation.com/survey/
 
Your voice can help ensure that Seabrook Island receives the transportation investment necessary to protect public safety, strengthen our resilience to coastal flooding, and support the economic vitality of our community.
 
Thank you for your support and your advocacy.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bruce Kleinman
Mayor
Town of Seabrook Island
 
John Lassiter
President
Seabrook Island Property Owners Association
 
John Carpenter
President
Seabrook Island Club

​Mayor Kleinman will be holding the first Community Town Hall meeting of 2026 on Wednesday, March 18, from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM in Council Chambers at Town Hall. During this open forum, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions, explain any concerns, or provide recommendations to Mayor Kleinman.
 
The meeting will be live-streamed for those who are unable to attend.

We look forward to seeing residents on March 18.

On Monday, January 12, 2026, Seabrook Island Town Council unanimously approved Resolution 2026-01, formally requesting that the Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project be included on the 2026 Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax Referendum.
 
This project is essential to protecting Seabrook Island’s only primary access roadway. Repeated flooding along Seabrook Island Road has created ongoing safety, reliability, and resiliency concerns for residents, emergency responders, and visitors. The proposed improvements would raise low-lying sections of the road between the Freshfields roundabout and Landfall Way, and would also include new roadside drainage to reduce flooding impacts.
 
The Town has pursued Transportation Sales Tax (TST) funding for this project through Charleston County in both 2024 and 2025. While the TST program has generated approximately $3.4 billion for transportation improvements countywide since 2004, Seabrook Island has never received TST funding for a road or infrastructure project. Due to the scale and cost of this much-needed improvement, the County’s annual allocation program has not been sufficient to fund it, making inclusion on the 2026 Sales Tax Referendum critically important.
 
Town Council believes this project is vital to the long-term safety, accessibility, and resilience of Seabrook Island. Inclusion on the 2026 referendum would provide a meaningful opportunity to finally secure the funding necessary to address these longstanding issues.
 
How You Can Help
 
Resident input matters. Charleston County is currently accepting public comments as it considers which projects to place on the 2026 Transportation Sales Tax Referendum. Town Council encourages all residents to submit comments expressing support for the Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project.
 
Submit your comments to: [email protected]
 
A strong show of community support will help ensure that Seabrook Island’s needs are clearly heard and fairly considered. Together, we can advocate for the infrastructure investment necessary to protect our community now and into the future.

The town will host a swearing-in ceremony for Mayor-Elect Bruce Kleinman, Town Council Members Pat Faulkner, Thomas J. Hund, Raymond Hamilton, Darryl May, and Utility Commissioner E. James Ferland on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM.​

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Seabrook Island Town Hall (2001 Seabrook Island Road). The ceremony will be open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided at the conclusion of the event.

​On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the Town of Seabrook Island conducted a municipal election to fill the positions of Mayor, Town Council Members and Utility Commissioner. The results of the election were certified by the Charleston County Board of Canvassers on Thursday, November 6, 2025, as follows:

Mayor (1)

• Bruce Kleinman - 235 *
• Write-In - 26

Town Council Members – Two-Year Term (2)

• Pat Faulkner - 223 *
• Ray Hamilton - 244 *
• Write-In - 10

Town Council Members – Four-Year Term (2)

• Thomas J. Hund - 224 *
• Darryl May - 222 *
• Write-In - 10

 
Utility Commissioner (1)

• E. James Ferland - 267 *
• Write-In - 0

Statistics

• Registered Voters (Total) - 2,218
• Ballots Cast (Total) - 328
• Voter Turnout (Total) – 14.79%

The town will host a swearing-in ceremony for Mayor Bruce Kleinman; Town Council Members Ray Hamilton, Darryl May, Tom Hund, and Pat Faulkner; and Utility Commissioner Jim Ferland on January 6, 2026, at 12:00PM at Town Hall. 

For more information, please contact Seabrook Island Town Hall by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at [email protected].