Coastal Community Development Corporation Secures Two Major Acquisitions, Backed by Support from Novant Health and CFL

The Coastal Community Development Corporation (CCDC), a leading non-profit committed to preserving and developing affordable workforce housing in Beaufort and Jasper Counties, has successfully acquired 23 housing units in unincorporated Beaufort County, near Bluffton. These units, comprising 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments and townhomes, further CCDC’s mission of providing affordable housing for local workers. With this acquisition, the organization now owns 34 units across the region, including 11 units previously purchased on Hilton Head Island.

Fueling this latest growth is a $600,000 grant awarded by Beaufort County in December 2024, administered through the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust. The grant will support the preservation of these 23 housing units, ensuring affordable options for working households in Beaufort County. 

Claude Hicks, Executive Director of the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “On behalf of the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust, we are pleased to have worked with CCDC and Beaufort County in helping this vision become a reality. BJHT looks forward to working with CCDC as it continues to provide much-needed housing options for the workforce community. Congratulations!” 

The acquisitions have also received overwhelming community support, highlighted by a $1 million pledge of altruistic capital from Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and a $1 million donation from Novant Health. Both organizations have made affordable workforce housing a priority, recognizing the value in sustaining a vibrant and resilient local workforce. 

“This incredible partnership with The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, Novant Health and Beaufort County has empowered CCDC to secure long-term affordability for local working families,” said Alan Wolf, Chairman of the CCDC Board of Directors. “These 23 units will remain affordable for households earning between 50% and 120% of the area median income, with the option for families to purchase the units over time, ensuring sustainable homeownership opportunities.” 

In February, Novant Health acquired Hilton Head Medical Center and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville. The not-for-profit healthcare organization has since been working to offer solutions to affordable housing in Beaufort and Jasper counties, where this issue is increasingly identified as a top community concern. 

“We pride ourselves on serving as a trusted community partner that joins others at the table to help identify solutions to pressing local issues,” said Jason Bernd, president of Novant Health’s South Carolina region. “Our funding in this space is a strong investment in our community and its people, who need housing to be available and accessible so they can thrive.” 

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has played an important role in convening local nonprofits, organizations, businesses and donors committed to creating more affordable workforce housing. CFL will host the second Lowcountry Affordable Housing Forum on November 12 at TCL’s Culinary Institute of the South in Bluffton.  

“Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is pleased to make this strategic investment in CCDC in order to accelerate its ability to secure affordable housing in the region,” said CFL President and CEO Scott Wierman. “CCDC’s mission aligns with the Community Foundation’s continued commitment to support affordable housing efforts.”  

Workers interested in renting from CCDC can apply for housing at www.ccdc-sc.org, where detailed application criteria and eligibility information are available. CCDC prioritizes local workers seeking to live in the communities where they are employed.