How to Use the SC Safe Home Grant for Hurricane Shutters in Myrtle Beach

If you’re a South Carolina homeowner on the Grand Strand, you’re not just looking for `hurricane shutters myrtle beach sc`‚Äîyou’re looking for the *smartest* way to pay for them. This has probably led you to searches for the `scsafehome` program or the `scsafehome grant`.

You have just stumbled upon the single best-kept secret for South Carolina homeowners. This is a state-run program that can provide you with **thousands of dollars in grant money** to protect your home. It’s not a “catch” and it’s not a “gimmick.” It’s a real, funded program, and installing rated hurricane shutters is one of the primary, most popular upgrades it covers.

This is your high-value, high-intent guide. At American Hurricane Shutters, we are not just a local, family-owned, and fully insured installer; we are also an **officially registered and approved SC Safe Home contractor**. We have helped dozens of homeowners in Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Pawleys Island navigate this exact process.

This is our expert guide to explain exactly what the grant is, how it works, and how to use it to get the *best possible value* on your new shutter system.

What is the SC Safe Home Grant? (The “Free Money” Explained)

The **SC Safe Home** program is a grant fund run by the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI). Its official purpose is to make homes in coastal South Carolina stronger and more resilient to hurricane-force winds. The state helps you pay for “wind mitigation” upgrades *now* to reduce the catastrophic, state-wide damage and insurance losses *later*.

H3: How Much is the Grant?

The program is a *matching* grant program. This means you put in a dollar, and the state matches it. While you must check the official SC Safe Home website for the current funding status and exact amounts, it has historically offered matching grants **up to $5,000**. This means your $6,000 shutter project could end up costing you a fraction of the price. It’s an incredible opportunity.

H3: What Upgrades Are Covered?

The grant is designed to “harden” your home’s “envelope” (its outer shell). The #1 way to do this? Protecting your windows and doors. This is why **installing professionally-rated, impact-tested hurricane shutters** is one of the most common and popular, grant-eligible upgrades.

How Does the `scsafehome` Grant *Actually* Work? (A 4-Step Guide)

This is the most important part of this article. The process is very specific, and you *must* follow the steps in order to get your money. **You cannot buy shutters first and then ask for a reimbursement.**

Here is the simplified, 4-step process:

1. Step 1: Apply to SC Safe Home FIRST. Before you do anything else, you must go to the official SCDOI SC Safe Home website and fill out the application.
2. Step 2: Get Your Inspection & Approval. The program will send a certified inspector to your home (often for free) to assess its vulnerabilities. They will then provide you with a report and an official “grant award” letter, telling you exactly what upgrades you are approved for (e.g., “Opening Protection”) and for how much.
3. Step 3: Hire an *APPROVED* Contractor (This is Us!) This is critical. You *cannot* hire your local handyman or a “guy with a truck.” You **must** choose a contractor from the official **SC Safe Home Approved Contractor List**.
4. Step 4: Get the Work Done & Get Your Check. You hire us. We complete the professional, to-code installation. You pay our invoice. We provide you with all the “after” photos, product engineering specs, and certified documents. You submit this packet to SC Safe Home, and they mail you your grant reimbursement check.

It’s that simple, *if* you follow the steps and hire the right partner.

American Hurricane Shutters: Your Approved, Insured, & Local SC Safe Home Contractor

This is our “Authoritativeness” and “Trust” promise to you. Choosing the right contractor is the most important step in the grant process.

H3: We Are on “The List”

We are a **registered, approved, and experienced SC Safe Home contractor**. We have been through this process dozens of times with your neighbors in Myrtle Beach and Horry County. We know *exactly* what paperwork the program needs. We provide the detailed, itemized quotes, the specific engineering documents (for Bertha HV, Alutech, etc.), and the certified, paid invoices you need for a fast, flawless reimbursement. We eliminate the guesswork.

H3: We Are Your Local, Insured Partner

We are not a “storm-chasing” crew. We are a **family-owned (Matthew Burns, Founder) and disabled-owned company** based right up the road in Wilmington. We’ve served the *entire* Grand Strand, from Little River to Pawleys Island, since 2007. We are **fully insured with a $2,000,000 Umbrella Policy** and full Workers’ Comp. Your HOA will require this, and your peace of mind demands it.

H3: We Use *In-House* Experts, Not Subcontractors

The grant requires that the installation be done *to code*. Our in-house (never subcontractor) teams are *trained experts*. They will install your shutters to the exact engineering specs, ensuring your system is 100% compliant with the grant, 100% safe, and 100% ready to get you your **homeowner’s insurance discount** (the *other* big financial win!).

The “Smartest” Way to Use Your `scsafehome grant`: Our High-Value, Affordable Shutters

This is the angle. You have a grant (let’s say it’s $5,000). You want to maximize its value. This means choosing affordable, high-impact, *rated* products to get the most protection for the least out-of-pocket cost. We have two “perfect” grant-eligible solutions.

H3: The “Best Value” Solution: Bertha HV Accordion Shutters (Approx. $34/sq ft)

This is our #1 recommendation. The Bertha HV Accordion Shutter is the *most affordable PERMANENT* solution on the market. It’s a “lock and leave” system with no storage.

• The “Grant Math”: A typical Myrtle Beach condo needs to cover ~120 sq ft of glass.
  
  120 sq ft x $34/sq ft = ~$4,080 Total Cost.
• The Result: Your $4,000 grant could cover almost the *entire project*. You get a permanent, “lock and leave” system for almost no out-of-pocket cost.

H3: The “Most Affordable” Solution: Rated Storm Panels (Approx. $18-$22/sq ft)

This is the 21st-century replacement for plywood. It’s the *lowest-cost RATED* solution, period.

• The “Grant Math”: A home in Conway needs to cover ~200 sq ft of windows.
  
  200 sq ft x $18/sq ft (Aluminum) = ~$3,600 Total Cost.
• The Result: Your grant can easily cover the *entire* cost of a professional-grade, rated panel system.
• The “Smart” Upgrade: Use your grant money to upgrade to our **Rated Clear Panels (approx. $22/sq ft)**. These are see-through, so you’re not in a dark “cave” during a storm!

SC Safe Home Grant FAQs (Your Myrtle Beach Questions)

Q: Can I get the grant for shutters I already bought?

A: No. This is the most important rule. You **must apply and be approved by SC Safe Home *before* any work begins** or any contracts are signed.

Q: Can I use the grant for my rental property in North Myrtle Beach?

A: Generally, no. The SC Safe Home grant is intended for a primary, owner-occupied, single-family residence. You should always check the official SCDOI website for the most current eligibility rules.

Q: Can I use any contractor I want?

A: No. You **must** use a contractor from the official **SC Safe Home Approved Contractor List**. We are proud to be on that list, fully vetted and approved by the State of South Carolina.

Q: What’s the very first step?

A: The *very* first step is to visit the official SC Safe Home website and start your application. The *second* step is to call us. We’ll come to your home for a 100% free, no-obligation quote, which you will need for your application paperwork. You can also use our online cost calculator for a fast, ballpark estimate.

Your Next Step: Get Your Free, Grant-Ready Quote Today!

This is a rare opportunity to have the state of South Carolina help you pay for a critical, value-adding home upgrade. Don’t let this program’s funding run out.

Take the first step and apply to the SC Safe Home program. Then, take the second step and call us. As your local, approved, and fully insured contractor, we will provide the *exact* documentation you need to get your grant and secure your home, all at a fraction of the normal cost.