In 2000, the City of Columbia, South Carolina received funding through the U.S. Department of Justice for the Community Incentive Funding program providing community grants. Through the success of this program, the Columbia Assisting Neighborhood Development Opportunities (CANDO) program was born. Each year, the Columbia City council generously provides the Community Development Department with funding to award to communities for projects developed and implemented by City neighborhoods.
In the CANDO program, projects range from landscaping projects to youth and senior citizen cultural programs. Neighborhoods are given the opportunity to apply on an annual basis for funding of projects based on the needs of their community. Grants are awarded on a competitive application basis to recognized Columbia Council of Neighborhoods (CCN) member organizations.