Milledgeville receives nearly $700000 grant for new sewer lines – The Union-Recorder

ATLANTA Officials with the city of Milledgeville received some good news Thursday from Gov. Nathan Deal.

So did officials in neighboring Hancock County and Sparta.

It came in the form of a press release from the governor announcing that the city has been awarded a grant totaling $678,277 for new sewer lines in the southeast area of town.

The grant was awarded to the city by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Georgia Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, and administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

Funding from the CDBG will be used to replace aging sewer lines in two targeted areas of the city.

One phase of the project is part of a multi-stage effort involving the installation of new, replacement sewer lines, according to the 2017 CDBG application that city officials submitted.

The total cost of the project is $780,447. A total of $102,170 is the matching portion by the city.

In Hancock County, meanwhile, officials will receive $627,950 in CDBG funding. Funding there will be used to renovate the existing Hancock County Health Department building, located at 516 Boland St. in Sparta.

Some of the particulars of the project in Sparta will consist of exterior improvements, such as Hardi-plank siding, water sealant, roof replacement, window and door replacements, along with interior improvements. Inside the building, officials are planning new central heating and air conditioning, layout changes, handicap accessible restrooms, examination rooms, etc.

The health department renovations total $727,950. The county has agreed to a $100,000 match and leverage of the project.

The city of Milledgeville, as well as Hancock County, were among 59 cities or counties across the state to be awarded various amounts of CDBG funding for assorted projects, Deal said in the press release.

Those awards amounted to a total of $37.5 million.

Georgias economic growth is a result of strong and prosperous communities across the state, Deal said. The CDBG program addresses critical community needs by providing cities and counties with the necessary resources to improve overall quality of life and revitalize the local economies that need it the most. By continuing to invest in our local communities, we are preparing all of Georgias citizens for an even brighter future, as well as solidifying our position as the top state in the nation for business.

The governor said 51 of the cities and counties awarded the grants would receive $32.7 million in CDBG funding for infrastructure improvements, neighborhood revitalization and centers to serve residents in need.

Another $4.8 million in CDBG funding will benefit 10 communities across the state for the Employment Incentive Program and Redevelopment Fund, Deal said.

Such funding would allow those communities to invest in restoration and economic development projects and thus create 446 jobs, as well as generate an additional $117 million from a private investment standpoint, the governor said.

The CDBG program supports projects in Georgias small and rural communities that create jobs and assist citizens with low and moderate incomes, Deal said. Awards ranging from $237,639 to $1 million will be used for specific projects such as water, sewer, drainage or street improvements, revitalization of targeted neighborhoods and construction of facilities such as health, youth and senior centers.

Communities receiving such grants are required to complete their projects within a two-year time period.

Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Camila Knowles said such grants help lay the groundwork for future growth for various communities and are often leveraged with other funding to help them prepare for economic development opportunities.

These awards are about helping each community achieve its vision and implement plans to create a bright future.

The DCA partners with communities across the state to help them build strong and vibrant neighborhoods, commercial, and industrial areas in various ways. Included is community, economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing.

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Milledgeville receives nearly $700000 grant for new sewer lines - The Union-Recorder