Over the weekend, Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced the first grant recipients of the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative he announced earlier this year during his State of the State address. The new program is part of the OneGeorgia Authority and provides funding for developing housing and related infrastructure in rural parts of the state.
“On the back of three straight record-breaking years for economic development, we are taking action to ensure hardworking Georgians are able to live in the same communities where they work,” said Kemp. “These grants are the first step in meeting the needs of communities experiencing incredible growth as we continue to see new opportunities come to all corners of the state. I want to thank the members of the General Assembly who supported this initiative so that we can continue that upward trajectory.”
According to a press release from Kemp’s office, the “first round of successful grantees demonstrated transformational change in workforce housing while meeting OneGeorgia Authority eligibility requirements. These grants total $8.37 million in infrastructure development that will ultimately support over 500 units of housing in both single- and multi-family developments. The award recipients have also demonstrated strong collaboration with real estate developers.”
“The Rural Workforce Housing Initiative will spur the development of critically needed workforce housing in communities across the state. The Georgia General Assembly approved $35.7 million to start the initiative in the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed into law in March 2023,” the press release added.
The City of Albany was awarded an infrastructure grant for $923,513 to improve water, sewer, drainage, and roads. The was awarded an infrastructure grant for $2.4 million for water and sewer on 23 acres of land in the Legacy of Colquitt Subdivision. The Columbus Consolidated Government was awarded an infrastructure grant for $2.3 million for water, sewer, drainage, and street improvements. The Douglas Coffee County Industrial Authority was awarded an infrastructure grant for $2.3 million for water, sewer, drainage, and street improvements to facilitate the construction of 65 homes in a new subdivision near several large employers. The Stephens County Development Authority was awarded an infrastructure grant for $478,400 to build a sanitary sewer lift station, which will allow the construction of 318 housing units in a new development near a regional industrial park that is set to expand.