by Elyse S. Apel
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp recently announced winners for grants encouraging both rural development and housing infrastructure.
All the grants were issued through OneGeorgia Authority, an initiative of the Department of Community Affairs hoping to encourage “economic vitality in rural Georgia.”
On Wednesday, the six inaugural winners of the new Rural Site Development Initiative grant were announced. The grants total $9.3 million and will help cover the cost of site studies, land grading, and “other essential community infrastructure that supports site development.”
“Georgia has been the No. 1 state for business for over a decade by investing in our future,” said Kemp. “The Rural Site Development Initiative is just one of the ways we’re making sure Georgia remains in pole position for economic development for years to come.”
This was just the first round of recipients of the Rural Site Development Initiative grant, a program which was only recently started. To be eligible for the program, local counties must also provide either a 10% or 25% match for any state funding.
“I’m proud to support efforts like these to increase economic development opportunities and attract future businesses to our great state,” said Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. “This is just one innovative approach to keeping Georgia the No. 1 state for business into the future.”
Thursday, Kemp announced the grant recipients for the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative. In total, the communities of Hawkinsville, Hinesville, and Waynesboro will receive more than $5 million in infrastructure development and support for 140 housing units.
The Rural Workforce Housing Initiative was a program first started in 2023, when the Georgia General Assembly approved $35.7 million for the program. In 2024, the General Assembly approved a further $50 million. Only $6 million was added to the program for the 2025 fiscal year.
“Housing our expanding workforce is critical to Georgia’s continued economic growth and prosperity,” said Christopher Nunn, commissioner at the Department of Community Affairs. “We remain committed to helping these communities implement intentional and strategic workforce housing solutions.”
Hawkinsville was awarded $2,260,505 for road, water, and sewer infrastructure improvements to construct 58 new, single-family housing units. The city will only be contributing $70,000, or 3% of the state’s contribution, and Hive Construction will contribute $124,000.
Hinesville was awarded $1,098,188 to construct street, drainage, water, and sewer infrastructure to develop 31 detached townhomes. There, the city will contribute $591,910 towards the project and the developer will contribute $420,200.
Waynesboro was awarded $2,496,190 to construct street, drainage, water, and sewer infrastructure that will allow for the construction of 51 new housing units. The city will contribute $100,000 toward the project and the developer will contribute $423,810.
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After completing an internship in 2023, Elyse S. Apel is returning to The Center Square’s apprenticeship program, serving as the elections reporter across North Carolina and Georgia. A graduate of Hillsdale College, Elyse’s writing has been published around the country in a wide variety of publications from the “Washington Examiner” to “The American Spectator” and “The Daily Wire.”
Photo “Brian Kemp” by Brian Kemp.
