The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced that 42 Georgia communities have been awarded more than $40.9 million in federal grants to support their efforts, including Bryan County.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocates these funds annually to Georgia’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is administered by DCA. Bryan County proposes to use $1 million in CDBG funds for water improvements in the Groover Hill target area. The project will benefit 59 persons, of whom 48 (81.36%) are low-to-moderate income persons. The total project cost is $1,143,780 with $143,780, in match and leverage.

Georgia’s CDBG program is available to non-entitlement local governments and specifically targets rural communities. After a competitive and thorough evaluation process, applications are scored, rated, and ranked. Grants are awarded based on overall merit.

“When our communities thrive, so do their citizens. Community Development Block Grants give rural Georgians access to resources that improve neighborhood infrastructure, enhance vital community facilities, and improve overall quality of life,” said Commissioner Christopher Nunn. “These grants allow local governments to make targeted, critical investments to the benefit of their citizens.”

“Community Development Block Grants are crucial for addressing aging infrastructure throughout Georgia,” said Kimberly Carter, Deputy Commissioner of Community Development and Finance. “This year’s grantees will be able to use these awards to bolster their infrastructure and housing needs.”