The SGRC’s Community & Economic Development Division provides technical assistance to local governments in identifying projects to improve community programs and facilities in the areas of street paving and drainage, water and sewer, public buildings, neighborhood revitalization, streetscape and pedestrian facilities, as well as police and fire department facilities, equipment, and vehicles; and developing related grant and loan applications, and administering funded projects. This division’s activities are designed to promote regional economic development, to assist local communities in increasing their economic development capacity, identify funding to assist with the location and expansion of new and existing industry, and to facilitate activities which encourage business development and job creation in order to enhance the standard of living for area residents. The SGRC’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) identifies problems and barriers to economic development, and proposes strategies to overcome these barriers.

Programs and Grants

• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG/CDBG-EIP/CDBG-RDF/CDBG-ITAD)

• OneGeorgia Authority Equity & Edge Grant/Loan Programs

• Economic Development Administration (EDA) Public Works Grant Program

• USDA Public Facilities and Rural Business Development Grant/Loan Programs

• DNR Recreational Trails Program & Land & Water Conservation Fund(LWCF) Grants

• Dept. of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant Program

• FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program

• Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) Grant/Loan Programs

• And a variety of other grants/loans

Southern Georgia Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan

In August 2020, the SGRC received Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the purpose of assisting the region with pandemic recovery and increasing resilience. With this funding, the SGRC worked directly with > communities to assess the region's needs and to devise a strategy to meet those needs through coordination, partnerships, and leveraged resources. The result of those efforts is the development of the Southern Georgia Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan which identifies methods to strengthen economic resilience. The Plan can be viewed in its entirety here: Southern Georgia Economic Recovery and Resiliency Plan