Three Southern Georgia Communities Receive $900K in Infrastructure Funding
Three local governments in the Southern Georgia Regional have been named as recipients of over $900,000 in transportation infrastructure funding. Irwin County and the Cities of Lakeland and Ocilla were among the nineteen projects announced by Governor Nathan Deal on June 19th that had received approximately $18.1 million in Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) funding from the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA).
“Here in the No. 1 state for business, we continue to make strides to keep up with and plan for Georgia’s future growth,” said Deal. “The GTIB program provides valuable resources to improve mobility in local communities while also strengthening Georgia’s transportation network. By awarding grants and loans to local governments and community improvement districts, GTIB helps to maintain our roads and bridges, improve congestion and accommodate the movement of freight traffic. The innovative transportation initiatives receiving these funds will benefit local communities for years to come and reinforce Georgia’s reputation as a top destination for businesses and job creators.”
SRTA received 32 applications from eligible local government entities in Georgia, including community improvement districts (CIDs). Funds distributed by GTIB must be used for capital expenses related to road and bridge infrastructure work. Staff from the Southern Georgia Regional Commission’s (SGRC) Transportation Division prepared and submitted the successful applications for both the City of Ocilla and Irwin County. This is the City of Ocilla’s second award of GTIB grant funds. In 2017, Ocilla was named as a recipient of $260,000 for a street resurfacing project.
Project descriptions and funding amounts for Irwin County (which received the only grant/loan combination awarded) and the Cities of Lakeland and Ocilla are listed below: