Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Tuesday announced $422 million in grants to improve the state’s infrastructure relating to water and sewer.
The funds, stemming from the more than $4 billion from the American Rescue Plan awarded to Georgia, were given to dozens of local governments and organizations.
“Because we remained focused on protecting lives and livelihoods throughout the pandemic, Georgia is now in a position to make strategic, transformational investments in our state’s water and sewer infrastructure,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “I want to thank the committee members for dedicating their time and expertise to help us make these awards as well as the grants team at the Office of Planning and Budget. I am proud to know that we have worked hard to prioritize projects which address pressing public health and environmental issues, support economic development, and enhance our ability to be good stewards of our water resources for generations to come.”
According to Kemp, the money will tackle a host of issues: improve drinking water treatment, extend drinking water service to high-need areas, improve wastewater treatment, among many other processes.
Governor Kemp employed a 13-member committee that included lawmakers and state environmental agency leaders to evaluate applications for the grants.
Earlier this month, Kemp awarded a similar, substantial amount to expand broadband access throughout the state. In total, 49 projects in 70 Georgia counties were funded through a committee-style application process.
“I am very proud that Georgia is once again leading the nation in developing collaborative, innovative, and fiscally conservative ways to leverage government funding to positively impact and serve as many Georgians as possible,” added Governor Kemp said at the time.
“We look forward to the positive impact these projects will have once completed. I ran on a promise to bring opportunity to rural Georgians. If you look at the map of Georgians who will now have access to rural broadband, you will see a promise kept.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Governor Brian Kemp” by Governor Brian Kemp.
