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Five new grants have been approved by the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation, known as Georgia’s Rural Center, part of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The five grants total more than $300,000 for key projects in rural areas of the state. 

“Through Georgia’s Rural Center, we are making strategic investments to ensure Rural communities across our state have the support they need to succeed and are well-positioned to compete for new jobs and opportunity,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “These targeted investments in education, healthcare, housing, and workforce development will have a significant, positive impact, and we look forward to continuing to make investments in the success of communities throughout Rural Georgia.” 

One of the advantages of the program through the Center is flexibility on project selection. Some of the grants are for very straightforward initiatives, such as Echols County Extension receiving $25,000 for a new livestock trailer and new livestock scales for youth livestock exhibitors and agricultural producers. McCaysville – in Fannin County – is receiving $67,000 to replace two aging water filtration systems. Lastly in the “straightforward-buying-of-stuff” category is the Irwin County Hosptial receiving $75,000 to fund the replacement of kitchen equipment to provide meals for patients and staff. 

Other grants are more future focused on development or economic needs. Stewart County is receiving a $20,000 grant for a housing study to help complement its participation in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing program. The study will help to assess current housing needs and guide the county as it seeks to expand housing options. Chickamauga is also receiving a grant for a study, $40,000 for a redevelopment study to examine the potential for the Crystal Springs Mill site and other city-owned properties as part of a long-term economic growth strategy. 

“The team at Georgia’s Rural Center is proud of the impact these grants will have on rural Georgia. The Rural Center, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, is excited to see how this grant funding will positively influence the communities selected for the grant awards. We look forward to pursuing future grant opportunities in rural Georgia in FY 2027,” said Charlie Fiveash, Executive Director of Georgia’s Rural Center. 

Since the launch of the Rural Center in 2018, it has allocated $3 million in funding, with matching funding totaling more than $408 million. More than 80 counties have been directly impacted through project investment, with work of the Rural Center reaching every county across the state. Back in March, they awarded $50,000 to the City of Sparta for engineering services and grant writing to upgrade its natural gas infrastructure. For one of the poorest counties in the state, that kind of investment is invaluable.