USDA Invests $906 Million in Rural Georgia Projects

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced on December 5 that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development will invest a combined $906 million in rural communities across Georgia. The funding includes $501 million for 59 rural development projects and $405 million for affordable housing initiatives. According to the USDA, the investments are intended to strengthen rural infrastructure, support economic growth and expand services across the state.

“President Trump understands how important it is to have a safe, secure and resilient farm economy,” Rollins said during the announcement in Byron, Georgia. “These USDA investments are a direct result of the promise President Trump made to make rural America great again. If we do not have a strong rural economy here in Georgia, then we will not have the workers, the truckers, the foresters or the countless other members of the community along the entire food supply chain that feeds our nation.”

Rollins said the agency aims to ensure rural communities receive support through federal investment. “Working alongside Georgia’s great people, businesses, communities and partners, we are ushering in a new golden age of prosperity in rural America,” she said.

Georgia State Director Joyce White highlighted the scope of USDA’s efforts in the state over the past year. “Our dedicated team has been quietly hard at work, investing nearly a billion dollars in rural Georgia this past year,” White said. “I have always said Rural Development programs are the catalyst for the creation of strong, healthy, and resilient rural communities.”

Funding Breakdown

• Community Projects: 59
• Community Investment: $501 million
• Affordable Housing Investment: $405 million
• Total Investment: $906 million

Highlighted Projects

Hospital Authority of Randolph County
A $4 million Community Facilities Grant will fund major renovations and equipment purchases to restore full operational standards. The project includes construction, utilities and engineering needs and is supported by additional federal investments.

Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority
A $3.3 million Water and Waste Loan and Grant will upgrade the county’s water system with a 300,000-gallon elevated tank, improved water lines and new hydrants. USDA says the upgrades will help reduce disinfection by-products and improve system capacity.

Hunter Cattle Company, LLC
A $250,000 Value-Added Producer Grant will support the company’s expansion into value-added beef tallow soap products, covering processing, delivery, operations and marketing.

Georgia Transmission Corp
A $2.4 million Electric Loan will help build 20 miles of new transmission lines, upgrade 17 existing lines and modernize equipment to strengthen the state’s electric grid. These improvements support reliable power for 4.5 million customers served by Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives.

Seminole County Board of Education
A $980,690 Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant will equip two sites with modern distance-learning technology. The project will expand access to courses in computer science, agricultural education and dual-credit opportunities for 1,350 students.

USDA Rural Development administers loan, grant and loan guarantee programs that support rural infrastructure, housing, business development, healthcare, education and community services. The agency says its programs are designed to promote economic security and connectivity in rural areas.