More than $4 million awarded to West Georgia counties for site development

Governor Brian Kemp has announced the fourth round of grants from the Rural Site Development Initiative (RSDI) within the OneGeorgia Authority, totaling $7.8 million for ten local projects across the state. With this latest round of grants, the State of Georgia has invested $28 million into rural site development projects since the program’s launch in FY 2025.

Three of those counties are in West Georgia including Muscogee, Harris, and Upson.

The Development Authority of Columbus was awarded $2 million for site improvement work, including clearing and grading, at the GRAD-certified Muscogee Technology Park. The total project costs are $10 million.

The Thomaston-Upson County Industrial Development Authority was awarded $2 million to construct water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure at the GRAD-certified Central Georgia Business and Technology Park. The total project costs are $2.3 million.

The Development Authority of Harris County was awarded $54,400 to certify the largest remaining tract of the Northwest Harris Business Park. The total project costs are $77,500.

“Since I took office, over 64 percent of new jobs created have gone to parts of our state outside the metro Atlanta region, and the Rural Site Development Initiative is an important part of that broader effort to bring opportunity to all parts of Georgia,” said Governor Kemp. “I’m grateful for the great partnership of the General Assembly in funding and promoting this program, and I look forward to even more jobs and investment going to rural areas.”

Eligible activities for use of grant funds include, but are not limited to, site studies, land grading, and other essential community infrastructure efforts that support site development. Grantees demonstrated substantive plans for industrial site development while meeting OneGeorgia Authority eligibility requirements. Use of funds is subject to all applicable state laws and regulations, as well as the policies and requirements of the OneGeorgia Authority and the Department of Community Affairs.