Gov. Kemp Announces Three New Rural Workforce Housing Grant Recipients

Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the third round of grant recipients from the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative. Totaling more than $6.3 million in infrastructure development, this new round of grants will ultimately support more than 123 housing units across three different communities.

“We have already seen a great response to the Rural Workforce Housing program, and this latest round of grants will further strengthen communities experiencing incredible economic growth,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “To ensure the people of our state can live where they work, the amended budget I signed earlier this year included $50 million dollars for this program and will be included in the budget for years to come. I want to thank the members of the General Assembly for their support of this program and our efforts to keep Georgia the best state to live, work, and raise a family in.”

In addition to meeting the grant and OneGeorgia Authority requirements, award recipients demonstrated strong collaboration between the affected communities and real estate developers.

Announced in the Governor’s 2023 State of the State Address, the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative is helping to spur the development of critically needed workforce housing in communities across the state. The Georgia General Assembly approved $35.7 million to start the initiative in the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed into law in March 2023, and an additional $50 million in the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget the Governor signed this year. This third round of successful grantees demonstrates meaningful change in workforce housing for these three communities and the benefits of the overall program.

“With economic growth occurring in every part of the state, demand for workforce housing continues to grow,” said Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn. “The OneGeorgia Authority is pleased to support these local communities that are pursuing deliberate workforce housing strategies.”

In addition to meeting OneGeorgia Authority requirements, applicants leveraged other funding sources to demonstrate community commitment to increasing access to affordable housing for workers. Use of funds is subject to all applicable state laws and regulations, as well as to the policies and requirements of the OneGeorgia Authority and the Department of Community Affairs. OneGeorgia funds must be expended within the timeframe specified in the grant or loan award documentation, which is generally two years from the date of the award.

Awards

City of Louisville
The City of Louisville will receive an infrastructure grant of $2,210,000 to construct the necessary water, sewer, street, and drainage improvements for the 18-acre Chestnut Subdivision. This work will enable the construction of 46 new homes and townhomes in two phases. Both phases will be helmed by local development partner Molly’s Food and Fuel, Louisville, LLC. The City of Louisville is contributing to the total project cost.

City of Lyons
The City of Lyons will be awarded $1,633,672 for necessary water, sewer, street, and drainage improvements for the Parker Place Subdivision. The local development partner, Stockyard Properties, LLC, will construct 27 homes across the 14.5-acre subdivision. The City of Lyons is contributing to the total project costs of $1,732,672.

City of Savannah
The City of Savannah will receive $2,500,000 to construct necessary sewer infrastructure improvements to complete the 66-acre Legacy Development that will support 30 new single-family homes and 20 townhomes built by P3JVG. The City of Savannah and the development partner are contributing to the total infrastructure cost of $3,160,129.