The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) has selected 18 projects in Georgia to receive funding under the FY2025 State Economic and Infrastructure Development (SEID) program. This grant program is designed to revitalize communities and spur economic development across counties in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The FY 2025 SEID program funds projects that align with priorities identified in SCRC’s authorizing statute, Five‑Year Strategic Plan and State Economic Development Plans.

Georgia projects were awarded nearly $12.6M for water and sewer upgrades, workforce training, small-business support, and community revitalization projects across 69 counties, with 78% classified as infrastructure projects.

The 18 Georgia grantees are:

• CFAR Rural Workforce & Agriculture Training Center – Center for Agricultural Resilience Inc.

The CFAR Rural Workforce & Agriculture Training Center is a $1.2 million initiative to build a 6,050‑sq‑ft modular training facility in Bluffton, Georgia. The center will provide hands‑on training in regenerative agriculture, food systems and entrepreneurship through workshops, internships and veteran‑focused programs, aiming to train over 200 individuals, create new jobs and strengthen local agricultural participation.

• Arts & Cultural Center Preservation/Renovation Project – Arts & Cultural Authority of Claxton and Evans County

The Arts and Cultural Authority is completing a $4.37 million restoration of the historic Claxton High School. A $286,350 grant from SCRC will fund the final phase—renovating dressing rooms and multi‑purpose areas essential for the Joyce NeSmith Auditorium’s full functionality. Once complete, the project will deliver a vibrant, accessible community arts and cultural center for Claxton and the surrounding region.

• The 1823 Exchange: Igniting Entrepreneurship & Economic Growth in Rural Lincoln County – Board of Commissioners of Lincoln County, GA

The 1823 Exchange is a $1,030,000 project restoring the historic Lamar‑Blanchard House and adding a new flex‑space to serve as a hub for entrepreneurship and skills development in Lincoln County. The Exchange will offer training, co‑working and community programming, providing a scalable platform for regional economic impact.

• Kingsland Commerce Park Infrastructure – Camden County Joint Development Authority

The Camden County Joint Development Authority is updating the current infrastructure including the sewer pump station and several manholes in the Kingsland Commerce Park. This project will support the local commerce park to provide business with increased revenue generation during and post‑development.

• Chatham Childcare Coalition – Greenbriar Renovation Project – Chatham County Government

The Greenbriar Renovation Project will convert a ±6,000 sf facility into three state‑compliant classrooms with staff areas and safe outdoor play spaces. This renovation will provide a safe, operational and educationally ready early childhood care facility for the community.

• The City of Donalsonville Water System Improvements – City of Donalsonville

Donalsonville was awarded $1,000,000 to replace aging 6‑ and 8‑inch water mains with new 12‑inch PVC mains and poly service lines, improving water quality, pressure and fire protection. The upgrades include backflow prevention, gate valves and redundant connections, supporting ongoing housing and school developments and enhancing the city’s overall water system.

• Water Pollution Facility Upgrade – City of Dublin

Dublin will receive $500,000 from SCRC to upgrade its Water Pollution Control Facility. These improvements include replacing all pumps and mechanical bar screens to prevent sewer overflows, protect public health and support future growth.

• Water System Improvements – Industrial Park – City of Hawkinsville

The City of Hawkinsville is planning to address low water pressure in the North Industrial Park and surrounding areas, caused by elevations 50–80 feet higher than downtown. The project includes constructing a 300,000‑gallon elevated water storage tank, a 1,000‑gpm booster pump station, a pressure‑reducing valve and 450 feet of 12‑inch PVC water main to improve system pressure and storage. These improvements will ensure adequate water supply, support economic growth and enable private investment and job creation in the industrial park.

• Maple Street Corridor – City of Sylvania

The City of Sylvania was awarded $735,366 to transform a vacant, underutilized lot into a functional, aesthetically appealing pedestrian corridor connecting North Main Street and Maple Street. Improvements include grading and soil removal, a new retaining wall, ADA‑accessible ramps and stairs, lighting, landscaping, paving and parking/event‑space enhancements. This project will increase downtown connectivity, support community events and make the area more attractive for new business investment.

• Coffee Regional Medical Center Emergency Department Expansion and Upgrade – Coffee Regional Medical Center, Inc.

Coffee Regional Medical Center will leverage $1,000,000 to support the expansion and renovation of its Emergency Department, which will increase standard patient rooms from 14 to 17 and add three dedicated behavioral‑health rooms. The project also includes expanded triage space and upgraded equipment to improve patient flow, safety and care effectiveness.

• McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, Water System Improvements – McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority

The McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority was awarded $1,000,000 to fund a deep‑water well project at Tidewaters Industrial Park, including a 1,500 GPM pump, 350 feet of 18‑inch water main, a pump house and related systems. The project will ensure reliable water infrastructure to support existing tenants, attract new employers and promote long‑term economic growth.

• Ports Tidal and Stormwater Drainage and Flood Control Project – The City of Brunswick

The Ports Tidal and Stormwater Drainage and Flood Control Project in Western Old Town Brunswick will install tidal control gates and upgrade stormwater systems to prevent flooding from high tides and heavy rainfall, improving drainage, reducing maintenance costs and protecting homes and businesses. The city was awarded $1,000,000 to implement these critical flood‑mitigation measures.

• Growing Georgia’s Economy Through Property Rights – The Georgia Heirs Property Law Center, Inc.

The Georgia Heirs Property Law Center will leverage $540,590 to provide two years of legal and outreach services addressing heirs property in Thomasville, Perry and South Georgia, including workshops, intake and title‑clearing services, estate planning and development of an intelligent online form to streamline family history collection and case management.

• Support for The Partnership for Innovation Summer Internship (PSI) 2026 Experience – The Partnership for Innovation

The Partnership for Innovation Summer Internship program places undergraduate interns in economically distressed Georgia communities to address local capacity and innovation gaps, pairing student talent with community‑defined projects while providing mentorship and professional development. For this initiative, PSI was awarded $300,000 to support 12‑week internships, project implementation and impact measurement across multiple distressed counties.

• Twiggs County Exit 24 Water and Sewer Extension Project – Twiggs County Board of Commissioners

Twiggs County was awarded $1 million from the SCRC to fund water and sewer infrastructure improvements at the I‑16/Highway 96 interchange, extending service to a new truck stop and food facility. The project, managed by Carter & Sloope, supports economic development and job creation.

• Cusseta Benning Connector Trail – Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County

The Cusseta Benning Connector Trail will convert 0.52 miles of unused rail line into a multi‑use path linking Cusseta’s planned Town Trail with Fort Benning’s trail system, ultimately connecting to the 34‑mile Columbus Dragonfly Trail. This project will expand recreation, walkability and regional economic opportunities.

• Expanding PROPEL to Increase Economic Development Capacity in Rural Georgia – University of Georgia Research Foundation

The University of Georgia’s PROPEL program and PROPEL Ready initiative will expand to four rural Georgia counties, guiding communities through data‑driven planning, coaching and technical assistance to build capacity, set priorities and implement strategies for economic and community development.

• Look Ahead Georgia Workforce Development Capacity Building – University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.

UGA’s Look Ahead Georgia program expands rural internships in five distressed counties, connecting students with local employers to strengthen talent pipelines, workforce capacity and long‑term community development.

For more information about the SEID Grant program and SCRC, please visit scrc.gov.

About the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC)
The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) is a federal-state partnership authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill to promote and encourage economic development in areas of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and all of Florida. SCRC invests in projects that support basic infrastructure, business development, natural resources, and workforce/labor development. SCRC’s mission is to help create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those who reside in the 428 counties of the seven-state region.