ATLANTA – August 27, 2024. Ten Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $50,299,900 for water, wastewater, and sewer projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Approved loans:

  • Commerce awarded a $12,000,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan
  • Cornelia awarded a $3,246,000 Georgia Fund loan and a $1,329,200 Georgia Fund loan
  • Dalton Utilities awarded a $10,000,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan
  • Fort Gaines awarded a $212,100 Georgia Fund loan
  • Fulton County awarded a $10,000,000 DWSRF loan
  • Jefferson awarded a $8,000,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Plains awarded a $900,000 CWSRF loan
  • Reidsville awarded a $1,250,000 DWSRF loan
  • Richmond Hill awarded a $1,862,600 Georgia Fund loan
  • Sale City awarded a $1,500,000 DWSRF conservation loan

Project and loan details:

City of Commerce

The $12,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance constructing a new two million gallons per day (MGD) wastewater treatment plant. The city has experienced substantial growth in industrial and residential developments. This project will allow the city to meet the current demand and provide capacity for additional developments in the future. The city will pay 3.25% on the 20-year loan.

City of Cornelia

The $1,329,200 Georgia Fund loan will finance replacing three existing pumps at the Hazel Creek raw water intake. The new pumps, discharge piping, and valves will provide a wider range of flows and improve operability. The city will pay 2.35% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

The $3,246,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance the installation of water main to alleviate hydraulic constriction in the system and provide necessary fire flow. This project will reduce numerous potential health, safety, maintenance, and operational issues. The city will pay 2.35 percent on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

Dalton Utilities

The $10,000,000 DWSRF will finance constructing a new high service pump station at the V.D. Parrott Jr. Water Treatment Plant. The existing 1960s-era pump station will be demolished. This project will improve the treatment efficiency and extend the life of the plant. The city will pay 3.25% interest on the 20-year loan.

City of Fort Gaines

The $212,100 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing a pump station and replacing water and sewer main. Portions of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure are aging and deteriorated. This project will provide safe, sanitary, and reliable water and sewer service to the city’s residents. The city will pay 0.84 percent interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria.

Fulton County

The $10,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The county will pay 2.25% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the county being a WaterFirst Community.

City of Jefferson

The $8,000,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing the Parks Creek Reservoir, which has been in the planning stages for more than two decades and is now ready for construction. This project will provide a safe and reliable water source. The city will pay 2.92% interest on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

City of Plains

The $900,000 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the city’s wastewater treatment plant. This project will install proper screening to help protect the aerators and clarifiers. The city will pay 1.46% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $450,000.

City of Reidsville

The $1,250,000 DWSRF loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $1,250,000. The city will pay no interest on the loan since the total amount is eligible for principal forgiveness.

City of Richmond Hill

The $1,862,600 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing a lift station. The Hyundai Metaplant is nearing completion and is projected to create nearly 1,800 jobs. This project will accommodate large-scale growth for workforce housing for the area. The city will pay 2.35% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community.

City of Sale City

The $1,500,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance raising an existing storage tank, installing an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, and replacing water main and well pump motors. This project will reduce water loss, increase billing accuracy, and improve meter reading efficiency. The city will pay 2.23% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and a portion of the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $900,000.

Other GEFA Board Actions:

Resolution

The GEFA board approved the recommended amount of $15,000,000 for the Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracting value authority for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

City of Toccoa

The board approved a $3,552,400 increase to a CWSRF loan originally approved in May 2022.

Walker County Water and Sewerage Authority

The board approved a $4,000,000 increase to an CWSRF conservation loan originally approved in January 2021 and a previous increase in January 2023.