Twelve Georgia communities were awarded financing totaling $66,095,600 for water, wastewater, sewer, and stormwater projects by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors. 

Approved loans: 

  • Alma awarded a $6,000,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan 
  • Bainbridge awarded a $1,500,000 CWSRF loan 
  • Bartow County awarded a $10,500,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Cairo awarded a $4,164,200 CWSRF loan
  • Cumming awarded a $3,275,000 CWSRF loan, a $2,000,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan, a $3,625,000 Georgia Fund loan, and a $3,275,000 Georgia Fund loan 
  • Jackson County awarded a $5,444,900 Georgia Fund loan
  • Jefferson awarded a $8,000,000 Georgia Fund loan
  • Meigs awarded a $5,383,100 CWSRF loan and a $2,668,900 DWSRF loan
  • Pelham awarded a $2,304,000 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Reynolds awarded a $2,555,500 DWSRF conservation loan
  • Rochelle awarded a $400,000 Georgia Fund loan 
  • Thomaston awarded a $3,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan and a $2,000,000 DWSRF loan

Project and loan details: 

City of Alma

The $6,000,000 CWSRF loan will finance the design and the purchase of land to construct a new land application system (LAS). The city will pay 2.42% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the city being a PlanFirst Community. 

City of Bainbridge

The $1,500,000 CWSRF loan will finance improvements to the storm drainage system. Home and yards in the Wheat Street neighborhood flood during heavy rain fall. This project will reduce flooding and stormwater pollution, increase system reliability, and improve water quality. The city will pay 2.60% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria.

Bartow County 

The $10,500,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing a water pump station and a transmission main. This project will provide water to the Hyundai/SK On battery manufacturing plant currently under construction. The county will pay 2.35% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the county being a WaterFirst Community.

City of Cairo

The $4,164,200 CWSRF loan will finance improvements at the city’s water pollution control plant. The city received a permit violation from the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This project will keep the city in compliance and improve the reliability and efficiency of the plant. The city will pay 2.60% 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 $3,600,000. 

City of Cumming

The $3,275,000 CWSRF loan will finance extending sewer lines. This project will reduce septic tanks within the watershed and improve water quality. The city will pay 2.25% interest on the 20-year loan.

The $2,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance installing water main. This project will improve water quality and system reliability and efficiency. The city will pay 2.25% interest on the 20-year loan. 

The $3,625,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance expanding and upgrading the Bethelview Advanced Water Reclamation Facility. The facility does not have sufficient solids handling capacity at current flows. This project will replace problematic equipment and increase capacity and system efficiency. The city will pay 2.35% interest on the 20-year loan. 

The $3,275,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance expanding the Public Water Purification Facility. Due to population growth forecasts, the facility will need to increase its treatment capacity to serve the community. This project will also ensure critical infrastructure is protected from flooding. This city will pay 2.35% interest on the 20-year loan. 

These loans qualify for a reduced interest rate because the city is a WaterFirst Community. 

Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority  

The $5,444,900 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing the Parks Creek Reservoir. This reservoir will encompass a normal pool area of 166 acres and provide a safe yield of 4 million gallons per day. This project will include the construction of the dam and reservoir, an intake structure and raw water pump station on the North Oconee River, and a withdrawal structure at the dam and reservoir. The county will pay 3.35% interest on the 20-year loan. The project is jointly funded by the Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority (WSA) and city of Jefferson.

City of Jefferson

The $8,000,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance constructing the Parks Creek Reservoir. This reservoir will encompass a normal pool area of 166 acres and provide a safe yield of 4 million gallons per day. This project will include the construction of the dam and reservoir, an intake structure and raw water pump station on the North Oconee River, and a withdrawal structure at the dam and reservoir. The city will pay 2.92% interest on the 30-year loan. This loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to the city being a WaterFirst Community. The project is jointly funded by the city and the Jackson County WSA.

City of Meigs

The $5,383,100 CWSRF loan will finance upgrading the water pollution control plant. This project will improve the reliability and efficiency of the plant and ensure compliance with water quality standards. The city will pay 2.48% on the 30-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 $4,000,000.

The $2,668,900 DWSRF loan will finance constructing a new elevated water storage tank and installing water main. The new elevated storage tank will provide capacity at a higher elevation to provide additional water pressure. This project will improve water quality and system reliability. The city will pay 2.48% on the 30-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 $2,402,010.

City of Pelham

The $2,304,000 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing water main. This project will improve the water quality and reduce numerous maintenance and operational issues. The city will pay 1.80% interest on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $576,000. 

City of Reynolds

The $2,555,500 DWSRF conservation loan will finance replacing manual-read water meters with an automatic meter reading (AMR) system and installing water main. This project will reduce leaks, increase billing accuracy, and improve water quality. The city will pay 1.27% interest on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $1,533,300. 

City of Rochelle

The $400,000 Georgia Fund loan will finance rehabilitating the city’s water pollution control plant. The city received a consent order from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) for ammonia and dissolved oxygen level violations in discharge wastewater. This project will substantially improve the treatment capabilities of the plant to keep the city in compliance. The city will pay 2.18% on the 30-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria. 

City of Thomaston

The $3,000,000 CWSRF conservation loan will finance trenchless rehabilitation of gravity sewer main. This project will provide system reliability and prevent sewer spills. The city will pay 1.01% on the 20-year loan. The loan qualifies for a reduced interest rate due to GEFA’s affordability criteria and the project being a conservation activity. The city is eligible for principal forgiveness up to $1,850,000.

The $2,000,000 DWSRF loan will finance improving the Thomaston Water Treatment Plant. This project will improve system reliability and efficiency. The city will pay 1.46% 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 $1,200,000.

Other GEFA Board Actions:

Alcovy Shores Water and Sewerage Authority

The board approved a scope modification to a $30,000 Georgia Fund loan originally approved in November 2023. 

City of Perry

The board approved a scope modification to a $6,000,000 Georgia Fund loan originally approved in November 2023. 

City of Villa Rica

The board approved a $2,250,000 increase to a Georgia Fund loan originally approved in January 2023. 

Resolution

The board approved a resolution to establish a local government investment pool account for the purpose of administering the state fiscal recovery funds.