Loeffler Announces $4.1 Million in CARES Act Grants to Help Georgia Communities Respond to the Coronavirus

ATLANTA – U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) today announced that 11 Georgia organizations will receive a total of $4.1 million in federal grants to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
The grants are provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Stability (CARES) Act, which Loeffler supported, and are being distributed by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
 
“Communities across Georgia have done a remarkable job at adapting to these uncertain times,” said Senator Loeffler. “These EDA investments will support those efforts by helping small businesses and cities from Athens down to Valdosta not only recover from the coronavirus but also grow their local economies over the long term. I am proud to be working with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and the Trump administration to create jobs and bring our economy roaring back.”
 
“The Trump Administration is eager to allocate these essential CARES Act funds and deliver on our promise to help American communities recover from the impact of COVID-19,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “I am proud of the perseverance and strength shown by our communities coast to coast throughout this pandemic, and these funds will help provide Georgia with resources to make a swift and lasting economic comeback.”
 
Background:
 
The EDA announced the following investments today:

• Atlanta Regional Commission, Atlanta, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing strategies to boost economic investment in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport area; providing local economic data to support impact analysis; and providing training and strategy development for local governments and others to support local businesses.
• Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, Gainesville, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by boosting the region’s economy through recovery and resilience strategies designed to build stronger and more vibrant communities. 
• Middle Georgia Regional Commission, Macon, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by undertaking planning and technical assistance to meet both short-term recovery and long-term resiliency goals of the middle Georgia region. Recovery planning will focus on expanding the diversity and accessibility of job opportunities, especially related to the availability of broadband Internet services to businesses. Long-term resiliency goals for middle Georgia include encouraging regional innovation.
• Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, Athens, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing and implementing short- and long-range initiatives to support communities, and building economic resilience through enhanced public-private-nonprofit partnerships and coordinated, on-the-ground assistance throughout Northeast Georgia.
• Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, Rome, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to communities and businesses in the region. 
• River Valley Regional Commission, Columbus, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by boosting staff capacity to work directly with local communities and chambers of commerce. Efforts will also help promote important regional tourism sites. 
• Southern Georgia Regional Commission, Valdosta, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing and implementing economic recovery strategies to rebuild resilient and sustainable communities. 
• Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, Camilla, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by developing tools to aid in economic recovery and developing a regional plan to create a resilient region in partnership with local government, community groups businesses and educational institutions.
• Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission, Augusta, will receive a $394,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to communities and businesses in the region. 
• Three Rivers Regional Commission, Griffin, will receive a $310,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by establishing a disaster recovery coordinator position which will focus on working with local stakeholders.
• Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission, Eastman, will receive a $165,132 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to communities and businesses in the region.

 
These entities, all EDA-designated Economic Development Districts, are some of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the CARES Act. The CARES Act, supported by Senator Loeffler and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.