U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, D-Albany, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Agency has approved $14.3 million in project development grants and loans to five recipients in Southwest Georgia.

The recipients are the Fort Gaines Police Department, the Ellaville Police Department, Pataula Charter Academy, the Development Authority of Macon County and South Georgia Technical College, a news release from Bishop’s office said.

“The grants and loans awarded by the Rural Development agency will be extremely beneficial for the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia,” he said. “These resources will be used to improve educational training, increase the use of green technology and replace outdated equipment.”

Pataula Charter Academy in Edison will receive a $14 million community facility direct loan in order to build a new educational facility and multipurpose building. The state-commissioned charter school serves Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Early and Randolph counties, and includes grades K-12.

The Development Authority of Macon County will receive a $99,000 rural business development grant to purchase a flying saw that will be leased to Enviro Builders, a company focused on constructing green insulated panels for net-zero energy housing.

The city of Fort Gaines will receive an economic impact initiative grant of $50,000 and a community facility loan of $26,800 in order to purchase two new police vehicles for its police department. The city of Ellaville was also awarded a grant of $29,500 and a loan totaling $9,900 under the Community Facility Loan and Grant Program to purchase a new fully-equipped patrol vehicle.

South Georgia Technical College in Americus will receive a rural business development grant totaling $99,000 to upgrade the college’s truck driving simulator. Students enrolled in the institution’s Commercial Truck Driving Program will benefit from the updated tractor trailers and cabs.

The USDA Rural Development Agency provides both technical assistance and loans, grants and loan guarantees to support essential services in rural communities. The support is used to help communities with housing, economic development, health care, first responder services and equipment, as well as water, electric and communications infrastructure.