Among the more than 100 projects awarded American Rescue Plan funding by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp last week  were three projects coordinated by Georgia’s Rural Center and totaling more than $1.1 million in funds. The projects are located  in Parrott, Tifton and Warthen. 

“We are pleased and grateful to have received funding for these projects that will positively impact quality of life for people in  these rural communities,” Interim Director David Bridges said. “We thank not only Gov. Kemp and those who assisted him in  selecting projects for funding, but also those individuals from across the state who helped the Rural Center team craft the  proposals we submitted.” 

All projects chosen to receive ARP funding will address challenges related to drinking water and wastewater systems throughout  Georgia.  

Funds awarded will allow the City of Parrott in rural Terrell County to replace an outdated well pump and provide auxiliary power  to the new pump, thus ensuring a safe water supply for residents, visitors and businesses for the next 30 years. Both Rep.  Gerald Greene and Sen. Freddie Powell Simms were instrumental in crafting this successful project proposal. 

Similarly, in Tifton, ARP funding will be applied to the complete overhaul of the campus water system of Abraham Baldwin  Agricultural College, including the construction of a new well and water tower. State representatives Penny Houston, Sam  Watson and Clay Pirkle, along with Sen. Carden Summers, contributed to the ABAC request. 

Finally, in Warthen, a small, unincorporated community in Washington County, ARP funding will provide for the construction of  a second water well needed to ensure a safe, continuous water supply both to residences and to the local volunteer fire  department. Rep. Mack Jackson, Sen. David Lucas and Ed Jordan of the Warthen Water Association assisted the Rural Center  team in crafting the proposal that led to this grant award. 

“Putting together these project proposals and funding requests, as well as a dozen other much-needed projects that we hope  will be considered at a later time, required our staff team to work together with state and local leaders over the span of an  entire year,” said Bridges. “The collaboration that occurred is an indication of the work of Georgia’s Rural Center and its role in  supporting rural communities.” 

For more information on these projects, contact Bridges or Rural Center Associate Director Scott Blount at 229-391-4847. Learn  more about the Rural Center’s other on-going efforts to reinvigorate rural Georgia at www.ruralga.org.