Mount Vernon Awarded $1.4 Million State Grant for Road Connectivity Project

Governor Brian Kemp and the State Road and Tollway Authority (STRA) Board of Directors announced $26.5 million in loan and grant funds would be awarded to various Georgia counties and cities, including $1,406,242 to Mount Vernon to fund its Roadway Connectivity Project, on Tuesday, June 24, according to a press release.

“Thanks to conservative budgeting and strategic funding of our priorities, Georgia is not only the No. 1 state for business we’re also the best state for reliable infrastructure,” said Governor Brian Kemp in the release. “With this year’s historic rural investment, we’re preserving our competitive edge and reaffirming our commitment to creating opportunity in all parts of our state, especially rural Georgia.”

The project aims to pave Carver Street, currently a dirt road, as well as repair and improve the drainages on Broad Street, South Railroad Avenue, North Washington Street and McKinnon Street. The road pavement intends to improve road safety, while the drainage repair aims to reopen roads which have been closed since Hurricane Helene.

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The awarded funds mark two records for the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB), including the largest combined rural award at $13.3 million and the largest amount of loans at $15.5 million. Created in 2010, GTIB is a grant and loan program operated by STRA to administer funds to Georgia transportation projects, totalling $242 million in awarded funds since its inception.

“Rural communities made up 38% of GTIB applications this year, indicating transportation is important in every corner of our state,” says STRA Executive Director Jannine Miller in the release. “With the support of Governor Kemp and the General Assembly, GTIB is helping local governments accelerate project delivery and lower long-term costs for Georgia taxpayers.”