The City of Thomasville was recently awarded a Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Council Grant of $37,200 from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to support roadside enhancement and beautification projects along state routes in Georgia. The REBC Grant Program, formerly GATEway Grant Program, is funded through contributory value fees paid by outdoor advertising companies to GDOT for vegetation removal around outdoor advertising signs.
According to Chris White, Executive Director of Public Utilities, the REBC Grant will be used to fund gateway improvements at the Cairo Road and US-319 intersection. “The funding from the grant will assist the City with improvements to landscaping and irrigation at this gateway into our City,” said White. “We expect to break ground on this beautification project in late May.”
White says the project will also include the installation of a welcome sign and lighting. “The beautification of this gateway will be completed with landscaping that will welcome visitors to our beautiful city,” he said. “In an effort to minimize maintenance requirements, we have elected to use native plants that will thrive in the soils, moisture, and weather of our region for this project. The gateway is adjacent to one of the oldest intact longleaf forests making the use of these plants consistent with the current land usage.”
“We are appreciative of the awarding of these funds from the REBC and GDOT,” said White. “It is agencies such as these that provide funding sources and grant opportunities that assist us with enhancing the quality of life for our citizens.”
For additional information or questions, please contact Pam Schalk, Grants Administrator, at 229-227-4093.