The City of Thomasville is currently pursuing a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) of up to $750,000 through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to fund infrastructure improvements in and around the Dewey City neighborhood.
“Funding from the CDBG grant would provide water, sewer, and drainage improvements that address community needs around the Dewey City neighborhood,” said Kenneth Thompson, City Planner. “These improvements were identified based on the volume of service requests from residents in the area that are due to drainage and related issues.”
Thompson says that as part of the grant application process, the City is required to provide neighborhood information and collect residents’ feedback on the project. “Dewey City residents are invited to a public informational meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 1st at 10 a.m. in the Douglass High School Cafeteria,” said Thompson. “This session allows us the opportunity to discuss with residents how these grant funds can be used to help make infrastructure improvements in the Dewey City neighborhood. It will also allow us to secure input and feedback from Dewey City residents required for submission with the grant application.”
Citizens unable to attend the meeting can participate by phone or by submitting electronic surveys. “For citizens unable to attend, the meeting will be accessible by phone by calling toll-free to 1-866-527-1159, attendee code 41358,” said Thompson. “Dewey City residents were also mailed letters inviting them to participate either in the informational meeting or via our online surveys located on Thomasville.org.”
The annual CDBG Competitive Program provides federal aid funding through DCA on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist in a wide range of eligible activities. These can include housing improvement projects, public facilities such as water and sanitary sewer lines, buildings such as local health centers or head start centers, and economic development programs to benefit low- and moderate-income persons. “The application process is very competitive and funding through the CDBG program is not guaranteed,” said Thompson.
“The City is trying to send the strongest application possible in order to secure the funding, and participation by residents of the Dewey City Neighborhood is critical to our success,” said Thompson. “The award of the grant would result in the improvement of water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure.”
The Douglass High School Complex is located at 115 Forrest Street. Persons with special needs relating to handicapped accessibility or foreign language shall contact Eve Geyer, Project Coordinator, at 229-227-7062 or eveg@thomasville.org. For more information about the proposed Dewey City CDBG Grant visit Thomasville.org. or call 229-227-7001.
