Published 5:04 pm Tuesday, September 8, 2026 VALDOSTA — On Friday, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs announced federal grants totaling $40.9 million to 42 communities across the state. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocates these funds annually to Georgia’s Community Development Block Grant program, which is administered by DCA. Georgia’s CDBG program is available to non-entitlement local governments and specifically targets rural communities, according to the DCA’s announcement of the grants. After a competitive and thorough evaluation process, applications are scored, rated, and ranked. Grants are awarded based on overall merit, the DCA said. While neither Valdosta nor Lowndes County received any funding, several nearby cities and counties did: Berrien County will receive $624,179 for street and drainage improvements on Heather Lane. According to documents included in the announcement, the project will benefit 26 people, of whom 20 are low-to-moderate income. The total project cost is $735,179 with $111,000 being a local match and leverage. Echols County will receive $1 million for water system improvements in the River Street target area. The project will benefit 185 people, of whom 158 are low-to-moderate income, the documentation said. The total project cost is $1,298,320 with $298,320 in local match and leverage. The City of Lakeland will receive $1 million for sewer improvements on Bostick Avenue, South Oak Street, Franklin Avenue…
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