News Archive
August 4, 2021 | Grants, Loans and Funding Opportunities - August 2021
Every month, ECG produces a list of grants, loans and funding opportunites to assist businesses and agencies as they search for programs to support their efforts. We pass this information along to you and hope you will share it as well.
Click here for the AUGUST 2021 edition.
(READ MORE)August 3, 2021 | 2021 Boy Scouts of America Golden Eagle Award Dinner - August 12
The 2021 Boy Scouts of America Golden Eagle Award Dinner will be held on August 12, 2021 at Valley View Barn in Byron, GA.
Ms. Minnie R. Booker, will be honored at the event.
If you would like to purchase tickets to the event or if your business would like to sponsor a table, please contact Garrett Williams at (478) 235-1689 or via email at Garrett.Williams@scouting.org.
Click here to download sponsorship form.
(READ MORE)August 2, 2021 | Middle Georgia - Robins Air Force Base Sustainability Plan Meeting
August 1, 2021 | 2021 Peaches to the Beaches in Peach County - Georgia’s Longest Yard Sale!
It's BACK! Peaches to the Beaches: Georgia's Longest Yard Sale will kick off the 2021 roadside sale August 6th and 7th from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. If you've got antiques, garden tools, craft items, jewelry, clothing, toys ... you name it ... if you've got it and you want to sell it then this is the yard sale for YOU! If it's shopping you're interested in, then head on out, grab your cash and set your sights on thousands of unique items that will be up for sale.
Interested in becoming a vendor? Call (678) 771-3265 or click this link to find out how to become a vendor. Thousands make the trip each year to explore the yard sale so it's a great opportunity to showcase your crafts and other for sale items!
(READ MORE)July 31, 2021 | Peach Regional Chamber of Commerce - August Newsletter & Community Updates
Click here to read the August 2021 Community Newsletter from the Peach Regional Chamber of Commerce.
(READ MORE)July 30, 2021 | Gov. Kemp Announces Education Relief Fund Applications
Atlanta, GA – Today, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the availability of $47 million in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER), beginning August 1. The Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) will distribute these resources through an application process.
The purpose of the GEER II Fund is to provide local educational agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education (IHEs), and other education related entities with emergency assistance needed as a result of COVID-19.
“As we reflect on the past school year, Georgia's education system has withstood many challenges and remained resilient,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “This second round of GEER dollars will help us make strategic investments in our education system to empower our school leadership, support staff, teachers, and students."
The application period will open on August 1, 2021, and close on August 31, 2021. Funds will be available for use through September 30, 2023.
The application on OPB’s website can be found here.
About the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund II
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA), was signed into law on December 27, 2020. This Act provides funding to supplement the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund awarded to each state under the previous CARES Act, creating a second GEER funding stream, GEER II.
Contact Press Secretary
Mallory Blount
mallory.blount@georgia.gov
Contact Deputy Press Secretary
Emily Flower
emily.flower@georgia.gov
July 28, 2021 | List of Broadband Ready Communities Grows with Addition of The City of Byron
Similar to small towns across Georgia, the City of Byron was not immune from the struggles of COVID-19, and as an interstate town, travel reductions greatly impacted local revenues and job prospects. Broadband access, another issue highlighted by the pandemic, became a necessity for many individuals to stay employed given the changes within the rapid service sector.
Tiffany Sandefur, City Administrator of Byron, stated that though a majority of the city is adequately served by quality broadband services, such as Windstream providing Gigabit speeds using Fiber technology, these services do present a significant cost burden for most residents. Cable internet is also accessible through Cox Communications, and despite being slower and still costly, it still provides a more practical alternative for most.
With the Broadband designation, the City of Byron is now recognized as a Broadband Ready city/and or county whose local government has completed the application and demonstrated compliance with the adoption of a local comprehensive plan inclusive of the deployment of broadband services and a Broadband Model Ordinance. 
Neighbors and partners in unincorporated Peach County and the City of Fort Valley also have significant challenges with internet accessibility. Many residents there lack access to any service beyond satellite internet, and similar to Byron, service is expensive. However, if the City of Byron can offer support through the easing of regulatory barriers within its municipal boundaries, Sandefur says the city is happy to do so.
“Having quality internet service is an immediate boost to economic activity within the area,” Sandefur adds. “It will also help our students be more successful in the classroom, knowing that they can reference electronic learning materials seamlessly.”
With the City of Byron situated along Interstate 75, the city is actively looking to market its own industrial park. As Broadband can help encourage economic development, the city believes that the program can set any community on the right track for future growth.
Read original article here.
(READ MORE)July 26, 2021 | Cultural Facilities Grant Applications
POSTED: JULY 27, 2021
DEADLINE: AUGUST 31, 2021
Grantor: Georgia Council for the Arts
Applicants may apply for an FY22 Cultural Facilities Grant for the construction, renovation, or acquisition of a building, or the addition of equipment that supports arts programming. All facilities for which funding is being requested must be used for arts programs. The project for which support is being requested must start no earlier than November 1, 2021, and be completed no later than June 30, 2022.
If an organization is carrying out a very large capital project that will not be finished in its entirety by June 30, 2022, the applicant may apply for support for a single component or phase of that project.
Examples of eligible projects include:
- Renovating a building to be accessible to people with disabilities
- Carrying out a preservation project on a historic building
- Constructing a new building for use as an arts facility
- Purchasing a building for use as an arts facility
- Building an outdoor stage or amphitheater
- Purchasing and installing permanent equipment. The only types of equipment that may be included in a Cultural Facilities Grant application are:
- HVAC systems,
- HEPA air filter equipment,
- seating, sound equipment,
- lighting equipment,
- projection systems,
- kilns,
- printing presses, and
- equipment to make programming accessible to people with disabilities, such as assistive listening devices.
Applicants must request at least $10,000 and no more than $75,000. Grants may be awarded for an amount less than what was requested.
The deadline to apply is August 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.
Read original post here.
(READ MORE)July 21, 2021 | Lt. Governor Duncan Announces $250 Million State Tax Credit to Bolster Law Enforcement Efforts
ATLANTA (July 22, 2021) | Today, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan announced his intention to work with the General Assembly to create a $250 million state tax credit directly targeted at lowering crime statewide. Partnering with key Senate members, the Law Enforcement Strategic Support “LESS Crime” Act will be the cornerstone of the Lt. Governor’s 2022 legislative agenda.
“It should be no surprise that every state leader is concerned with the exponential rise in crime here in Georgia, especially in our Capital city,” said Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan. “Rising crime is affecting individuals, businesses, and Georgia families, and combatting this problem will not be accomplished by one solution alone. My goal is to bolster law enforcement agencies across our state by giving each community the tools necessary to prevent and stop crime. Big problems call for big solutions and I look forward to building a bipartisan coalition in the Senate and House to make the LESS Crime Act a reality.”
The program is modelled after the Rural Hospital Tax Credit that enabled donors to rural hospitals to be eligible for tax credits. This credit empowers communities to be directly involved in the solution.
Specifically, the LESS Crime Act:
- Allows citizens and corporations to write a check directly to their local law enforcement agency they can receive a 100% dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.
- The credit will be capped at $5,000 per individual, $10,000 per married couple or 75% of a corporation’s tax liability.
- Law enforcement agencies will be required to allocate those dollars to pay officers more, hire additional officers, and increase officer training.
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Contact Lieutenant Governor's Press Office
press@ltgov.ga.gov
July 20, 2021 | Vibrant Communities Grant
POSTED: JULY 21, 2021
DEADLINE: AUGUST 31, 2021
Grantor: Georgia Council for the Arts
The Vibrant Communities Grant can fund programs such as performances, exhibits, residencies, workshops, murals, public art, and festivals, among other types of arts programs. GCA has added online programs to the list of program types eligible for Vibrant Communities Grant funding.
The grant is open to any nonprofit organization, government entity, library, school, college or university located in an eligible Georgia county. Applicants may request from $1,000 to $5,000 and the grant requires a 50% cash match.
The deadline to apply is August 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.
Read original post here.
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