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GMRC backs local economy
By Heather Feldman
he Georgia Mountains
T Regional Commission
(GMRC) is one of 12
state-enabled g—a=
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organizations ’
in Georgia ' ok.
that provides g 1
critical ser- E:‘
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member gov
ernments, the state of
Georgia and federal agencies.
Encompassing approximately
3,500 square miles, the
Georgia mountains region is
located in the foothills of the
Blue Ridge Mountains. The
region is bordered by North
Carolina to the north and
South Carolina to the east,
while other Georgia counties
border the region to the south
and west.
At a total population of
627,333, the Georgia
Mountains Regional
Commission serves the fol
lowing thirfeen counties:
Banks, Dawson, Forsyth,
Franklin, Habersham, Hall,
Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun,
Stephens, Towns, Union and
White counties. The GMRC
also serves all 38 municipali
ties within these counties.
From land use planning
and grant writing to work
force development and cut
ting-edge geographic infor
mation systems, the GMRC
provides member govern
10
HORIZONS February 2013
ments with technical assis
tance and expertise in region
al development issues. The
GMRC staff serves as an
extension of local govern
ments, supporting elected
officials and staff in their
day-to-day operations, while
also serving as a resource for
research and data.
The economic development
department works with local
governments on solutions to
local and regional problems
while planning for economic
opportunities and infrastruc
ture to achieve, maintain, and
enhance the quality of life for
residents in the Georgia
mountains region. Efforts
are aimed at assisting com
munities with economic and
community development,
asset-based development,
social and physical infra
structure, and workforce
development needs that lead
to the creation and mainte
nance of employment oppor
tunities for residents, a strong
tax base for local govern
ments, and a safe, secure, and
thriving community.
The economic development
department assists local gov
ernments and development
authorities in pursuing eco
nomic development through
a variety of technical assis
tance, including: preparation
of federal and state grant and
loan applications, preparation
of redevelopment plans, and
o
grant administration.
In 2012, the GMRC eco
nomic development depart
ment ended another success
ful year with $3,992,585
awarded in grant funds to
member governments and
administered 16 projects
totaling $7,904,430 in federal
grant funds. An additional
$2,092,577 in grant funding
requests was still pending
approval as of Dec. 31. The
GMRC economic develop
ment department has also
received six innovation
awards from the National
Association of Development
Organizations for projects
developed.
Grant programs: GMRC
works with the following
grant and loan agencies in
securing funding:
Appalachian Regional
Commission (ARC),
Economic Development
Administration (EDA),
Georgia Department of
Community Affairs (DCA),
Georgia Environmental
Finance Authority (GEFA),
One Georgia Authority
(IGA), United States
Department of Agriculture —
Rural Development (USDA —
RD), and Georgia
Department of Economic
Development (GDEcD).
The State Small Business
Credit Initiative (SSBCI)
through the Georgia
Department of Community
Affairs is a new program that
supports state-run small busi
nesses, capital access pro
grams or other credit support
programs. The SSBCI
Programs will partner with
private lenders to extend
access to credit for small
businesses. There are three
programs being offered
through SSBCI: 1) Georgia
Funding for Community
Development Finance
Institutions; 2) Georgia
Small Business Credit
Guarantee Program; and
3) Georgia Capital Access
Program. For more informa
tion on this program, please
contact Holly Hunt at (770)
538-2631.
" Project types: The above
mentioned programs aim to
fund projects geared for
infrastructure development,
such as water, sewer, road,
rail, and broadband. Other
types of projects include
community public facilities,
such as senior centers, adult
learning centers, mental
health facilities, boys and
girls clubs, etc. Businesses
seeking to expand operations
can also benefit through loan
funding through several of
the above-mentioned pro
grams. EIP and One Georgia
Loan funds can be used for
fixed assets, such as land,
new facilities, rehabilitation
of existing facilities, machin
ery and equipment, etc.
For more information, contact W.
Danny Lewis, GMRC executive
director, at dlewis@gmrc.ga.gov
or Heather Feldman, economic
development director, at hfeld
man@gmrc.ga.gov.