The City of Portal recently received a grant for $100,000 from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority to help fund a major city project. Added to a community development block grant the town received last year, it means Portal has a total of $600,000 to finance an upcoming waste water system project.
The Environmental Facilities Authority grant "was part of only $500,000 allocated for the whole state," said Portal Mayor Larry Motes.
The Environmental Facilities Authority was created to help communities prepare for economic growth and development through the provision of low interest loans and grants, said GEFA Executive Director Paul Burks.
"This program represents a tangible commitment on the part of the state government to assist local governments across the state in their efforts to provide those water and sewer improvements that are so important to public health and safety and the community's desire to prosper economically," he said.
Motes said the waste water system project will take about a year. Bids will be let in October, and the project will be awarded in December, he said. Actual construction will begin in January 2007 and the project should be completed in September 2007.
Senator Jack Hill, as well as state Reps. Bob Lane, Jon Burns and Butch Parrish have been instrumental in supporting the move, Burks said.
Motes expressed appreciation for their efforts in helping Portal progress.
"It looks like we're making progress," he said. "We're slowly but surely getting there."
The Environmental Facilities Authority grant "was part of only $500,000 allocated for the whole state," said Portal Mayor Larry Motes.
The Environmental Facilities Authority was created to help communities prepare for economic growth and development through the provision of low interest loans and grants, said GEFA Executive Director Paul Burks.
"This program represents a tangible commitment on the part of the state government to assist local governments across the state in their efforts to provide those water and sewer improvements that are so important to public health and safety and the community's desire to prosper economically," he said.
Motes said the waste water system project will take about a year. Bids will be let in October, and the project will be awarded in December, he said. Actual construction will begin in January 2007 and the project should be completed in September 2007.
Senator Jack Hill, as well as state Reps. Bob Lane, Jon Burns and Butch Parrish have been instrumental in supporting the move, Burks said.
Motes expressed appreciation for their efforts in helping Portal progress.
"It looks like we're making progress," he said. "We're slowly but surely getting there."