Two major infrastructure projects in Chattooga County are receiving a combined $2 million in Community Development Block Grant funding, with money going toward water line upgrades in the Welcome Hill area and continued sewer improvements in Summerville.

The Chattooga County Water District will benefit from a $1 million grant for water improvements in the Welcome Hill Road area near Trion. Welcome Hill is one of the older sections of the county water system, and the funding will be used for water line upgrades in that area.

According to information from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Welcome Hill project has a total estimated cost of $1.344 million, including $344,000 in matching and leveraged funds. The project is expected to benefit 118 residents, with more than 77% classified as low-to-moderate income.

The City of Summerville is also receiving $1 million for Phase III sewer improvements in the Highland Avenue area.

That project carries a total estimated cost of approximately $1.255 million, including $255,111 in matching and leveraged funds. State documents indicate the project will benefit 67 residents, with approximately 73% classified as low-to-moderate income.

The Highland Avenue project continues a multi-year effort by the City of Summerville to improve aging sewer infrastructure in that part of the city.

The grants are part of $40.9 million in 2026 CDBG awards announced by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for 42 communities across the state. The federally funded program is administered in Georgia by DCA and is designed to help smaller communities finance infrastructure and other projects benefiting low- and moderate-income residents.

Chattooga County has successfully used CDBG funding for water infrastructure before. The county received $1 million in 2023 for Phase II water improvements in the Old Highway 27 area, another project involving the county water system.

The latest awards mean $2 million in CDBG funding will be invested in two aging infrastructure areas in Chattooga County — one serving county water customers in the Trion area and the other serving sewer customers in Summerville.