Chattooga County’s economic classification could once again provide local governments and organizations with a significant advantage when seeking federal money for community and economic development projects.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is accepting pre-applications for Fiscal Year 2027 Appalachian Regional Commission funding. The current funding round allows awards of up to $1 million per project, with pre-applications due October 9 and full applications due October 30.

For Fiscal Year 2027, Chattooga County is the only Georgia county classified as “Distressed” under the ARC program. That classification provides a favorable 80-percent ARC to 20-percent local match rate for qualifying projects. Most other Northwest Georgia counties are classified as Transitional and generally fall under a 50/50 match.

That favorable funding formula has already helped support a major project in Chattooga County.

In Fiscal Year 2025, ARC obligated $1 million toward Phase I of the Tooga Theater renovation in downtown Summerville. ARC records list the total project cost at $1.372 million and classify the project under Arts, Culture and Tourism.

That followed an earlier ARC investment in the theater. In Fiscal Year 2023, ARC approved $140,000 for the Tooga Theater Renovation Plan, part of a $175,000 planning project. Together, the two awards represent $1.14 million in ARC funding tied to planning and Phase I renovation of the historic theater.

The Tooga Theater project provides a local example of the kind of investment ARC funding can support. The program is not limited to arts and cultural projects. Georgia’s priorities for the upcoming funding round include downtown development, infrastructure, resilient communities, rural economic development and workforce development.

Eligible applicants include local governments and authorities, nonprofit organizations, and public or nonprofit educational and health care organizations. Projects must also address at least one of ARC’s goals involving business development, workforce, infrastructure, culture and tourism, or community leadership and capacity.

Pre-applications are due to DCA by 5 PM Friday, October 9, with full applications due by 5 PM Friday, October 30.