Residents in the Welcome Hill community near Trion will have an opportunity tomorrow to learn more about a major water system improvement project expected to benefit approximately 118 residents.

Chattooga County has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, October 15, from noon until 1 PM at the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office, located at 10102 Commerce Street in Summerville.

The hearing will focus on the county’s recently approved $1 million Community Development Block Grant, which will help fund improvements to aging water infrastructure in the Welcome Hill Road area.

Chattooga County received the grant award on September 28 through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

According to information released with the grant awards, the project is expected to serve 118 residents, including 91 who are classified as low-to-moderate income. That means more than 77 percent of those benefiting from the improvements fall within the income categories targeted by the federal grant program.

The total project cost is estimated at approximately $1.344 million, with $1 million coming from the grant and an additional $344,000 provided through matching and leveraged funding.

Welcome Hill is one of the older sections of the Chattooga County water system. The project is part of the county’s continuing effort to improve aging infrastructure and provide reliable water service to residents.

The Community Development Block Grant program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered in Georgia by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The program helps smaller communities finance infrastructure improvements, including water and sewer projects, that benefit residents with low and moderate incomes.

The Welcome Hill improvements follow another major county water project along Old Highway 27. That project served 131 residents and involved approximately $912,156 in grant funding, along with $204,900 in local matching funds.

Thursday’s public hearing will provide information about the approved activities associated with the Welcome Hill project and give residents an opportunity to learn more about the planned improvements.

Specific construction dates and a detailed timetable have not yet been announced.

The hearing will take place tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, beginning at noon at the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office, 10102 Commerce Street in Summerville.

Residents seeking additional information may contact the commissioner’s office at 706-857-0700.