The Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded Chattooga County with a $1 million community development block grant (CDBG) in 2023.  The money is being used for water improvement projects on aging and failing water lines and fire hydrants.
The Trion Fire Department says that the money is needed to improve infrastructure in the Old Highway 27 area north of Trion and that will improve insurance rates for people in the area.  Currently, there are only four working fire hydrants from Old Highway 27 in Trion to the Walker County line.  There are no working hydrants on Airport Road, South Airport Road or North Airport Road.

Trion Fire officials say, “When the new water lines and fire hydrants are installed, if your property is within 5 road miles of a recognized fire station “Trion Fire” and within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant, you will receive a better community protection classification than those beyond 1,000 feet of a hydrant. This whole area listed is within the 5 road mile radius. The current ISO rating for Trion Fire is a 4, so instead of the current rating of a 9 for being outside the 1000 feet mark of a hydrant, you’d be able to claim an ISO 4 rating”.

The ongoing water project will benefit 131 persons, of whom 95 (72.5%) are low-to-moderate income persons. The total project cost is $1,224,000 with $224,000, in match and leverage.