SWGRC honored council members across the region for their years of service, celebrating leadership, dedication, and commitment to Southwest Georgia’s communities.

Join the University of Georgia’s CyberArch Program, housed at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, for CyberArch 101—a webinar designed to help local governments, small businesses, rural hospitals, nonprofits, and school systems strengthen their digital defenses. Hear firsthand from a county government IT director and small business owner about their experience partnering with UGA CyberArch and how cybersecurity impacts their operations.

Grady County, along with the Cities of Cairo and Whigham, is updating its Comprehensive Plan, and your input is vital. A short Community Input Survey has been created to gather feedback on topics like transportation, housing, green spaces, economic development, and neighborhood improvements. The survey only takes about 15 minutes, and all responses are anonymous. Your ideas will directly help shape the future growth and development of our community.

The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (SWGRC) is proud to recognize our member cities and counties for their success in securing 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs! 🎉 These awards represent a strong commitment to improving infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life across Southwest Georgia. City of Parrott ✅ Awarded $1,000,000 for citywide water system improvements. This project will directly benefit 149 residents, with over 76% being low-to-moderate-income households. Total Project Cost: $1,061,000 Local Match/Leverage/In-Kind: $61,000 💧 City of Colquitt ✅ Awarded $1,000,000 for sewer improvements along South First, Carr, Petter, Bush, Wilkin, and Sexton Streets. This project will directly benefit 71 residents, with over 71% being low-to-moderate-income households. Total Project Cost: $1,151,855 Local Match/Leverage: $151,855 🚰 Lee County ✅ Awarded $1,000,000 for water system improvements in the Weslo Mobile Home Park. This project will benefit 94 residents, with nearly 79% being low-to-moderate-income households. Total Project Cost: $1,120,000 Match/Leverage/In-Kind: $120,000 💧 City of Leesburg ✅ Awarded $1,000,000 for water and sewer improvements on Hawthorne and Lee Avenues, Putnam and Callaway Streets, Linden Road, and Kinchafoonee Drive. This project will benefit 70 residents, with more than 91% being low-to-moderate-income households. Total Project Cost: $1,117,975 Match/Leverage/In-Kind: $117,975 🚰 City of Meigs ✅ Awarded $1,000,000 for water system improvements on Church, Railroad, Mill, Cabin, Vine, Palmer, Bay, Marshall, Depot, and Crawford Streets. This project will benefit 283 residents, with an outstanding 99% being low-to-moderate-income households. Total Project Cost: $1,062,893 Match/Leverage/In-Kind: $62,893 💦 These projects will make a lasting impact by strengthening critical infrastructure and supporting the health, safety, and well-being of hundreds of Southwest Georgians. 👏 Please join us in congratulating our communities on these transformational awards!

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is helping rural communities by making short-term loans at low interest rates. These loans are designed for nonprofits, local governments, and even small businesses that are working to create affordable housing for low-income families. HAC loans can cover important early costs like buying land, paying for surveys, or covering architectural and environmental fees—expenses that often come up before construction can begin. By offering this type of flexible financing, HAC makes it easier for small towns and local organizations to move housing projects forward. With loan options for pre-development, land purchase, site work, and even full construction, HAC provides tools that rural communities need to improve housing and living standards. These funds also support the preservation of existing affordable housing and the use of healthy, green building practices. If your organization is planning an affordable housing project in Southwest Georgia, HAC loans could help bridge the gap until permanent financing is in place.

On August 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order on Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking that reshapes how federal agencies award and manage discretionary grants. This order is expected to significantly affect how cities, counties, and nonprofits pursue and maintain federal funding. At the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, we work closely with our member governments and community partners to secure resources that strengthen our region. Understanding these new changes will be critical for staying competitive in the evolving federal funding landscape. Key Changes to Federal Grantmaking Increased Political Oversight: Each federal agency must now designate a senior presidential appointee to review funding opportunities and discretionary awards. Grant programs must align with administration policy priorities and the national interest as defined by the White House. What this means: Applications will be judged not just on technical merit, but also on how well they support federal policy priorities. Restrictions on Certain Activities Discretionary grants cannot fund programs that: Use racial preferences or race-based selection criteria. Challenge the concept of a male-female sex binary or promote gender ideology programs. Facilitate or support illegal immigration. Promote activities deemed inconsistent with “American values” or that compromise public safety. What this means: Programs centered on DEI, gender identity, or immigration services will no longer be eligible for discretionary federal funding. Preference for Efficient and Broad Distribution of Funds Agencies are instructed to favor organizations with lower indirect costs (administrative/overhead rates). Funding should be spread across a wider range of recipients, not concentrated among a few repeat awardees. For research, emphasis will be placed on institutions that produce rigorous, reproducible results, rather than relying on reputation alone. What this means: Smaller nonprofits, community-based organizations, and local governments may gain a competitive edge over large institutions with higher overhead costs. Stronger Accountability and Evaluation Grant proposals must include clear benchmarks for success and measurable outcomes. Scientific research proposals must commit to “Gold Standard Science,” emphasizing reproducibility and rigor. Agencies must review awards annually for progress and alignment with agency priorities. What this means: Applicants will need strong evaluation plans and measurable performance indicators to remain competitive. Grant Termination for Convenience All discretionary grants must include provisions allowing the federal government to terminate funding at any time if a project no longer aligns with agency priorities or the national interest. Agencies must update existing awards to include this authority. What this means : Even awarded grants carry greater risk. Local governments and nonprofits should avoid over-reliance on a single federal grant stream and have contingency plans in place. Administration’s Current Grantmaking Priorities Based on the Executive Order, the administration has outlined the following key priorities for federal funding: Alignment with the President’s policy agenda and the national interest. Avoidance of funding programs tied to DEI, critical race theory, gender ideology, or immigration services. Cost efficiency, with preference given to organizations that maintain low administrative overhead. Broad distribution of funds across a diverse range of recipients, not just large or repeat institutions. Strong commitment to accountability, measurable outcomes, and Gold Standard Science. Plain language applications designed to reduce complexity and lower barriers to entry. Enhanced interagency coordination to eliminate duplicative funding opportunities. What This Means for Southwest Georgia For local governments, nonprofits, and educational partners in our region, this executive order means both new opportunities and new challenges: Projects tied to public safety, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and rural development are more likely to align with administration priorities. Organizations with low overhead costs and strong accountability systems will be well-positioned to compete. Programs previously focused on DEI, immigration, or gender initiatives will need to reassess funding strategies. Federal funds may be less stable due to expanded termination clauses, making funding diversification more important than ever. To stay competitive, grant applications must be aligned with national priorities, fiscally lean, results-driven, and clearly measurable.

CAMILLA, July 25, 2025 – Brenda Wade, of the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, is now one of the select group of professionals nationwide to earn the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation, identifying her as a Grants Administrator Manager with the skills and knowledge necessary to remodel or modify a home to meet the unique needs of the older population, disabled owners or their visitors. The National Association of Home Builders, in partnership with the AARP and NAHB Research Center, created the CAPS program, which includes training and education on the technical, business management and customer service skills essential to compete in the fastest-growing segment of the residential remodeling industry — home modifications for aging-in-place. The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (SWGRC) serves 14 counties and 43 cities across Southwest Georgia, providing planning, grant writing, economic development, GIS, and transportation services. Based in Camilla, the Commission supports local governments in promoting regional growth and improving quality of life. CAPS graduates include remodelers, builders, designers, architects, occupational therapists and others who help homeowners remain in their homes safely, independently and comfortably as they age. In three days of coursework, the CAPS curriculum incorporates market demographics, communication techniques, marketing, common barriers and solutions, building codes and standards, product ideas and resources and business management. CAPS program graduates are required to maintain their designation by attending continuing education programs and/or participating in community service projects. “I look forward to helping homeowners make the changes they need to enable them to live in their homes for a long, long time,” said Mrs. Wade. For additional information about the CAPS program, visit www.nahb.org/caps . For more information about the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission visit www.swgrc.org or call 229-522-3552.

🌾 SOWEGA AgFest 2025: Supporting Local Talent and Regional Momentum

The City of Pelham seeks proposals from qualified firms to restore its historic Carnegie Library by August 25.