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State agencies seek $28M for workforce housing and $20M for rural site development
Summary
The Department of Community Affairs and the 1 Georgia Authority asked the appropriations subcommittee to include $28 million for the governor’s rural workforce housing initiative and $20 million to continue a rural site development program launched last year.
Representatives of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the attached 1 Georgia Authority asked the House appropriations subcommittee to fund two multi‑million‑dollar requests aimed at rural housing and industrial site readiness.
The department said the governor’s rural workforce housing initiative (recorded on the tracking sheet as a request to the 1 Georgia Authority under payments line 1614.1) seeks $28 million to continue awards that support the development of entry‑level for‑sale housing. The presenter said the program launched about 18 months earlier, had made 22 awards spanning approximately 10 regions, and uses a 24‑month performance window for recipients. Committee members asked whether the program’s price caps and timeframes remain suitable given construction‑cost inflation; the presentation said local developers have sometimes preferred to build above the program’s $290,000 upper sale price target but the program intentionally focuses subsidy on housing affordable to entry‑level households earning about $60,000 annually.
Separately, the department requested $20 million for a rural site development initiative (line 1614.2) created in last year’s budget to fund community‑owned industrial infrastructure — water, sewer, roads and grading — so localities can market sites to job creators. The department said it awarded the first six grants in December across northwest and southeast counties and seeks recurring funds to keep the program operating. The presenter compared neighboring states’ investments — citing figures the office provided for context — and said the requested funds are meant to keep Georgia competitive for site development.
The presenters characterized both requests as investments to accelerate rural economic development: the housing program to expand attainable homeownership stock for workforce households; the site program to make kept‑ready industrial property marketable. Committee members did not vote on the requests during the hearing; presenters said they would provide supplementary materials and design details upon request.
Ending: Department staff told the committee the two requests conclude their amended‑budget presentation and invited follow‑up questions and materials.
