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Cusseta–Chattahoochee County releases updated comprehensive plan, prioritizes sewer, housing and broadband
Summary
The Unified Government released a comprehensive plan update that documents long-term population decline in the non–Fort Benning area and sets priorities including sewer and water upgrades, affordable housing, road repairs and broadband expansion, with a 2026–2031 work program and grant-seeking.
The Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County released an updated comprehensive plan that frames the county as a rural gateway to the Columbus metropolitan area and lists infrastructure, housing and broadband among its top priorities.
The plan documents a countywide population decline from 11,267 in 2010 to 9,181 in 2023 and projects continuing modest declines through 2050. It distinguishes the non–Fort Benning area (Census Tract 201) from the Fort Benning population and reports a steeper drop in the NFBA, a trend the plan links to economic and housing challenges.
Why it matters: county officials say limited water and sewer capacity, aging housing stock and gaps in broadband and roads constrain economic development and deter new businesses. The plan’s work program for 2026–2031 includes phased water-distribution upgrades, sewer planning in the Broad Street area and grant-driven investments in trails and downtown streetscaping.
The plan sets policy goals across economic development, housing, community facilities, infrastructure, transportation and natural-resource protection. On housing, the document calls for promoting infill, increasing affordable rental and starter homes, and addressing dilapidated houses and manufactured home concentrations that reduce the property-tax base.
On infrastructure, the plan notes the water system has distribution problems and an estimated six- to ten-year horizon for current capacity without upgrades. It records an agreement to connect to Fort Benning/Columbus sewer when funding is available and identifies multiple grant sources to pursue.
On broadband, the plan references state and federal programs and lists 118 remaining unserved locations while reporting more than 1,000 locations already tied to grant commitments. The document recommends adopting a broadband element to improve grant competitiveness.
The plan includes a public-engagement record: initial and final public hearings (the initial hearing and outreach occurred June 24, 2025; a final public hearing is listed for Dec. 11, 2025), multiple work sessions, an online survey with resident responses about roads, water quality and the desire for more retail and housing, and a SWOT analysis reflecting both support for preservation of the county’s small-town character and calls to expand services and job opportunities.
Next steps: the work program lists project timelines and estimated costs and identifies potential funding sources including the county (UGOCCC), Community Development Block Grants, LMIG, GDOT and other grant funds. The plan requests continued coordination with the River Valley Regional Commission and with Fort Benning on sewer and base-compatibility issues.
