Cusseta‑Chattahoochee releases 2025 comprehensive plan update, highlights population decline and infrastructure priorities

The Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County on June 24, 2025 published an updated comprehensive plan that documents decades of population decline and sets priorities for infrastructure, housing and economic development.

The plan, prepared with assistance from the River Valley Regional Commission, says the county population fell from 16,934 in 1990 to 9,181 in 2023 and projects a continued slow decline through 2050. It separates data for the non‑Fort Benning area of the county to avoid Fort Benning demographic distortion and highlights age‑group shifts and a shrinking workforce.

Why it matters: local officials and planners say limited population and a weak property tax base constrain the county’s ability to fund major capital projects, making grant funding and regional partnerships critical to advancing goals such as sewer expansion and downtown revitalization.

Key priorities listed in the document include: improving water distribution and sewer service to support growth; paving and maintaining county roads (about 20.7% of county roads are unpaved); sidewalk and streetscape projects around Broad Street and the town center; promoting affordable housing and infill; and coordinating with Fort Benning and Columbus on utilities and economic opportunities. The plan also identifies broadband expansion as a priority and notes both federal and state grant activity under the Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative and BEAD‑related programs.

The plan’s community work program (2026–2031) itemizes projects and funding estimates. Notable line items include a planned Broad Street sewer update with an estimated $1,000,000 budget, multi‑use trails and outdoor recreation improvements (each with multi‑hundred‑thousand to $1,000,000 estimates), and funds set aside to address dilapidated housing and add pad‑ready sites for economic development.

Public engagement: appendices include a community survey and records of public meetings and notices. The plan notes an initial public hearing and multiple work sessions in mid‑2025 and lists a final public hearing and adoption steps in December 2025.

The document names the Board of Commissioners and senior staff: Hon. Charles Coffey (Chair), Hon. Timothy Biddle (Vice Chair), Hon. Gerald Douglas, Hon. Damon Hoyte, Hon. Jason Frost, County Manager Thomas Weaver and County Clerk Lisa Bickel. It was prepared with assistance from the River Valley Regional Commission.