Peach Tree Times

Washington, D.C. – On June 27, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced a new $4.9 million federal investment in Baldwin County for the Oconee Heights Streetscape and Safety Improvements Project, which will add pedestrian pathways and complete sidewalk connections to enhance community connectivity. This investment will also help install over 200 new solar-powered lighting fixtures alongside approximately 3,000 feet of new sidewalk throughout the Oconee Heights neighborhood. Additionally, the grant will be used to replace three failing culverts in the community. 

“I believe rural Georgia is the lifeblood of our state, and I will continue fighting for federal investments in every corner of the state to help strengthen community connectivity,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock.“This grant for Baldwin County was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which continues to exemplify the good we can achieve when we focus on the people in policymaking.” 

“I am pleased to announce that through the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Baldwin County Oconee streetscape project will get a major boost,” said Senator Ossoff. “It has been a pleasure working with Chairwoman Davis and Baldwin County leadership to get this done. This project will upgrade quality of life for Baldwin County residents.”

“I want to thank Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock for helping our community become a safer more livable place in beautiful Baldwin County. The Oconee Heights neighborhood desperately needs public investment. This historic Black neighborhood, where many of our civic leaders came from, suffered greatly from the job losses at Central State Hospital,” said Baldwin County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Emily Davis.“This neighborhood will now have a safe way to travel to the new jobs on the old campus of Central State Hospital, grocery stores and our local colleges which are in historic downtown. We appreciate the support our U.S. Senators have provided us in our efforts to revitalize this once thriving area.

“The leadership of Baldwin County is very grateful for this significant award. This award allows our county the opportunity to change lives and living conditions in one of our oldest and most vulnerable neighborhoods with this investment through our U.S. Senators,” said Baldwin County Commissioner Henry Craig.“This is will make a lasting to change to a local community and neighborhood.”  

“The Oconee Heights Streetscape and Safety Improvements project was the brainchild of two University of Georgia classes that made Oconee Heights its thesis project. Numerous meetings were held in the community and the vision was established to create a safer neighborhood and connect Oconee Heights residents safely to the new jobs at the old Central State Hospital campus, and to grocery stores, colleges, and downtown via walking and bicycling,” said Baldwin County Manager Carlos Tobar.“I thank Senators Ossoff and Warnock for supporting Baldwin County’s efforts to make our county accessible, safe, sustainable and equitable.  

The $4.9 million in federal funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, enabling the Department of Transportation (DOT) to invest in transportation infrastructure projects that promise to achieve national objectives. Congress has dedicated over $12 billion for fourteen rounds of National Infrastructure Investments to fund projects that have a significant local or regional impact. DOT receives hundreds of applications to build and repair critical pieces of our transportation networks. The RAISE program enables DOT to examine these projects on their merits to help ensure that taxpayers are getting the highest value for every dollar invested.

Earlier today, the Senator joined Senator Ossoff (D-GA) and Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) to announce $25 million in federal funding to expand the Atlanta BeltLine, as well as $20 million to bolster Gwinnett County’s electric vehicle footprint.

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Original source can be found here.