Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.1 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance for Construction of a Multi-Use Trail to Support Tourism in Southern Georgia

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.1 million CARES Act recovery assistance grant to Dougherty County, Georgia, to construct a six-mile pedestrian path connecting the downtown area with a local attraction, Radium Springs.

This project will create a diversity of jobs in trail development, recreation and the service and hospitality industry. The EDA investment will be matched with $5.6 million in local funds.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic, but builds a better America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will create jobs in the region, attract visitors and tourists to the area, and enhance disaster resiliency by addressing critical infrastructure needs.”

“The Economic Development Administration supports locally-driven efforts to spur economic growth and prosperity,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will boost the local tourism industry, promoting job creation and economic resilience.”

“This new pedestrian path will improve quality-of-life and pedestrian safety,” said Senator Jon Ossoff. “We will keep delivering infrastructure upgrades for the people of Southwest Georgia.”

“I am laser-focused on creating jobs and bringing even more tourism to our wonderful state,” said Senator Raphael Warnock. “It’s great to see that the EDA will be investing more than $4 million into Dougherty County and Macon’s tourism industries, creating jobs and empowering small businesses across Southern and Middle Georgia.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (SWGRC). EDA funds SWGRC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136 PDF), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.