The story
In January 2025 the Cornelia Water & Sewerage Authority laid out plans to apply for Community Development Block Grant funding for a water, sewer and storm-drainage project at Circle Drive and Myrtle Street, with a budget of $1,300,000 and an application due in April 2025.
Over February and March 2025 the city commission voted 4-0 to hire Carter & Sloope for grant administration services, voted 4-0 to select the firm as project engineers, and voted 4-0 to have the mayor sign a resolution for the Circle Drive water line replacement project.
The application was submitted in April 2025 with a construction budget of $1,335,000. By August and September 2025, city officials reported the city had "once again been approved" for a CDBG grant of $1 million for the project.
In January 2026 the city gave notice it would ask the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to release the CDBG funds for the Circle Drive target area. In March 2026 the commission again voted 4-0 to approve Carter & Sloope for grant administration services, and by April 2026 the water authority's records showed the $1 million grant awarded against the $1,335,000 construction budget.
In July 2026 the city commission voted 4-0 to award the project to Higgins Construction.