At last week’s Bainbridge City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved a resolution announcing the city’s eligibility to apply for a Community Development Block Grant.

“We intend to submit an application for a Community Development Block Grant through the Georgia Department of Community affairs to fund storm water drainage improvements in the East Troupe Street area, kind of behind McDonald’s,” said Bainbridge City Manager Chris Hobby. “We have ongoing drainage issues in that area. There are very old storm structures in that area that are inadequate to handle the load that they are receiving and cause the water to back up and pool. We would like to correct that.”

Hobby said that the city has not applied for the grant in several years because it has not had any potential projects come up.

Last year, the Georgia Department of Community and the Department of Housing and Urban Development gave $39.7 million in grants to Georgia communities for assistance to grow local economies.

“Georgia’s Community Development Block Grant program annually supports projects in the state’s small and rural communities that create jobs and assist low- and moderate-income citizens. Awards ranging from $181,414 to $800,000 will be used for specific projects such as water, sewer, drainage or street improvements, revitalization of targeted neighborhoods, construction of health facilities and youth centers and infrastructure that supports manufacturing and other business operations. Communities are required to complete their designated project within two years of the award,” according to a release from the office of Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.