Kemp Says Helene Recovery Funds Will Speed Water Upgrades Statewide

Kemp says Helene recovery funds will speed water upgrades statewide

Helene-ravaged communities to learn whether water projects will get federal funding

ATLANTA — Communities across Georgia that were hit hard by Hurricane Helene will begin learning in November whether they will get a share of federal relief funding earmarked for water projects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the state nearly $500 million to help improve water infrastructure after the hurricane. The bulk of the money, nearly $360 million, is for drinking water systems. The next largest portion, nearly $125 million, is for wastewater. “As communities across Georgia continue to recover from the most destructive storm in state history, these funds will help accelerate that ongoing work,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement. The funding is from the federal 2025 American Relief Act. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority is responsible for distributing the money. Kemp’s office said the agency will present the first group of project awards to its board of directors in November, after calling for applications last fall. The goal is to harden water systems against flood damage. Projects that are eligible for Helene Resilience Funding are supposed to either reduce the risk of flood damage or vulnerability to it or enhance resilience. Examples of eligible projects include relocating or replacing equipment and facilities, decentralizing wastewater systems, installing backup power and planning.