Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) toured Georgia on Nov. 23 to outline what the state and individual cities can expect.
Using the 5th Street Bridge project as a backdrop, Ossoff said the bipartisan bill will bring more than $11 billion dollars to the state. The money can be used for a number of projects including for public schools, broadband internet and airports.
At least $1.36 billion will go expand public transportation options over the next five years.
“So, we can get from home to work, home from school, home to the doctor, run errands around town, be with our loved ones fellowship with our fellow citizens get to church on Sunday, efficiently, safely affordably without polluting our environment,” Ossoff said. “These upgrades to our public school systems, removing lead pipes from public schools across Georgia and across the country so that our children can grow up and learn in safe, clean, healthy public schools.”
The single largest amount, about $923 million, will go to metro Atlanta. That is followed by $33 million for northwest Georgia/Chattanooga area, $30.7 million for Savannah and $25 million for Augusta-Richmond County.
“It will attract additional investment to our city bring in more jobs, while upgrading our quality of life here at the historic depot,” said Mayor Hardie Davis. “This bipartisan infrastructure bill will make a huge difference to help us rebuild our infrastructure, creating jobs, protecting our families and upgrading our quality of life, jn tandem with our T-SPLOST that we’ve enjoyed the benefit of for so many years.
State Representative Gloria Frazier (D-Burke County) called the legislation and “generational bill.”
“I represent rural Georgia, Burke County, and I’ve just inherited Jenkins County, my new friends. And so there we don’t have broadband like it should be,” she said. “But this bill will help spread broadband in those areas. It will bring up the quality of life, it will create jobs for the next five years. And we will see the effect of this legislation for the next 10 years.”
President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion bill into law on Nov. 15. Nearly 20 Senate Republicans and more than a dozen GOP House members voted in favor of the legislation.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
