ATLANTA—Georgia Environmental Finance Authority Executive Director Kevin Clark announced the approval of a Georgia Fund water reuse grant of $100,000 to the city of Rincon. The grant, approved by the GEFA executive committee, will finance constructing a water reuse distribution and irrigation system. The GEFA executive committee previously approved a $2,500,000 Georgia Fund loan for this project in June 2010. Rincon will contribute $20,000 in local funds.

"The Georgia Fund is a tangible commitment by Gov. Deal and the General Assembly to assist local governments across the state with their efforts to provide clean water, sewer system and solid waste improvements," said Clark. "In addition to the public’s health and safety, these projects are critical to a community’s economic growth and prosperity."

Clark expressed appreciation to Gov. Deal, state Sen. Jack Hill and state Rep. Ann Purcell for their support. He credited the state’s commitment to helping cities and counties finance infrastructure development as one of the main contributors to GEFA’s success. The grant program was funded by a $500,000 appropriation from the General Assembly to provide incentive grants to communities in fivecoastal Georgia counties experiencing problems with saltwater intrusion into the Floridan aquifer.

The eligible counties include Effingham, Chatham, Liberty, Bryan and Glynn.