Georgia Rural Site Development Program
In order to remain competitive when speed to market is key, development-ready sites across Georgia must be continuously identified, assessed, and certified. The purpose of this program is to assist local communities with developing community-submitted sites critical to economic development across Georgia through the OneGeorgia Authority. Submitted sites will be vetted semi-annually by the Departments of Economic Development and Community Affairs to receive approval for funding. Approved sites will have various levels of funding matched by the communities based on the criteria listed below.
Site and Program Requirements
- Applicant must be a development authority and site must be at least 50 contiguous acres.
- One application per development authority per year; one application per site.
- Site must be publicly owned at the time of application for a Site Improvement Grant or Survey and Due Diligence Grant. If the site is not publicly owned, the development authority must secure an option contract for the site for at least three (3) years following grant award.
- Sites receiving Survey and Due Diligence Grant must commit to GRAD certification within three (3) years
Community Match for Funds
- Generally, eligible counties should provide at least a 10% match of grant amount.
- Conditionally eligible counties must match a minimum of 25% of grant amount.
See OneGeorgia Authority Official Map of Eligible Counties
Grant Amounts and GRAD Partnership
Site Improvement Grant |
Survey and Due Diligence Grant
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Award Amount: Up to $2 Million
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Award Amount: Up to $250,000
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Examples of Eligible Costs:
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Examples of Eligible Costs:
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GRAD Certified News
April 27, 2026 Tradeport West Business Center in Liberty County Achieves ‘Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development – Select’ Status
ATLANTA – April 27, 2026 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), in cooperation with the Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA), today announced that...
January 30, 2026 Gov. Kemp Announces Third Round of Rural Site Development Grants
ATLANTA – January 30, 2026 – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced the third round of grants from the Rural Site Development Initiative (RSDI) within...