The United States Department of Treasury recently conducted an analysis on the Investing in America Agenda, a program focused on enhancing communities with lower wages, employment rates, college graduation rates, and higher poverty rates. The findings revealed that the Agenda has been instrumental in driving investment to underserved communities in Georgia.
According to the Department of Justice's analysis, over $8.3 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act has been invested in Georgia through the Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program. Recipients of these investments have allocated $153 million for housing projects and $177 million for workforce investments. More than $1 billion has been distributed to tens of thousands of renters to help them maintain their housing through the Emergency Rental Assistance programs. Nearly three quarters of these funds assisted Black households and over half supported very low-income households. The analysis also discovered that close to three quarters of these homes were led by women.
In addition to aiding renters, approximately 5,877 homeowners received $120 million to support payments of mortgages, property taxes, and utility bills. According to studies by the Treasury Department, 81% of homeowners who received assistance were Black, 4% identified as Latino, and 71% self-identified as female. Affordable housing projects have played a crucial role in the development of these investments. For instance, Cobb County is budgeting $4 million to develop 14 single-family homes while Chatham County has implemented case management in the housing application process to assist applicants find jobs and secure permanent housing.
The press release also highlighted that investing in broadband and clean energy has benefited these communities significantly. Georgia received $250 million to invest in broadband infrastructure which will connect 70,000 households to high-speed internet. Furthermore, 99% of clean investment money used in Georgia has benefited counties that are below average in weekly wages.
