I
 MFRDC Programs
• Assists member governments in securing grant and loan funds for a variety of community projects including water, sewer, streets, storm drainage and outdoor recreation facilities, and new and renovated buildings to house senior centers, childcare centers, youth and family resource centers, mental health/mental retardation/substance abuse centers, neighborhood service centers, etc. Develops, writes and administers these projects funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), USDA, Transportation Enhancement (TE) and other sources. • Works with the Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone covering Crisp and Dooly counties to maximize the benefit of this federal designation to local residents and governments. • Encourages inter-governmental cooperation in the development of vital community infrastructure, especially water systems. • Encourages and assists in the securing of funds for the development of county operated, rural water systems. • Assists local governments preparing and updating state mandated Comprehensive Plans and Short-Term Work Programs. • Assists local governments in preparation, adoption and utilization of land development standards to protect existing development and guide new growth. • Assists communities with pre-disaster mitigation plan development. • Performs Regional Clearinghouse reviews. • Assists local governments in obtaining grant/loan funds to develop the infrastructure needed by new/expanding business and industry: water, sewer, streets, rail sidings, airport improvements, etc. RDC assistance includes developing and writing applications for funds and administration of funded projects. • Assists local governments in securing grant funds which can, in turn, be loaned to new/expanding business and industry. • Assists local governments and local and regional tourism organizations such as the Andersonville Trail Association and the Southwest Georgia Excursion Train Authority in securing funds for facility development and promotion. • Promotes the full development of the Georgia Veteran’s Memorial State Park and other tourism sites and facilities. • Assists local governments in securing grant funds to construct/renovate buildings to house services aimed at improving the labor force (GED, ESL, computer and other technical training). These centers serve as satellite centers for the technical colleges serving the Middle Flint area. • Encourages and assists local governments in the formation of industrial authorities and downtown development authorities. • Prepares a regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to help guide regional and local efforts aimed at decreasing unemployment and under-employment and increasing income levels. • Arranges and host meetings of area economic development professionals. • Designated an Economic Development District since 1968. Geographic Information Systems • Creates and compiles geographic information system (GIS) databases using global positioning system (GPS) and other technologies. • Maintains the region’s transportation network in the state’s digital road inventory. • Collects Global Positioning System data of community facilities such as fire and police departments, schools, city/county government buildings, hospitals and other medical facilities, rural fire stations, etc. throughout the eight counties. • Produces fire hydrant maps and five-mile road distance maps for use by local fire departments in obtaining reductions in fire insurance premiums for residents. • Collects GPS data for elements of both county water systems and city water/sewer systems. • Creates base maps for commissioner, voting, educational and fire districts. • Develops geo-referenced road index maps for cities and counties. • Maintains parcel data on digital county tax maps. • Collects and maps GPS data for county disaster mitigation plans. . • Provides assistance to member governments with preparation of applications for grants and loans from a variety of federal, state and private sources. • Administers RBEG and IRP, USDA, Rural Development, Revolving Loan Fund programs to assist small businesses. • Administers an EDA Revolving Loan Fund to assist small businesses. • Services an SBA 504 loan portfolio. • Provides administrative assistance to member governments in the operation of individual city and county revolving loan funds. • Consults on historic tax credits, ordinances and National Register nominations. • Provides technical assistance to local governments, organizations, individuals, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. • Provides technical assistance to Better Home Town and Mainstreet communities. • Prepares Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans to help remove streams from the federal 303d list of impaired streams. • Assists communities in preparing state-mandated updates to their Solid Waste Plans. • Coordinated a project to clear stumps in Lake Blackshear, making recreational use of the lake safer. Public Administration and Management • Instrumental in creating the Middle Flint Regional E-911 Authority. • Assists the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) with updates to and maintenance of the state's digital inventory of the roadway network. • Assists local governments with pedestrian, bicycle and scenic byways improvements. • Monitors new developments for GDOT to plan for future road improvements. • Provides area focus for promotion of four-lane developmental highways and other regionally important transportation issues. • Administers the area’s workforce development system that provides training, employment and supportive services to assist eligible individuals to become gainfully employed and self-sufficient, and to boost productivity and competitiveness of area businesses and industry. • Offers occupation-specific classroom training, on the job training, training and support for youth, and transition to employment for welfare recipients.
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