continued from page ing resilience ….

continued from page

ing resilience against future weather-related challenges.

The new pond will help to ease issues in areas within the city that usually experience flooding during heavy rainfall; the City said that the new construction will be a huge benefit to the areas surrounding North Cheney Drive and Hannah Circle.

“This is extremely exciting news! Our team has been working particularly hard on funding various projects throughout our community over the past year and a half,” City Manager Josh Beck remarked. “Many neighborhoods are still dealing with the impact of the many storms we had last year, and this announcement brings good news to one of them. The area in and around North Cheney Drive extending south to Hannah Circle has consistently had to deal with flooding. This grant will help us alleviate some of that burden. The Department of Community Affairs has been a tremendous partner for us, and we would like to thank them for their continued support. The city will continue to work with various agencies in hopes of building our community back in a more resilient way.”

The City will now begin designing and engineering a plan for the new retention pond, and construction will begin within the coming months. Beck emphasized that the project represents not only an infrastructure improvement but also an investment in safety, sustainability, and the long-term well-being of Vidalia residents.

This grant comes from OneGeorgia Authority, which is administered by the state Department of Community Affairs and provides financial assistance to help rural and developing communities strengthen infrastructure and promote long-term sustainability.