Hurricane Disaster Relief Effort Notice of Funding Availability

Notice of Funding Availability

OneGeorgia Authority

Hurricane Disaster Relief Effort

July 8, 2025

OneGeorgia Authority (hereinafter, the “OneGeorgia or the “Authority”) releases this Notice of Funding Availability (the “NOFA”) for the Disaster Recovery Efforts stemming from a federally declared disaster occurring during 2024. Funding will be made available to assist local communities in the efforts to rebuild communities and assist storm victims.

The purpose of this NOFA is to outline available financial assistance, in the form of grants or loans, for activities that result in providing critical assistance to communities that have sustained damages negatively impacting the economic security and well-being of the community. This effort will provide a small amount of state funding, with matching funds required at some level, to assist in the rebuilding and recovery efforts necessary after the storm. Projects will be awarded funds on a competitive basis to address:

• Infrastructure damages associated with wind or water damages in disaster-affected communities;
• Ensuring access to employment opportunities within disaster-affected communities; or
• Access to safe, affordable housing for those impacted by the storm.

This initiative is intended to provide a flexible funding source to support any eligible activity that results in recovery from the storm. Examples of such activities to be considered include those related to public infrastructure, business development and retention, and access to safe, decent housing.

Recipients will be expected to demonstrate the capacity to begin addressing proposed activities immediately. OneGeorgia funds are not intended to cover the entire cost of the project, but, rather to support disaster recovery. Applicants must consider all potential funding sources for proposed activities.

A copy of this NOFA, the Application package, and other related materials will be available on the Department of Community Affairs’ website at the link listed below:

https://www.dca.ga.gov/community-economic-development/funding-programs/onegeorgia-authority

A. Funds Available

The Amended Fiscal Year 2025 Budget includes twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for this initiative. This funding will be awarded quarterly through an ongoing, competitive grant cycle, subject to funding availability. The amount of funds available may be increased or decreased at the Authority’s discretion.

B. Grant Funding Limitations

Grants made under this program are limited to no more than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per award. No entity shall be eligible for more than one grant under this program. If entities submit more than one application, only the first application received will be considered.

Loans made under this program will be limited to no more than one million dollars ($1,000,000) to any affected business essential to the local economy.

The Authority reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications submitted in response to this NOFA. Applications for less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) will not be accepted.

C. Matching Funds Requirement

OneGeorgia funding is not intended to fund the entirety of any proposed activity. Additional funding is expected to be injected into any project, although the nature, source and amount of funding will vary depending upon the proposed project. Local public and private investment will factor in an application’s overall competitiveness.

D. Eligible Applicants

Units of general-purpose local government (e.g., city, county, consolidated government), as well as local, regional, and state authorities, are eligible to apply. In some cases, registered non-profit entities who are audited annually may seek funding. Prospective applicants should consult the Authority with questions about eligibility.

Additional eligibility requirements include the following:

• Funding is restricted to projects taking place entirely within counties receiving a FEMA disaster declaration.
• Local government/authority applicants must be in compliance with the audit report and grant certification form submission requirements contained in O.C.G.A. 36-81-7 and 36-81-8.1.
• Local government and authority applicants must be current and in compliance with all reporting, audit, and survey requirements, as required by statute.
• Any non-profit entity seeking funding must have full-time, paid leadership, have annual audited financial statements for at least the preceding two years, and have an engaged board meeting no less frequently than quarterly. Further, any proposal from a non-profit entity must be addressing issues at the core of the non-profit’s mission.
• Non-profit entities must be current on all required Internal Revenue Service and state of Georgia filings.
• Prior recipients of OneGeorgia funding must resolve any outstanding audit and/or compliance monitoring findings or deficiencies prior to submitting an application. Sanctions associated with any other OneGeorgia grant will also apply to this initiative.

E. Eligible Activities

This initiative is intended to provide flexible funding to assist with the long-term recovery efforts necessitated by the storm. Any OneGeorgia eligible activity will be considered for funding, subject to the following overarching objectives.

1. Any infrastructure/construction costs that include, but are not limited to, supporting rehabilitation or reconstruction of critical public infrastructure or facilities damaged during the disaster event. This may include, but not be limited to infrastructure repair, facility roof repairs, necessary earth work, engineering, construction monitoring, etc.
2. Proposals that seek to provide direct assistance to individuals in disaster-affected areas. (Note: Applicants must ensure, to the satisfaction of the authority, that all funded activities will be in compliance with the state Constitution’s Gratuities Clause. Further, any applicant proposing to provide a direct benefit to an individual or business must ensure no duplication of benefit or fraudulent activity is occurring.)
3. Loans with favorable terms to assist small businesses that are essential to the local economy. It would be expected that loan funding would provide gap financing and be funded in conjunction with a conventional lender and owner equity.
4. Developments must comply with state environmental and historic preservation requirements.

F. Application Procedures

• Applicants should notify Zack Forrester ([email protected]) at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, to hold an initial meeting. This meeting must occur no less than thirty (30) days in advance of the application deadline.
• A pre-application is not required. However, no application will be considered if the applicant does not meet with Zack Forrester as noted above.
• Each completed application will first be reviewed to reconfirm eligibility and determine completeness.
• Applicants should anticipate site visits within one month of the application deadline. Not all applicants, however, will be selected for site visits.
• Applications will be thoroughly vetted and competitively scored.
• The Authority will consider recommended applications and make a final determination on any and all awards.

G. Application Deadlines And Award Announcements

For funding requests, applications must be submitted via email to [email protected]. A pdf version of the application will be sent via email to applicants.

Fiscal Year 2026 submission deadlines are as follows:

• September 10, 2025
• December 10, 2025
• March 11, 2026

Successful applicants will receive written notice of award, including all necessary grant or loan documents, requirements, timelines, and other details.

H. Timeframe for Completion

OneGeorgia funds must be expended within the timeframe specified in the grant/loan award documentation, which is generally two years from the date of the award. For purposes of the Authority, “completion” is defined as 1) all activities for which funds were received are complete, 2) all awarded funding has been expended, and 3) all award close-out procedures have been finalized.

I. Additional Information

The Authority is the administrator of the Hurricane Disaster Relief Effort. This effort is subject to funding availability, and the Authority reserves its right to amend the initiative at any time. Use of funds is subject to all applicable state laws and regulations, as well as to the policies and requirements of the Department of Community Affairs and OneGeorgia Equity program.

For additional information, please contact Zack Forrester at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, at [email protected].