Governor Perdue Announces Land Conservation Grants and Loans to Protect Coastal Marsh and Historic Civil War Site

Cities of Tybee Island and Chickamauga Receive Awards

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue today announced two cities as recipients of Georgia Land Conservation Grants and low-interest loans.   The cities of Tybee Island and Chickamauga will receive land conservation grants and Chickamauga was also approved for a low interest land conservation loan.  Individual grant and loan amounts, as well as project descriptions are listed below. 

"Conservation works best when everyone shares ownership of a project," said Governor Sonny Perdue.  "Local governments are partnering with the state to protect important natural and cultural resources for Georgia’s future."

"I want to thank Governor Perdue for his support and recognition of heritage preservation and the economic value that it brings the state," said State Senator Jeff Mullis.  "I appreciate his support for the needs of Northwest Georgia."

State Senator Eric Johnson said, "Governor Perdue’s actions to protect Georgia's natural resources will reap great rewards for our state for years to come.  I’m thrilled that Tybee Island, as one of the first land conservation grant recipients, can serve as an example of Governor Perdue’s vision.”

In April 2005 Governor Perdue signed into law the Georgia Land Conservation Act, an initiative to encourage the long-term conservation and protection of Georgia’s natural, cultural and historic resources.  The legislation established an initial trust fund and a revolving loan fund of $100 million in state, federal and private funding, available to local governments and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the purchase of conservation lands and conservation easements.  Another $47.3 million in state funding will be available in fiscal year 2008 which begins in July.  Thus far the program has endorsed 34 projects totaling over 37,000 acres.

According to the Land Conservation Act, conservation lands are permanently protected lands that are undeveloped and meet one or more of the goals of the Land Conservation Act.  These goals include water quality protection, flood protection, wetlands protection, reduction of erosion, protection of riparian buffers and areas that provide natural habitat and corridors for native plant and animal species, protection of prime agricultural and forestry lands, protection of cultural and historic sites, scenic protection, recreation including boating, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting and the connection of areas contributing to these goals.

Applications for land conservation grants or loans are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications can be found at www.glcp.org.