CAIRO, Ga. (WCTV) - By October 2027, Cairo residents can look forward to major upgrades in their city’s infrastructure.

Cairo City Manager Booker T. Gainor IV said he is grateful and excited to improve the quality of life for his constituents.

“These are things that keep our community thriving, working, operating efficiently and just letting us be around for another 155 plus years,” Gainor said.

The city is using a $4.16 million loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to upgrade its Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to the city manager. Gainor hopes the project will protect public health by increasing their capacity to meet local environmental ordinances.

“We’re proud to be one of only five communities across Georgia selected for this competitive award, and we believe this project will have a lasting impact on our city’s growth, stability, and livability,” the city manager said in an email Thursday.

Gainor also noted that $3.6 million of the GEFA loan can possibly be forgiven, calling it “a significant investment in Cairo’s infrastructure with minimal long-term debt.”

Other ongoing changes include the resurfacing of South Broad Street, with just over $2.6 million funded through the state of Georgia’s Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and Georgia’s Department of Transportation Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant, according to an email from Gainor.

TSPLOST is funded by the state’s transportation sales taxes, according to the state of Georgia website. The LMIG program is funded by the motor fuel tax revenue, per GDOT’s website.

The city manager said crews are installing stormwater drains on the northern section of South Broad as part of the final stages of the project. Up next will be curb and gutter installation. The full road resurfacing is scheduled to wrap up by October.

The project will also involve new water, sewer and electric lines for city roadways.

“Major infrastructure improvements like this are critical to any community,” the manager said in an interview.

More news out of South Georgia

The OneGeorgia Rural Workforce Housing Initiative awarded Cairo a $2.5 million grant for the development of 180 new single-family homes, per Gainor. Residents can plan to see 60 of these homes in the first phase of the project.

The homes are expected to provide more affordable housing to workers in the city of Cairo, including essential employees. Roads, water and sewer lines will also see improvements through this funding.

Overall, the city plans to spend $227,078 of its own funds on the developments.

Lead Operator Vickie Walden said that the improvements include a new grit removal system, updates to the belt press and other equipment like new aeration disks and tanks.

“It’s important that you have an operational, well-kept wastewater treatment plant,” she said.

She said they have to have updated machinery to stay in compliance with state requirements and believes clean water is an essential need for residents to keep them and the environment healthy.

“So we can keep the streams fresh, keep the lakes fresh. I know all the fishermen and quite sure everybody loves to see their streams and swim in freshwater,” she said.

Officials said that construction is expected to begin in September, but that date could change.

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