TIFTON — City and county governments are considering a coalition for housing rehabilitation in the Tift area.

City manager Emily Beeman proposed an amendment to the county board of commissioners that would update the county service delivery strategy to include plans to restore and revitalize housing in the community during their Feb. 6 meeting.

This strategy is jointly operated by the city and county, and is normally updated every ten years, but amendments can be made at any time if both governing bodies agree.

The amendment was proposed to city council as well the previous evening, with Beeman explaining that including housing restoration in the service delivery strategy was vital to applying for the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Program, which the city had planned on securing for community housing developments.

At both meetings, Beeman stated that the amendment would allow for a wider range of grant opportunities for the city to take advantage of in restoring houses and constructing new affordable housing for Tiftarea workforce.

She reported it would also help the city secure a $400,000 Community HOME Investment Grant for use in providing electrical systems, HVAC, hot water heaters, and new outer windows and doors to 8 homes in the community, with a specific target of the South Tifton area, according to an assessment the city conducted.

County and city governments will discuss the amendment further at their upcoming meeting on Feb. 19, respectively.