The city of Porterdale plans to develop some of its neighborhoods after the city was awarded $266,623 in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the State's Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).

Porterdale was one out 74 Georgia communities that received federal assistance for projects to upgrade facilities and revitalize neighborhoods.

City Manger Bob Thomson said Porterdale plans to use the funding to repair several homes in the city.

"We're really excited about the grant," Thomson said. "Many of [the homes] are in the Rose Hill community, but they're also some in the area north of [Ga. Highway 81]."

Thomson said a lot of the homes are in bad shape and will be substantially repaired and rebuilt. He said the city met with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission on Friday afternoon to discuss the rehabilitation of the homes.

"Not only are the homes going to be renovated so that they are weather proofed, comfortable and up to code, they also are going to be rehabbed and repaired with sensitivity to the cultural fabric of the area," Thomson said. "Rose Hill is one of the few African American cotton mill villages left in the South."

Thomson said the city is delighted they have received the grant and revitalizing the area is something the Rose Hill community has deserved for a long time.

Thomson said the state will host a CDBG Recipients' workshop on September 27 -28 at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center, which will inform cities more about the program's requirements.