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On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp announced preliminary approval for nearly $7 million worth of grants for projects in Troup County and LaGrange, including the long-awaited William J. Griggs Center pool replacement.

The local grants include funds for the Griggs Center pool, Mulberry St. Cemetery & Park, a bicycle playground in LaGrange and a pickleball facility for the county.

The awards are part of more than $225 million worth of grants for 142 projects across the state to improve neighborhood assets like parks, recreation facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access in communities all across the state disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Troup County will receive $2,200,000 to go toward the completion of a new swimming pool and pavilion at William J. Griggs Recreation Center.

LaGrange will receive $693,429 for the construction of a bicycle playground planned near Berta Weathersbee Elementary.

Visit LaGrange, Inc. will receive $1,812,888 to go toward the development of the Mulberry Street Cemetery and Park.

Troup County will also receive $2,200,000 in funding for the development of a pickleball facility.

“With our partners on both the local and state levels, we’ve prioritized helping Georgia’s communities further recover from the pandemic with a bottom-up approach,” said Gov. Kemp. “As the first in the nation to reopen our economy, we were fortunate to lead the nation in the recovery while fighting for both lives and livelihoods. Today, we’re investing these funds to see that recovery continue, and I want to thank our partners for helping us make that possible.”