Economic development authority asks for $25 million to extend sewer to South Augusta mega site; projects estimate 1,800 jobs

The Development Authority of Augusta presented a request for roughly $25,000,000 in SPLOST 9 funds to construct sewer infrastructure from the Little Spirit Creek basin to North McCombs Road, enabling development of the McCombs Road mega site in South Augusta.

The project is aimed at making one of the two remaining industrial mega sites in Georgia shovel-ready by building a pump station, a 24-inch trunk main and associated gravity and force main sewers. Developers and economic staff argue sewer access is a primary barrier to new industrial and residential investment in the corridor.

The authority’s presentation, led by its president (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Ray), outlined a preliminary engineering report prepared with Augusta Utilities. The authority estimates the minimum catalytic investment could be a $1 billion capital project creating roughly 1,000 direct jobs plus indirect and induced employment for a total of about 1,800 jobs; the presentation projected a long-term tax impact of roughly $82,000,000 in new property tax revenue and $54,000,000 to schools over 25 years, and new local retail spending estimated between $25,000,000 and $50,000,000 annually depending on assumptions.

The recommended implementation timeline in the presentation included four years of work: four to six months for permitting and design, two to three months for bidding and 24 to 36 months for construction. The authority described the project as “transformative infrastructure” that could unlock up to 2,800 homes on 1,200 acres of previously undevelopable land in the corridor.

Commissioners asked whether the city could bond the project and repay it with SPLOST collections; the presenter deferred to Director Schreier for finance and legal details. Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle and others emphasized the potential tax and job benefits and urged considering the project as part of the SPLOST package; Commissioner Stacy Pulling confirmed the project had been developed in conjunction with Augusta Utilities and that utilities would be the operating authority once built. Commissioner Tony Lewis asked whether this project related to earlier corporate-park infrastructure; presenters said it is separate from but could tie into other corporate-park work along Mike Padgett.

No formal vote was taken. The presentation provided a preliminary cost estimate and a request to include the sewer extension in SPLOST planning so the city can pursue design and permitting and present a shovel-ready site to potential investors.