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Georgia Gateway Community Improvement District awarded $18.1 million loan for wastewater infrastructure

ATLANTA – January 22, 2018. The Georgia Gateway Community Improvement District was awarded an $18,100,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) board of directors.

Project and loan details:

The loan will help finance the installation of a sewer system and a stormwater system for the proposed EPIC Adventures Resort in Kingsland, Georgia. The city will pay 1.89 percent interest on the 20-year loan.

Quotes:

“The federal water and sewer programs administered by GEFA assist local governments with improving their environmental infrastructure. Through the Clean Water program, affordable financing helps cities and counties improve water quality.” – GEFA Executive Director Kevin Clark.

“I’d like to express appreciation to Gov. Deal, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, U.S. Sen. David Perdue, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, state Sen. William T. Ligon, Jr., and state Reps. John Corbett and Jason Spencer for their support. The state’s commitment to helping cities and counties finance infrastructure development is a main contributor to GEFA’s success.” – GEFA Executive Director Kevin Clark.

Additional information:

The CWSRF, a federal loan program administered by GEFA, provides communities throughout Georgia with low-interest loans to fund wastewater infrastructure and water pollution control projects. The program is jointly funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Georgia. Eligible projects include a variety of stormwater and wastewater collection and treatment projects. These projects conserve and improve water resources and facilitate economic growth and development. Low-interest loans from this program are available up to $25 million.

About the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (gefa.georgia.gov):

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), headquartered in Atlanta, is the lead agency for state energy programs; directs the Georgia Land Conservation Program; maintains state-owned fuel storage tanks; and offers financing for reservoir and water supply, water quality, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure. Since 1985, GEFA has approved financial commitments totaling more than $4 billion to local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit gefa.georgia.gov, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or Flickr.

New youth sports complex coming to South Georgia

KINGSLAND, Georgia (October 26, 2017) - The Georgia Gateway Central Improvement District and EPIC Destinations, LLC have reached a memorandum of understanding with Sports Fields Inc. to develop a Sports Force Parks youth sports complex within the EPIC Adventures project in Kingsland, Georgia. This will be the second Sports Force Parks location following the success of Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Ohio.

Once open, Sports Force Parks at Epic Adventures will be one of the highest quality sports parks in the Southeast. With an initial cost of $24M, Phase 1 will consist of 8-10 multi-purpose fields that can host a variety of sporting events including baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and more. The park will also include an ADA accessible community field, a “great lawn” and an events plaza with additional family activities, including attractions, playgrounds, food and beverage options, and more. Design is underway and construction of the park is scheduled to begin Q2 2018 with an opening in Q1 2019.

“As a Georgia-based company, we’re thrilled to partner with Epic Adventures, the City of Kingsland, Camden County, and the State of Georgia on a project that’s destined to change the landscape of youth sports tournaments in the Southeast,” said Brian Storm, President & CEO of Sports Fields Inc.

Kenneth E. Smith, Sr., Mayor of Kingsland continued, “The announcement of this sports venue coming to Kingsland is a great way to kick off the EPIC Adventures destination. This is the next step in Kingsland becoming a true tourism destination by converting travelers that pass through our city quickly to destination travelers who stay with us to enjoy all that the South Georgia Coast has to offer.”

“We’re excited Sports Force Parks has chosen Kingsland as their second destination. The park and the entire EPIC Adventures project will serve as a catalyst creating new jobs that strengthen the local economy,” said Lee Spell, City Manager, City of Kingsland, Georgia. “The EPIC Adventures team is pleased to reach an agreement with Sports Force Parks to bring sports tournaments and tourism to the City of Kingsland. I look forward to introducing additional EPIC Adventures partners over the next few weeks and months,” said Bill Gross, President of WH Gross Construction.

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About Sports Force Parks

Sports Force Parks is a national leader in the development and operations of youth sports facilities. The company provides a 360-degree set of services including: feasibility, design, construction, operations and maintenance. Sports Force Parks is part of the Sports Fields Inc. family of companies. Learn more at sportsforceparks.com and sficompanies.com.

About EPIC Adventures

EPIC Adventures is a 480-acre master planned highly themed mixed-use sports tourism, leisure, entertainment and recreation destination providing guests a wide variety of shopping, dining, lodging, RVing, festivals, live entertainment and recreational opportunities all designed around the flavors of the Georgia coast.