TENNILLE, GA – February 28, 2022 – The City of Tennille was recently awarded nearly $12 million to improve its water and sewer infrastructures to help high-need communities and areas have safe, reliable drinking and wastewater systems. The total grant amount is $11,981,897.69.
As early as November 2018, the Augusta Regional Environmental Protection Division office said the city needed to make significant improvements to the two infrastructures. This prompted Mayor Eartha Cummings to ensure all the necessary requirements were met to satisfy an outstanding 2016 Consent Order. Part of the new mission was a new wastewater treatment plant.
Mayor Cummings said, “Our vision for the City of Tennille is to develop a strategic plan that will allow the city to sustain itself for generation, and this grant is the game changer the City needs to foster that vision.”
The City of Tennille hired Gerald Martin and Farooq Mughal of MS Global Partners, LCC Government and Business Advisors as Economic Development Advisors for the Downtown Development Authority in January 2021. In July 2021, MS Global Partners added The Dr. Annise Mabry Foundation as a nonprofit partner to provide municipal research and grant development.
“Rural communities have a special place in my heart because I grew up in a rural community. I grew up with a toilet that didn’t flush correctly when it rained, and drinking well water that we later learned was polluted. Clean water is an issue to me that is near to my heart, so when I learned that there might be another child growing up as I did, I knew I had to help,” said Dr. Annise Mabry, president of The Dr. Annise Mabry Foundation.
City of Tennille officials conducted a “Low to Moderate Income” study that revealed 83.91% of Tennille residents lived in poverty. Persistent rural poverty communities have consistently been underfunded when receiving allocations to improve aging infrastructures. Tennille is no different but is the only rural Georgia city to make the Top 200 U.S. cities for drinking water violations. Five of its city wells are shut down due to unsafe drinking water reports.
Managing Partner Farooq Mughal said, “We at MS Global Partners LLC – Government and Business Advisors are honored to be in association with Dr. Annise Mabry; and, to be a part of the team that will usher in a monumental change for the City of Tennille, Georgia. We would also like to thank Ingram & Associates for their technical expertise, the Tennille City Council, and most of all, the Honorable Mayor of Tennille Eartha Cummings for her confidence in our firm to execute her vision for the people of this fine city. This is a historic milestone for the people and the City of Tennille, Georgia.”
Mayor Cummings, on behalf of the City of Tennille, recognizes the following individuals who were instrumental in securing this grant: Governor Kemp, Representative Mack Jackson, Senator Blake Tillery, John Eunice (EPD), James Cooley (EPD), Jeff Darley (EPD), Jeffery Williams (EPD), Tim Ingram, Dr. Annise Mabry, Gerald Martin, Farooq Mughal, and Pam Helton. She is also grateful for the support of the City of Tennille council and both the City of Sandersville and Washington County Board of Commissioners.
Media Contact
Company Name: MS Global Partners
Contact Person: Dr. Annise Mabry Foundation
Email: Send Email
City: TENNILLE
State: GA
Country: United States
Website: https://www.tennille-ga.gov/