Big things come in small packages!

Last Wednesday, a small piece of paper brought big relief to Emanuel County. State Representative Butch Parrish and State Senator Max Burns hand-delivered an $18 million check to county leaders on the steps of the new Davis–Thompson Building, marking the long-awaited arrival of federal funds promised to cover storm cleanup costs for Hurricane Helene.

But this isn’t new money, a gift, or dollars for discretionary spending. The funds were committed months ago through FEMA and the State of Georgia to help cover the nearly $60 million cost of storm recovery.

“Our taxpayers already paid the cost of this storm in a lot of ways. We’re excited to finally get this money, but what we do not want to happen is for people to see $18 million and think we’ve suddenly got extra money lying around,” said Chairman Jim Sherrod. “As great as that would be, that simply isn’t the case. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a win. This money was ours all along after we were declared a disaster area. It’s great to put some money in the bank to be able to pay our contractor. We were just waiting for it to come home.”

That process has taken about 8 months due to the red tape that so often comes with large-scale government allocations. Helping to bring the check home (literally!) were Representative Parrish, who represents the entire county in the Georgia House, and Senator Burns, whose District 23 now encompasses all of Emanuel. (Prior new district lines were drawn in 2021 and took effect in 2022, Emanuel was one of the few rural counties in Georgia split between two senate districts. The northern part was assigned to Senator Burns while the southern part fell to Senator Billy Hickman of District 4. The latest redistricting now allocates the whole of Emanuel to a single senator.)

“It’s been a long time coming, and I’m proud to have played a role in getting this funding where it belongs,” Representative Parrish. “The physical check may be small in size, but it represents, like Chairman Sherrod said, a win for the citizens of Emanuel County.”

Chairman Sherrod, Vice Chairman Timmy Oliver, and District 3 Commissioner John Moore accepted the check on behalf of the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners. County Administrator Guy Singletary was also in attendance.

“Guy has been the hammer, the phone tree, and the squeaky wheel, all rolled into one,” said Vice Chairman Oliver. “He’s been behind the scenes, calling and coordinating and following up with our state reps, GEMA, and FEMA nearly every day to make sure Emanuel County didn’t get lost in the shuffle. We couldn’t have done this without his diligence.”

More installments are expected in the coming months, and both legislators say they’ll keep pushing to see the rest through.

“We’re not done yet,” Senator Burns said. “We’ll keep doing our part at the Capitol to make sure the rest comes through.”

Following the check presentation, the state legislators toured the Davis–Thompson.

“Emanuel County matters to us,” Representative Parrish added. “We’re proud to be your voice under the Gold Dome—and even prouder to be here in person when something good comes through.”

(NOTE: U.S. Congressman Rick Allen and his office also provided support to our state representatives and, in turn, Emanuel County to secure the release of this $18 million. We extend our thanks to them as well.)

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners governs Emanuel County, focusing on legislative and administrative responsibilities. Comprised of representatives from five districts, the board oversees policies and programs that impact local development, budgeting, and public services. Commissioners work collectively to ensure fiscal responsibility and address community needs, collaborating with other county departments and agencies. They are committed to supporting economic growth, public safety, and community well-being across Emanuel County.

For more information about the commissioners and for the latest from the county government, visit 124 North Main Street in Swainsboro; call 478-237-3881; follow us on Facebook; or visit www.emanuelco-ga.gov.

Chairman Jim Sherrod (front row and center), Vice Chairman Timmy Oliver (immediate his left), District 3 Commissioner John Moore (far right), and County Administrator Guy Singletary (back row, first from left) accept a check from House Representative Butch Parrish (far left) and District 23 Senator Max Burns (back row, second from left) on the steps of the Davis–Thompson Building