INTRODUCTION

Georgia’s vast history has benefitted from having access to sea and land ports that connect rural communities to the inner city. However, limited investiture in infrastructure Georgia cannot maintain the economic growth it seeks to develop. Urban, suburban, and rural communities deserve to have economic investiture in their communities to position each for the kinds of developments those citizens expect.

As a leader, Lisa Noël Babbage will:

1. Work with the Environmental Protection Agency and Clean Water Atlanta to protect Georgia’s water resources
   
2. Support oversight of pipe maintenance through ongoing assessment of pipe stability
   
3. Revitalize common areas in several metropolitan areas in order to increase foot traffic and commerce in these areas
   
4. Develop options toward public vending projects which strengthen local communities
   
5. Develop Clean Air strategies for the Port of Savannah expansion
   
   

Metropolitan and rural Georgia have all experienced critical failures in public works and utilities. Although Georgia was ranked number two in infrastructure (2015, Area Development Magazine), our strategic assets in the form of air, rail, road, and sea accessibility are only as good as our water, power, and mobile capabilities to support organizational growth.

In 2015, the EPA found that 37% of Georgia’s population was served by facilities with water violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Additionally, Clean Water Atlanta is embarking on a twelve year inspection and repair project involving 2, 200 miles of pipe. This project will be mirrored in the most dense rural communities, beginning with Athens-Clarke county, in order to ensure quality drinking water for all Georgians.

An increase in public vending in the metropolitan cities will create opportunities for increased street life and local commerce. By partnership with major metropolitan cities (Atlanta, Duluth, Smyrna, and College Park) we will increase foot traffic with automated public bathrooms and other public facilities that keeps local commerce within local communities. A mass improvement in metropolitan rail lines is proposed in conjunction with the public vending projects. Proposed transit programs with target major commuter routes that alleviate congested interstates and encourage economic growth in metropolitan areas.

Babbage vows to negotiate state incentives from the Federal government for SNAP reform in the state. Currently, more than 762,000 Georgia families receive food stamps each month. A task force on nutrition will serve families who have been receiving food stamps for more than twelve consecutive months in an effort to create awareness and decrease propensity for preventable health-related insurance claims. This program is designed to make the economic assistance program (SNAP) more beneficial to the families receiving

Clean Water

Having clean water is the right of every Georgian. The Administration will work with Clean Water Georgia, the Department of Watershed Management, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, and other environmental agencies that protect clean water in Georgia. To address the thirty districts that have been found to contain water pollutants, a review of the watershed policies and oversight of its operations is needed to make sure that chemicals linked to cancer and other diseases are kept from Georgia’s drinking water.

Every effort will be made to work with the data collected from Environmental Protection Agency’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database for compliance and enforcement-related information for drinking water utilities statewide. The Administration will also partner with local education centers to monitor drinking water and provide authentic learning opportunities through joint partnerships that support community ownership of safe drinking water habits.

Public Vending and Common Areas Development

Gwinnett has developed a county-wide commitment to green space in their ²⁰⁄₂₀ plan. These common areas provide for improved quality of life for the 900,000 people who live there. The Administration wants to see public vending increase the local tax base by supporting local governments in select areas to increase the economy, foot traffic, and strengthen services to those communities. We understand that when families spend less time commuting, they spend more time enjoying life. Our commitment is to develop local areas of commerce that offer the community centers for socializing, commerce, and exercise. We believe that creating great communities makes Georgia a great place to live.

Clean Air

The Post at Savannah is ranked number 4 in the nation for container traffic, however the port only generates is 6th with regard to revenues. An influx of traffic can proportionally increase over the next decade as other ports in the country become limited to discretionary cargo. The Administration will develop oversight committees that work in conjunction with port officials and the EPA to create a zero emissions future for port traffic while expanding our capacity to increase the number of containers the port can serve, especially agricultural exports from Georgia’s farmers. The predicted income generated from this project in in excess of $50 billion dollars annually and will increase labor job opportunities in the Savannah area exponentially.

The Administration will work with local interest groups to develop expansion of the storage facilities nearby as well as to monitor air quality for the families that live in this area. West coast ports are experiencing congestion that makes Georgia an attractive alternative for importers as Savannah’s deep water capacity increases. The teams will evaluate the potentiality for deepening Savannah’s port to become the 20 TEU port on the East coast, ahead of other east coast ports. The Administration will also make efforts to increase barge traffic to Augusta utilizing the Savannah river.

A portion of revenues will be earmarked for estuaries along the route as well as an investigation identifying any native species that may be impacted by increased barge traffic.

Conclusion

By joining local, state, and federal resources, the Babbage Administration will provide for the growth model proposed for economic development in our state. Clear air, water, and common area development is key to a Babbage Administration and is the focus of all infrastructure and economic development proposed by the team. Babbage commits to working with local and national agencies to ensure that all of the monitoring to maintain our infrastructure takes place, to ensure a high quality of life for all Georgians.