Lawmakers push for improvement districts at Georgia’s HBCUs

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – There is an effort under the Gold Dome to protect all of Georgia’s 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Georgia has 10 historically Black colleges and universities, among the most in the nation.

SB 235 would create a commission that would sit under the University System of Georgia. The bill creates a commission to drive economic, workforce, and community development. It would create community improvement districts around these schools and a commission to look for federal grant money for improvement projects like paving sidewalks, expanding broadband, and building workforce centers.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Sonya Halpern, said during her time at the State Capitol she does not remember a time when she heard about a bill to support HBCUs.

“As an anchor institution, the HBCU would then be used as a catalyst for economic development, workforce development, and community development. Every single one of our HBCUs, no matter where it is in the state is sitting in an under-invested community,” said Halpern.

Halpern chaired a senate study committee investigating the underinvestment. Fort Valley State University is a land grant university and under federal law, the state is obligated to provide equitable funding.

In September, Education Secretary Miguel Cordona wrote a letter to Governor Brian Kemp highlighting the underinvestment.

“It’s never too early or too late to do something,” said Halpern. “There are other dollars that can be unlocked and other resources that can be unlocked through the definition of a district.”

The bill will need approval from the House next.

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