FINAL NOTICE OF CHANGES TO ELIGIBLE AREAMAPS FOR USDA RURAL HOUSING PROGRAMS - GEORGIA

Georgia Areas were reviewed in and around Perry, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Villa Rica, Savannah, Dalton, Hinesville, Statesboro, Warner Robins, Winder, Covington, Cusseta and Brunswick, Georgia.

Based on the review of the areas within the state of Georgia using the 2015 American Community Survey data, comments received, and rural area guidance located in Handbook HB-1-3550, Chapter 5, the final results of rural eligibility designation for all areas under consideration in Georgia are listed below. (Areas proposed to change are indicated):

Areas that have been annexed by ineligible cities/towns are to become ineligible on June 4, 2018 in the following locations (the rural eligibility designation is changing in these areas):

1) Savannah – There are two small areas annexed since the last review. As a result of the

review of the area using the 2015 American Community Survey data, comments received,

and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included factors such as economic vitality,

and population fluctuations/density, the area studied will become ineligible for Rural

Development housing programs.

2) Dalton – There are areas annexed near the Dalton Municipal Airport since the last review.

As a result of the review of the area using the 2015 American Community Survey data,

comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included factors such as

economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, the area studied will become

ineligible for Rural Development housing programs.

3) Hinesville - The areas annexed since the last review (Cypress Cove, Governors Quarters,

Liberty Park areas) and minor mapping corrections were studied. As a result of the review

of the area using the 2015 American Community Survey data, comments received, and

Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included factors such as economic vitality, and

population fluctuations/density, the area studied will become ineligible for Rural

Development housing programs.

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Areas in and around Perry, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Statesboro, Villa Rica, Warner Robins and Winder, Georgia were considered for ineligibility (data suggested changing from rural to non-rural). The studied areas will remain rural and eligible for Rural Developmenthousing programs after June 4, 2018.

Here are specifics for each area that was studied:

Perry, Pooler and Richmond Hill - The study included city limits and densely settled

areas immediately adjacent. These areas meet the criteria for grandfathering as

“rural in character”. As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 American

Community Survey data, comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis

which included factors such as economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, the area studied will remain rural and eligible for Rural Development housing programs.

Statesboro - The study included city limits and densely settled areas immediately

adjacent. (The Agency determined the non-commuter student population will be deducted from total population in order to keep the area eligible). As a result of our

review of the area using the 2015 American Community Survey data, comments

received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included factors such as economic

vitality, and population fluctuations/density, the area studied will remain rural and eligible for the Rural Development housing programs.

Villa Rica - The city limits and densely settled areas immediately adjacent, were studied.

As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 American Community Survey data,

comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included factors such as economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, the area studied will remain rural and eligible for Rural Development housing programs.

The following areas were considered for new eligibility (proposed to change from non- rural to rural), the rural eligibility designation will change in these areas on June 4, 2018:

4) Covington - This town was studied to determine if the criteria for grandfathering as ruralagain was met. As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 AmericanCommunity Survey data, comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis whichincluded factors such as economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, it wasdetermined that the criteria for grandfathering was met and the town will again beconsidered rural and eligible for Rural Development housing programs.

5) Brunswick - A study was conducted to see if the Blythe Island area may be delineated as

rural again. As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 American Community

Survey data, comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included

factors such as economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, this area will againbe considered rural and now eligible for Rural Development housing programs.

6) Cusseta - This town was studied to determine if the criteria for grandfathering as rural

again was met. As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 American Community

Survey data, comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included

factors such as economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, it was determined

that the criteria for grandfathering was met and the town will again be considered rural and

eligible for Rural Development housing programs.

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Warner Robins - The general area is already ineligible. Recent growth between

Houston Lake Rd and Moody Rd was studied to determine if that area should be

ineligible. As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 American Community

Survey data, comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included

factors such as economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, the area of recent growth will remain rural and eligible for Rural Development housing programs.

Winder - The city limits and densely settled areas immediately adjacent were studied.

As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 American Community Survey data,

comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis which included factors such

as economic vitality, and population fluctuations/density, the area studied will remain rural and eligible for Rural Development housing programs.

The new ineligible areas will become effective on June 4, 2018.

Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program (502/504): A "complete" loan/grant application received by RD prior to June 4, 2018 will not be subject to the new Ineligible areas.

Regarding the new Eligible areas: applications may be accepted from and COE's issued to applicants who wish to finance properties in these newly rural areas prior to June 4, 2018. However, signed/ratified contracts on those properties may not be accepted until June 4, 2018 or after.

Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program: Loan Guarantee ProcessingOn June 4, 2018, all properties for new applications must be located in an eligible rural area based on the new maps. However, a property that is located in an area being changed from rural to non-rural may be approved if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The application is dated and received by the lender prior to June 4, 2018 and the LoanEstimate was issued by the lender within 3 days of application receipt.2. The applicant has a signed/ratified sales contract on a property that is dated prior to June4, 2018.3. Applicant meets all other loan eligibility requirements.

If the property is located in an area being changed from rural to non-rural, lenders must provide Rural Development all of the following information in addition to all other required documentation. For loans submitted via the Guaranteed Underwriting System (GUS), the documentation must be uploaded into the system.

• Copy of the signed/ratified and dated sales contract.• Copy of the Loan Estimate issued to the applicant.• Verification that the property was located in an eligible rural area prior to June 4, 2018.

Note: Maps of the “Previous Eligible Areas” will be available on the Eligibility site beginning June 4, 2018. A printout of the map indicating the property address was previously eligible is acceptable.

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Areas that will now be considered as no longer being rural or rural in character (and therefore ineligible), as well as areas that will now be considered as rural again (and therefore eligible) can be viewed at https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do by clicking on either "Single Family Housing Guaranteed", "Single Family Housing Direct" or Multi-Family Housing" and then selecting "Proposed Ineligible Areas" tab.

These changes will become effective on June 4, 2018. For additional details, or questions, please contact Ed Peace, Georgia Rural Development Single Family Housing Program Director, by phone at (706) 552-2593 or by email at Ed.Peace@ga.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Athens, Georgia April 30, 2018

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1) Savannah, Georgia: Two small areas were annexed by the City of Savannah since

the last review was conducted by USDA Rural Development (RD) – To comply with

Congressional law, this changed the following areas to ineligible for USDA RD

housing programs.

a.) The first area is south of Hwy 204 (Fort Argyle Rd), West of the intersection with I-

95. Pointed out by the arrows below:

b.) The second area annexed by Savannah is south of John Carter Rd.

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2) Dalton, Georgia: Several small areas were annexed by the City of Dalton since the

last conducted by USDA-RD. This changed the following areas to ineligible for

USDA RD housing programs (the green areas below):

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3) Hinesville, Georgia: Several neighborhoods appear to have been annexed by the City

of Hinesville since the last review was conducted by USDA-RD: Cypress Cove,

Governors Quarters and Liberty Park as shown below. That action changed those

areas to ineligible for USDA RD housing programs.

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4) Covington, Georgia: This town met the criteria for grandfathering as rural and eligible for single family housing programs again.

a) Previously Covington was in the shaded area and ineligible.

b.) Ineligible areas appear shaded, note Covington is newly eligible on the map.

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5) Brunswick, Georgia: A study concluded that the Colonels Island and theBlythe Island area along the Turtle River will be delineated as rural and eligible forsingle family housing programs again (see arrows below).a.) The previously ineligible areas are shaded below and indicated with arrows.

b.) Ineligible areas appear shaded, note the newly eligible areas East of the Brunswick River and South of the Turtle River.

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7) Cusetta, Georgia - This town was studied to determine if the criteria for grandfathering asrural again was met. Rural Development received zero comments regarding the proposedchange in eligibility. As a result of our review of the area using the 2015 AmericanCommunity Survey data, comments received, and Rural in Character (RIC) analysis whichincluded factors such as economic vitality, and population fluctuations, it was determinedthat the criteria for grandfathering was met and the town is again considered rural andeligible for Rural Development housing programs.

a.) Previously, Cusseta was in the shaded area and ineligible.

b. Ineligible areas appear shaded, note Cusseta is now eligible on the map.

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