Baldwin County OneGA Rural Workforce Housing Initiative

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) through the OneGeorgia Authority (OGA), in partnership with Baldwin County, is soliciting qualified developers to construct new workforce housing for sale on a 21-acre county-owned parcel located at 124 Ogden Road. This procurement seeks comprehensive development proposals that will result in the construction of starter homes priced between $125,000 and $290,000, which may include single-family detached homes, duplexes, or other residential configurations designed to serve local workers. Developers must submit proposals to Carlos Tobar, County Manager, at ctobar@baldwincountyga.com by 12:00 pm on October 3, 2025. Required proposal components include developer qualifications and references, documentation of financing capability, preliminary site plans with engineering reports, project schedules with milestones supporting a maximum 2-year completion period, and marketing plans targeting local workers. Developers must also demonstrate compliance with state environmental and historic preservation requirements, and acknowledge that a soil test will be conducted to determine buildable areas, with approximately 2.5 acres of the former inert landfill section potentially serving as greenspace. The county will apply for OGA funding upon receipt of acceptable proposals, with evaluation criteria focusing on the developer's experience, financial capacity, feasibility of the development plan, and ability to deliver workforce housing within the specified timeframe and price range.

Funding for this initiative comprises two components: an infrastructure grant to Baldwin County with a maximum of $2.5 million to cover water, sewer, roads, stormwater, and sidewalks needed to support the development, and a low-interest or zero-interest construction loan to the selected developer with a maximum of $1 million. OGA will provide up to 40 percent of the construction loan, requiring developers to secure the remaining 60 percent through equity or local lender financing. The advertisement does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular types of organizations, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed, and the procurement does not identify existing infrastructure or technology requiring integration beyond the standard utilities and site preparation necessary for residential development. The total available public funding (combining the county infrastructure grant and OGA construction loan) reaches $3.5 million, though individual developer awards may vary based on project scope and financing structure.