Lafayette, Georgia will receive $6.2 million dollars to revitalize Villanow Street, a significant downtown corridor that links Main Street to the Mars Theater District.

The project, which spans about a half a mile, will enhance pedestrian safety with new sidewalks, lighting, and other features. The City of Lafayette estimates that the project will take about four years to complete.

The funding is from the Federal Highway Safety Administration’s “Complete Streets” grant, which is an outcome of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Georgia senator Jon Ossoff commended Lafayette for the strength of their application.

Lafayette, Georgia, the “Queen City of the Highlands,” has engaged the community in several planning efforts over the years, including Thrive Regional Partnership’s Thriving Communities program in 2019, the University of Georgia (UGA)’s Renaissance Strategic Vision & Plan in 2021, and UGA Design Studio for the Walker County African American Memorial Park in 2022.