Truist Bank Donates $1 Million to Albany Community Together
Bread on "The Table"
ALBANY, GA – One million dollars…
No, it’s not the latest lottery winnings, it’s what Truist Bank Foundation is donating to Albany Community Together and the Southwest Georgia Project to turn this former Winn Dixie into what they’re calling “The Table”…
A project that’s been in the works since 2015.
“I cannot explain how important this injection of a million dollars into a 15 million dollar project that Truist Bank has made to our work, to our organization,” said Shirley Sherrod, Exec. Director, Southwest Georgia Project.
For members of the Albany and Dougherty county community, a major financial boost is long overdue for an area that many feel has been forgotten and underserved.
“It’s been disinvested in, that’s true. And, so, this will be a very catalytic project. And, we are hoping with “The Table” that we are able to start to spur other economic development projects in that area,” said Thelma Johnson, President, Albany Community Together.
“This project is certainly transformative for this area. So, we’re excited to be part of it, and we’re happy to do what we could do. It’s not just the underserved members of the Albany community they’re hoping to help now that they have the money needed to begin work on “The Table,” said Adam Smith, Truist Bank Commercial Banker, Southwest Georgia.
But… the farmers who have been affected over the last few years due to different weather patterns, storms like Hurricane Michael, and COVID to name a few.
“To target residents of that area, as well as the City of Albany. And, to put together a project that not only includes residents of Albany, but land owners and farmers in the region. It’s an amazing project in our area,” said Sherrod.
“The way that we see it, is this is an investment for the future. And, we want to plant those seeds so that this community can grow and be what it’s planned to be, and what it’s able to become,” said Smith.
With the latest donation from the Truist Bank Foundation bringing Albany Community Together that much closer, many are hoping that they can begin to break ground here on Oak Ridge Road as early as 2024.
Brian Roche reporting.
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