Rock Eagle to receive $2.2 million from state relief fund

A Lake Area education center is among the list of recipients of the latest round of Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER II) funds. 

The Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Putnam County will get $2.2 million of the $47 million being allocated. 

“Many of Georgia’s families benefit from visiting Rock Eagle,” the Governor’s office said in a press release. “[It’s] a crucial institution for hands-on learning experiences focused on agricultural and environmental information, leadership, communication skills, food and nutrition, health, energy conservation, and citizenship.”

Rock Eagle sits on 1,500 acres next to the Oconee National Forest and includes a 110-acre lake.  

The center, which the state opened back in 1955, is the “largest of five centers operated by the University of Georgia as support for the state’s 4-H program,” the center’s website states. “Many 4-H’ers from around the state attend competitive events, leadership conferences and rallies at Rock Eagle. Civic, religious and business groups utilize Rock Eagle 4-H Center for their conferences and meetings as well.”

We reached out to the center for details on how they plan to spend the funds, but no one was available. The governor’s office said, “these funds will support vitally needed improvements to the facility to increase safety and expand learning experience opportunities.”

The allocation from the governor’s office comes from the federal coronavirus relief funds given to the state—the GEER II funding supplements the previous GEER funding provided under the CARES Act. 

The highest allocation in this round is $15.4 million for “classroom grants,” which will give each K-12 teacher and paraprofessional $125 “for classroom expenses.” 

Read more about the GEER Funding here.