Business View Civil Municipal - July 2023

107 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7 COVINGTON, GEORGIA This DWPSIP grant represented a joint effort between the Newton County Water and Sewer Authority, Newton County Board of Commissioners, and the city of Covington, Thomas describes, as we sat down with Thomas, Mayor Horton, and Community Development Director, Ken Malcolm. “We are proud and thankful for the community partners that have been part of this effort,” Malcolm emphasizes Thomas is also extremely proud of the grant process relaying that “being awarded the grant was a major accomplishment and blessing for the city.” “City staff devoted significant resources to the grant application during the spring and summer of 2022 and its success serves as a great example of intergovernmental collaboration between three entities in Newton County.” Other infrastructure projects are also noteworthy including the city’s ongoing upgrades to the Eastside Sanitary Sewer Basin, Eastside Lift Station, and the Water Reclamation Facility. “This $60 million investment represents a promise to the prospective industry and citizens that Covington is committed to creating a thriving community of the future,” Mayor Horton declares. When art imitates life It may be the worst-kept secret, however, Covington can boast a long history in film and television tourism. Some of the most iconic shows produced for modern television can be traced to the Covington film and television scene. “This legacy included classics including The Dukes of Hazzard, Cannonball Run, the TV adaptation of In the Heat of the Night, Vampire Diaries, and Sweet Magnolias. Thomas points to the opening of the Three Rings Studio on the edge of the city as just another indication of the strength and commitment to Covington being a film and television regional hub. Capitalizing on the draw of Covington’s filming reputation, the city works closely with Discover