On September 22, 2025, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Historic Preservation Division announced that Douglas is one of eight municipalities in Georgia to receive federal subgrants totaling $120,000. Douglas will receive $6,780 to support the World War II Flight Training School Master Plan.
Douglas was eligible to apply for this grant because of its Certified Local Government (CLG) designation. Each year, Georgia’s 100 Certified Local Governments can apply for matching grants, which are funded 60 percent by federal sources and 40 percent by local sources. To become a federally Certified Local Government, a city or county must pass a preservation ordinance and establish a historic preservation commission.
“The CLG Program is an important partnership between local governments and state and federal offices to support communities as they preserve their historic resources,” said Jennifer Flood, Historic Preservation Division Director. “By taking the initiative to protect their built heritage, our CLG partners contribute to preserving what makes their cities, counties, and Georgia truly special.”
The World War II Flight Training School project aims to create a Master Plan for the historically significant flight training base in Douglas, Georgia. This plan will guide the preservation and development of the site, which is recognized as one of the most intact World War II-era bases in the state. It emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the site’s key features, such as the administration building, barracks, and hangars, while enhancing its role as both a historical site and community resource.
For more information on the WWII Flight Training School Master Plan, please contact Georgia Henderson, Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director at (912) 383-0277. For more information, visit www.dca.georgia.gov/press-releases/2025-09-22/eight-georgia-communities-awarded-federal-historic-preservation-grants.