The Georgia State Soccer Association, Inc. (Georgia Soccer) is the official state soccer association in Georgia for the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Georgia Soccer’s mission is to Promote, Grow and Develop Soccer. As part of this mission, we would like to support our Affiliated Members to create more soccer field space.
Therefore, Georgia Soccer is pleased to announce a new Field Loan Program that allows Affiliated Members to apply for up to $100,000 in an interest-free loan. The purpose of the Field Loan Program is to create new soccer field space and increase the capacity of existing field space to allow for more soccer games, practices, and players in Georgia.
Georgia Soccer will award up to $100,000 in loans to Affiliated Members based on these factors:
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New Fields receive up to $100,000: To receive up to $100,000 in an interest-free loan, an Affiliated Member must create at least one new soccer field. A new field is defined as a rectangular field that can host 13U-19U Classic, Athena or RIAS or Adult games and must be at least 100 yards long and 50 yards wide with space on the side for players to sit and parents to watch. A new field is one that has not been used for practices or games in the past. Determination of the definition of a new field will be done in the sole discretion of Georgia Soccer based on the application for the Field Loan.
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Up to $50,000 for Synthetic Turf: To receive up to $50,000 in an interest-free loan, an Affiliated Member must convert a grass field into a larger synthetic turf field that can accommodate more games and practices than the grass field it replaced. The synthetic turf installed must be new and high quality. The synthetic turf area must increase the amount of playable space and increase the frequency of use of the field space. Georgia Soccer, in its sole discretion, will make the sole determination if a synthetic turf field meets the definition above, based on the application for the Field Loan.
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Up to $25,000 for Sports Lighting: To receive up to $25,000 in an interest-free loan, an Affiliated Member must put up sports lighting on soccer fields to increase the amount of play time available on a field. The lighting must be permanent (at least 10 years) and of high quality. Additionally, the Affiliated Member must allow adult amateur soccer to be played at the facility when lighted. The quality of the lighting to be approved at the sole discretion of Georgia Soccer, based on the application for the Field Loan.
?To receive an interest-free loan, a Georgia Soccer Affiliated Member must meet these criteria:
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The Affiliated Member must own the field space or have primary field use rights to the field space for a minimum of ten years.
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The Affiliated Member must have a minimum of 500 registered players with Georgia Soccer.
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The Affiliated Member must have been an affiliated member of Georgia Soccer for at least five years as of 2019.
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The Affiliated Member must be in strong financial health and provide proof of such to be able to pay back the loan over a maximum of five years.
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The Affiliated Member must register all its players with Georgia Soccer.
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The Affiliated Member must ensure only Georgia Soccer registered players use the field.
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That soccer must be the primary activity on the field. (Defined as 90% of field activity)
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An Affiliated Member must execute a Loan Agreement with Georgia Soccer.
Only Georgia Soccer Affiliated Members are eligible to apply.
To apply: Supply at least a one-page summary of the field project along with pictures or drawings of what the new field space will look like after the completion of the field project.
The field project summary must include information about the field space available before the field project, including how many players, teams, games and practices that can be accommodated by the field space before the field project. The summary must also include the field space that will be available after the field project and how many players, teams, games and practices will be able to accommodate after completion of the field project. Please include the number of youth and adult players. Fields that provide access to adult players will be given priority.
A total budget for the field project and the plan for raising the required funds to complete the project, along with an accounting of any funds already raised or currently available for the field project must be submitted.
A request for the total amount of loan requested from Georgia Soccer along with repayment timeline must be submitted. The repayment timeline cannot exceed 5 years.
Submit at least three years of financial statements to demonstrate financial condition.
The loan application must be accompanied by a letter of approval from the Affiliated Member’s Board of Directors or similar governance body.
Applications should be sent to Georgia Soccer to the attention of the Executive Director. They can be mailed or emailed. Email to: griffith@georgiasoccer.org
Mail to:
Executive Director/Field Loan Program
Georgia Soccer
2323 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 200
Chamblee, GA 30341
Proposals will be evaluated as they are submitted. Please plan for three to six months for a response to any proposal. All proposals must be approved by the Georgia Soccer Board of Directors. Proposals may be submitted now for consideration.
Successful awardees of a Georgia Soccer Field Loan Program will receive an interest-free loan of up to $100,000 that can be repaid over a period of time, not to exceed five years. Specific repayment terms will be contracted as part of the Loan Agreement.
If approved, and upon request, Georgia Soccer can provide an Affiliated Member a pledge in advance for the amount of the approved loan. The Affiliated Member may use this pledge to acquire a loan or additional funds.
Georgia Soccer will provide a loan once a Field Project is started or just after completion. Usually, Georgia Soccer’s loan money will be the last money into a field project. Specific loan disbursement terms will be negotiated between the parties as part of the Loan Agreement.
If you have any questions about the Field Loan Program, please contact Georgia Soccer Executive Director Greg Griffith at (678) 993-2100 or griffith@georgiasoccer.org.