Flint Energies recently announced that the cities of Byron, Montezuma, and Pinehurst have been selected as the 2026 recipients of the cooperative’s Rural Mural grant program. Through the initiative, Flint Energies will award each community a $10,000 matching grant to support the creation of large-scale public murals that celebrate local history, culture and identity. Each community will also contribute approximately $2,500 toward its respective project.
The mural projects are designed to enhance downtown spaces, encourage tourism and create meaningful community gathering points through public art.
Byron
The City of Byron will feature its mural on the old school building next to the Byron Municipal Complex located at 200 Moseley Road. The mural will be located right beside the new Byron skatepark location. The artwork will commemorate the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival, Middle Georgia Raceway and the local peach industry. The project, sponsored by the Byron Convention and Visitors Bureau, will also mark the second Rural Mural located in Byron.
Montezuma
The City of Montezuma will transform the side of the two-story building located at 102 E Railroad Street with a mural highlighting the area’s natural resources, Flint River and Beaver Creek, and the town’s agricultural roots with peaches and native flowers. This mural project is sponsored by the Montezuma Downtown Development Authority.
Pinehurst
In Pinehurst, the mural will adorn the exterior wall of the local Millwood Masonic Lodge, at 279 Fullington Avenue. The mural, sponsored by the City of Pinehurst, will celebrate Pinehurst’s agricultural and historic roots while honoring the city’s community pride.
The communities of Byron and Montezuma have partnered with acclaimed Southeastern muralist Chris Johnson to complete their projects. Since 2017, Johnson has created more than 50 murals throughout the Southeast, helping communities tell their stories through vibrant public art.
The City of Pinehurst has selected Lacey Eason, a Georgia-based mural artist to paint their mural. Eason’s work focuses on transforming everyday spaces into colorful visual landmarks that celebrate local culture and community pride.
Flint’s Rural Mural program fosters collaboration between the cooperative and rural communities to create lasting outdoor art installations that strengthen local identity, inspire economic development and encourage cultural tourism. The initiative focuses on celebrating the rich history and diversity of communities throughout Flint’s service territory while increasing the number of accessible public art spaces across the region.
By drawing travelers off major interstates and into small-town downtowns, the Rural Mural program encourages visitors to explore local businesses, restaurants and attractions throughout the area. Visitor spending generated through tourism directly benefits the communities hosting the murals and contributes to ongoing economic vitality. To date, the program has supported the installation of 15 murals across 10 counties of Flint’s 17-county service territory.
“We are thrilled to partner with Byron, Montezuma and Pinehurst on this year’s Rural Mural projects,” said Marian McLemore, Vice President of Cooperative Communications for Flint Energies. “These murals do far more than beautify buildings — they tell the stories of the people who call these communities home. We are proud to support projects that celebrate local heritage, inspire community pride and create opportunities for economic growth throughout rural Georgia.”