Oh gosh. I wouldn't plan on it being easy.
You'll need to do a home study in order to become licensed foster parents. I don't know anything about the system in Georgia. My state will do emergency certifications in order to place children with relatives (sometimes they can be approved in a matter of hours). I don't know if that would be possible in your situation but I would definitely ask. Since you are a non-relative, I'm sure they'll want you to do a full home study in any case. In my state that takes six months or so and involves interviews, questionaires, home inspection, physicals, fingerprints/background check, taking classes, etc.
If the boy's mother voluntarily signs a TPR, that will speed things up. Otherwise it will take months (like 6 to 12 maybe) of court hearings before he will be open for adoption. Our daughter's case took 17 months to go through the TPR and then finalize the adoption and that's pretty typical in my state when there has to be an involuntary TPR (terminate parental rights).
If the state has taken custody of this child then the state is in charge - his grandfather really has no official say. I would expect the state to make an effort to reunify this child with his mother. I would make every effort to have the boy placed with you as soon as possible. If he ends up in another foster home for a significant length of time, I would worry that the state would allow them to adopt.
No doubt you will know a great deal more after talking with the case worker. My one bit of advice is to take the initiative as you go through the process. If you don't hear from a case worker by Thursday, see if you can get their number and make the call yourself. And keep calling (the case worker, the lawyer, your licensing worker, everybody who's involved) on a regular basis. Keep asking what you can do to get this boy. Make sure EVERYBODY knows that you want him.
I hope this doesn't sound too daunting. It can be a very stressful process. But so worth it if you are truly meant to be this boy's family.
Best of luck again. Please do keep us all updated!
