Bustling town centers. Shady green spaces. Wide sidewalks and bike lanes. Affordable housing. Strong economies. These are just a few of the qualities that make up a great community.
Residents of all ages and abilities across the Atlanta region are seeking a better quality of life. They’re looking for vibrant, walkable communities, greater access to parks, improved housing options, and access to good jobs.
The Atlanta Regional Commission has developed a range of programs and initiatives designed to make the Atlanta region an even better place to live, work and play – for people of all ages and abilities. These efforts will help the region maintain a high quality of life, even as our population continues to grow and change.
ARC also serves as a regional convener, bringing diverse stakeholders to the table and facilitating informed open discussion about important issues facing the region. These efforts have sparked regional collaborative efforts aimed at improving communities across the region.
ARC develops and maintains the Atlanta Region’s Plan, a comprehensive, long-range blueprint that details the programs and investments needed to ensure metro Atlanta’s future success.
The plan aims to “Win the Future” by providing world-class infrastructure, building a competitive economy and ensuring the region is comprised of healthy, livable communities.
ARC’s Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) is a grant program that incentivizes local jurisdictions to re-envision their communities as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide improved access to jobs and services.
The Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) provides planning and technical support to metro Atlanta communities that want to improve your quality of life.
ARC’s Regional Excellence Awards awards recognize projects in metro Atlanta that exemplify cutting-edge, livable design that enhance the surrounding community and that support the goals and policies of the Atlanta Region’s Plan.
ARC conducts Developments of Regional Impact reviews of all large-scale developments and other projects that are likely to impact neighboring jurisdictions. These reviews ensure that all affected communities have the opportunity to voice concerns and make suggestions.
ARC’s Live Beyond Expectations initiative seeks to encourage local governments to rethink how our communities are designed (such as better sidewalks and improved access to transportation) and what kind of services are offered to older adults and disabled people. The goal: neighborhoods that better accommodate people of all ages and abilities.
A City Agriculture Plan provides a roadmap for a community to achieve its vision of creating a vibrant and sustainable local food system over the next five to ten years. The City Agriculture Plan program is a joint undertaking by ARC and local non-profit Food Well Alliance (FWA).
ARC provides staffing support and other resources to collaborative efforts aimed at improving quality of life across the region. Examples include:
ARC’s Strategic Partners are committed to fostering collaborative regional approaches that improve quality of life in metro Atlanta. Their support elevates ARC leadership programs, research and events throughout the year. Learn more
