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5 Metro Atlanta Communities to Receive Planning Support through ARC’s Community Development Assistance Program

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Atlanta — Jun 03, 2022

The Atlanta Regional Commission announced today that it will provide critical planning and technical support to five metro Atlanta communities through the agency’s Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP).

The projects were chosen through a competitive process that solicited proposals from local governments, CIDs, and non-profits across the Atlanta region. ARC will provide a combination of staffing resources and grants to the selected communities to support a wide range of initiatives that aim to improve quality of life for residents.

In 2022, the program will continue to focus its assistance on advancing community resiliency and social equity in our region to meet our communities’ needs. In addition, as part of ARC’s ongoing efforts to create outcomes that benefit community members that have been disproportionately and negatively impacted by past planning outcomes, ARC has prioritized assistance in 2022 to applications that demonstrate an active partnership between the local government and a Community Based Organization (CBO).

“Planning a bright future for everyone in our region means working to rectify past planning decisions that negatively impacted marginalized communities,” said Sam Shenbaga, Managing Director of the Community Development Group at ARC. “These projects will help to work towards that goal by prioritizing equitable, community-based planning processes and outcomes.”

ARC evaluated applicants based on eight regional priority issues that were developed based on feedback from local governments:

·         Access to Healthy Food ·         Housing Affordability
·         Creative Placemaking ·         Lifelong Communities
·         Impacts of Climate Change ·         Smart Technology
·         Historic Preservation ·         Workforce Development

Projects Receiving ARC Staff Assistance:

Cascade Heights Greenway Network Plan

The Cascade Springs Nature Conservancy will work with ARC staff to prioritize a proposed network of eight multi-modal greenway corridors connecting 600+ acres of greenspace within a 1-mile radius of the Cascade Heights Business Historic District.

Cobb County Housing Study

Cobb County will work with ARC staff to evaluate the current state of housing and develop a needs assessment to support their growing population. The study will also identify issues and opportunities around the state of affordable, accessible housing in Cobb County.

Projects Receiving ARC Grant Assistance:

Gwinnett County Safe & Equitable Multimodal Access Study & Mountain Park Commercial Revitalization Plan

Study Amount: $250,000
Gwinnett County will receive a project grant to assist in developing a regional multimodal access study in the Lilburn, Gwinnett Village area and a commercial revitalization plan for the intersections of Five Forks Trickum Road at Rockbridge Road and Killian Road.

Projects Receiving CDAP Partner Assistance:

Henry County Housing Study

Henry County will work with the Georgia Institute of Technology to complete a study focused on homelessness and services for low-income households and the unhoused.

Villa Rica Placemaking and Alleyway Activation Plan

The City of Villa Rica will work with the Georgia Conservancy to develop a program for downtown placemaking – identifying opportunities for public art, gateway enhancements, place building, and green infrastructure.

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The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 74 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention, and planning resources on key regional issues.

 

Contact Name: Olivia Haas
Contact Phone: (470) 378-1516
Contact Email: ohaas@atlantaregional.com

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RLI
State of the Region
UASI
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