Creating Vibrant, Walkable Communities
Created as a way to reduce vehicle miles traveled and improve air quality, the 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 LCI program is funded with federal transportation dollars. The grants cover 80% of the cost of each study or transportation project, with the recipient making a 20% match.
ARC announced the 2025 grant awards at the May 14th board meeting. Applications for the selected studies are available by clicking below:
Since 2000, the LCI program has invested nearly $390 million in 126 communities throughout the Atlanta region. These funds pay for planning studies and the construction of transportation projects such as sidewalks and trails, road diets and complete streets, and intersection improvements, to create vibrant and connected downtowns, town centers, and transit oriented developments. The ARC board has allocated $1 billion through 2050 for transportation projects resulting from completed LCI studies.
As part of ARC's celebration of this groundbreaking program, we are pleased to share the Livable Centers Initiative 25 Year Impact Report, LCI 25 Executive Summary, and LCI 25 StoryMap.
One of the outcomes of the 25 Year Impact Report is the revision of the LCI program's goals, which directly align with three of ARC's agency goals:
Take a look at the application guidebook to learn more about program goals and application requirements.
The 2026 Call for Projects will open in January.
Please see the ARC Contract Guidance and Requirements for further information on receiving federal funds, including procurement procedures and subcontracting requirements.
Communities that have completed an LCI study are eligible to apply for funding for transportation projects that support the goals of their study and the program as a whole. Funding for LCI transportation projects comes through ARC’s Transportation Improvement Program.
ARC held a solicitation for LCI Project Implementation Proposals in the Fall of 2021. Project announcement has been be made on the LCI Transportation Program page.
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.
