The partner connection, 2010 June

June 2010

In This Issue
Exceeding Excellence

Best Wishes to Four Great DCA Team Members

CoOp Names 4 More

Georgia Academy Program Dates Set

Economic Census Conferences

Winder New WaterFirst Community
Energy Conservation Code Update
Third Annual Housing Summit
Grand Openings...
POPULAR RESOURCES
American Recovery and Re-
Investment Act

Pictured with Commissioner Beatty are John Watts Architectural Consultant, Industrialized Buildings Program; Denise Crowe - Division Director of Human Resources; Al Roberts - Program Specialist, Rental Assistance Division; and
Jim Finch, Deputy Commissioner.
DCA will miss four great team members who are retiring June 30th. Please join us in thanking each of them for their dedication, guidance and loyalty to DCA and the state of Georgia. Also, please join us in extending best wishes in their retirement and for all of their future endeavors. The DCA Board recognized these four exemplary team members at the June Board meeting.
Congratulations to Selena McKinney, this quarter's Exceeding Excellence winner!
With the current economic conditions, State Home Mortgage has seen an increase in the number of borrowers struggling to make their mortgage payments. But even with the increased work load, the loss mitigation staff never loses sight of the fact that the caller on the other end of the phone is our customer and deserves to receive excellent customer service. A recent customer wrote to express her gratitude for Selena's assistance in helping her navigate through what could have been a very stressful situation. She wrote, "For caring beyond the call of duty in helping people like me whom circumstances appear to be hopeless. It made a difference in my life, just by giving that extra moment of kindness and demonstrating a

DCA Home
Exceeding Excellence

positive outlook on my behalf."
That is exactly the kind of service we recognize with our Exceeding Excellence program. Please congratulate Selena McKinney for receiving this quarter's Exceeding Excellence Award. Thank you Selena for providing exceptional customer service.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
Four More Communities Designated as Communities of Opportunity

Did You Receive Excellent Service From A DCA Staffer? DCA's "Exceeding Excellence" Customer Service Recognition Program Allows You To Recognize A Job Very Well Done. Please consider nominating a DCA staffer that's gone above and beyond! DCA's "Exceeding Excellence" recognition program affords DCA team members and our external customers the opportunity to recognize DCA team members for providing excellent customer service. Information is available from the DCA website front page www.dca.ga.gov, Click on the "Customer Feedback" link and complete the information.

New "Contract with Georgia" Signing Ceremony
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs designated Dooly, Sumter, Taylor and Webster Counties as Co-Op communities at the River Valley Regional Commission's May Board meeting. Over the past year the local elected officials, the local champion, and their respective implementation teams have worked closely with DCA staff in creating their community improvement strategies. As participants in Co-Op, each community is required to choose 2-3 goals that can be addressed in a two year period that directly tackle persistent poverty.
"We're very excited about what these communities are doing and accomplishing through collaboration." Commissioner Beatty said. "We recognize that Co-Op is no easy process. But through commitment and determination, these communities were able to successfully work together to create a plan that will bring local and statewide partners together to help the citizens of this great state. In looking at these community improvement strategies, I feel that the rest of the state can say, they got it right".
As one of several benefits of the Initiative, over the next two years, Dooly, Sumter, Taylor and Webster Counties will continue to work closely with DCA staff and other state agencies in receiving technical assistance to help address the goals listed in their community improvement strategies. Additionally, these communities are now eligible to receive GEFA and Downtown Development Revolving Loans at a reduced rate, a $5,000 matching grant, and the ability to apply for CDBG funding for two consecutive years.
For more information on the Communities of Opportunity Initiative or to review the community improvement strategies, please visit DCA's website or contact Program Coordinator Patrice R. Williams at 770-968-6584 or patrice.williams@dca.ga.gov.
189 Graduate from Georgia Academy Spring Programs
The Georgia Academy for Economic Development held regional programs this spring in service delivery areas 1, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11. The final class meetings and graduation were held during

May with 189 graduating. Class recruitment is now underway for the fall regional programs, with dates and contact information below. If you are interested in attending, or would like to nominate someone, please get in touch!

FALL 2010 GEORGIA ACADEMY

REGIONAL PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Region August Sept

Oct

2

4

8

6

3

12

9

7

4

11

9

14

7

3

7

5

10

10

14

19

12

25

29

27

Nov Contact 10 Kathy.Papa@dca.ga.gov 18 Cynthia.Easley@dca.ga.gov 18 Corinne.Thornton@dca.ga.gov 2 Tina.Hutcheson@dca.ga.gov 16 Ray.Pridgeon@dca.ga.gov (Dec)1 Teresa.Concannon@dca.ga.gov

2007 Economic Census Conferences Scheduled at DCA

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs will present two FREE half-day conferences on July 27, 2010 to promote the availability and use of data from the 2007 Economic Census and related programs. The economic census provides a detailed portrait of the United States' economy once every five years, from the national to the local level. The 2007 Economic Census covers most of the U.S. economy in its basic collection of establishment statistics. There also are several related programs, including statistics on minorityand women-owned businesses. Censuses of agriculture and governments are conducted at the same time. Results from the 2007 Economic Census are being issued on American FactFinder, started in early 2009 and will continue through late 2011. See http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/ for more details. WHAT WILL ATTENDEES GAIN?
New users will learn about the range of data about businesses available from the Census Bureau, including both the Economic Census and more frequent data sets. Experienced users will learn about new features of the data, comparability issues, and qualifications of the data. Attendees will gain skills in accessing Economic Census data in American FactFinder, very important now that PDFs and other media are no longer provided. Attendees will have the opportunity to tell others about their own practical applications of the data and learn what others are doing.
The conferences will consist of a slide-lecture with hands-on computer sessions.
DCA has a training room with 18 computers with high speed Internet access. Instructors will project the lecture and images from the instructor's computer.
Lecture examples and hands-on computer exercises will feature Georgia data. Ample opportunity will be provided for questions and answers as well as individual help.
SCHEDULING & REGISTRATION These FREE conferences will be held on July 27, 2010 at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Separate morning and afternoon sessions are scheduled. Attendance is limited, so register early.

Please register for one of these sessions at http://www.census.gov/econ/census07/www/conferences/
City of Winder Designated As Georgia's Nineteenth WaterFirst Community
Atlanta, GA - "Top Notch," said the State's WaterFirst Reviewers when asked to describe the City of Winder's team.
At a ceremony filled with Winder's "top notch" team Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Assistant Commissioner Mike Gleaton announced the designation of the state's nineteenth WaterFirst Community. The ceremony, attended by community leaders and local and state officials, was held on May 5th at City of Winder's Community Building.
"City of Winder has joined an exclusive group of communities committed to water stewardship. The state's WaterFirst communities have a demonstrated track record of implementing solidlydeveloped strategic plans that support long-term excellence in water resource management," said DCA Assistant Commissioner Mike Gleaton. Added Gleaton: "Earning thisdesignation took a lot of effort and required significant teamwork. The WaterFirst Reviewers were especially impressed with the creativity of the Public Works Dept for capturing rain water off their building to use for a water intensive piece of stormwater equipment. They have a dedicated team for stormwater performing daily storm drain maintenance as well as maintaining detention ponds to minimize contaminants from getting into nearby water features. They have a strong educational program and they are working with their neighboring communities on water supply needs".
"Today, DCA is very pleased to recognize the staff, citizens, and leaders of City of Winder for their stewardship of our water resources by designating them as Georgia's Nineteenth WaterFirst Community."
The WaterFirst Community Program, led by the DCA's Office of Environmental Management, is a voluntary partnership between local governments, state and federal agencies and other organizations working to improve the management and protection of our shared water resources. For more information about DCA's WaterFirst program, visit www.dca.ga.gov/development/EnvironmentalManagement/programs/water_first.asp City of Winder is the 19th entity to receive a WaterFirst Community designation. Previously designated WaterFirst communities include the City of Braselton, Cobb County, Cobb/ Marietta Water Authority, Columbus Waterworks/ Columbus Consolidated Government, Forsyth County, City of Gainesville, City of Griffin, Gwinnett County, City of Hartwell, City of Hinesville, Oconee County, City of Rome, City of Roswell, City of Savannah, Douglasville/Douglas County WSA, City of Tifton/ Tift County and City of Tybee Island.
2009 International Energy Conservation Code Task Force Update
The 2009 IECC Task Force is charged with assessing the differences between the 2006 IECC with Georgia Supplements and Amendments (existing code) and the 2009 IECC. After seven meetings over a six month period the task force has completed its charge. The task force will make a recommendation regarding the adoption of the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 and

44 proposed supplements and amendments to the State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC) at its July 29, 2010 meeting. All task force information can be found on the web at: http://www.dca.ga.gov/development/constructioncodes/programs/IECTaskForce.asp. Upon approval of the SCAC and the DCA Board this new code will take effect on January 1, 2011. This project is funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in cooperation with the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. For more information or to be placed on the interested parties list, contact Ryan Meres at (404) 679-3109 or Ryan.Meres@dca.ga.gov.
SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Home Buyers and Real Estate Professionals will Receive Valuable Education at the Third Annual Housing Summit on June 19th
In promotion of June's Homeownership Month, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs is partnering with the Georgia Homeownership Alliance (GHA) to host their annual Housing Summit on June 19th at the Atlanta Technical College from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
This free event will provide education and resources to consumers and industry professionals interested in creating and maintaining homeownership.
In a changing economy and real estate market, education is the key to supporting homeownership and sustaining Georgia's communities. The summit will consist of education and exhibits focused on the current challenges facing Georgia's families and communities. Education for real estate professionals adjusting to the changing climate will also be provided. Attendees will receive information on short sales, REO's, neighborhood revitalization, green initiatives, and much more! Additionally, consumers will be provided with an opportunity to meet with HUD approved Housing Counselors and make appointments for one-on-one counseling. The industry professional will have an opportunity to earn 3 hours continuing education credits as well.
For more information contact Sam Noel at 404-226-4674 or email: Samuel.noel@dca.ga.gov.
GICH is Looking For Your Community's Application
The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) is currently accepting applications for community participation. GICH offers communities a three-year program of collaboration and technical assistance to help communities create and launch locally-based plans to meet their housing needs. Participating communities will create a community housing team to develop new ideas about meeting local housing needs, learn about approaches and available resources to meet housing needs, as well as produce and implement their community housing plan. GICH partners with Georgia Municipal Association, DCA and the University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center.
The deadline for submitting an application is September 3, 2010. Applications are available at UGA's Housing and Demographics Research Center http://www.fcs.uga.edu/hace/hdrc/gich.html. Interested communities may also contact Karen Tinsley, GICH Program Coordinator at (706) 542-4949. Communities are encouraged, but not required, to send a Letter of Intent to apply by July 30, 2010, so that the GICH program leaders may follow-up with you during the application process.
To learn more about how GICH can benefit your community attend the roundtable discussion at the 2010 GMA Annual Convention in Savannah on Sunday, June 27, 2010 (Exhibit Hall - 10:30

AM) or by participating in a GICH webinar on July 15, 2010 at 9:30 AM. For questions or to RSVP for the webinar (by July 9, 2010), contact Karen Tinsley at the above email or telephone number.
Celebrating the Grand Opening of Two Permanent Supportive Housing Developments: Gateway Coastal Village and Summit Trail
Gateway Coastal Village is a 26 unit family development located in Brunswick. It is owned and developed by the Gateway Community Service Board. Gateway will provide wrap around services and living skills development for formally homeless families. Gateway offers a nurturing environment for head of households with a disability and their children to lead a more independent life free from the uncertainties of homelessness. Extensive landscaping and attention to interior design details creates a wonderful campus like feeling for the new residents.
Summit Trail in Atlanta is a 41 unit development targeted towards youth leaving state foster care with disabilities and homeless youth. Summit Trail is the culmination of over 7 years of cooperation between DCA, the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Housing Authority, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the charitable foundation community, and countless private giving by individuals. CHRIS Kids, a provider of support and residential services for youth in Atlanta stepped up to tackle this difficult population. This unique property combines new construction with the rehabilitation of a boarded up and abandoned property on Atlanta's east side. Space is provided for life skills development, counseling (individual and group), computer lab, fitness room, and outdoor meeting areas. The buildings achieved the Southface's Earthcraft Multifamily Certification and Energy Star Certification. The project also participates in the Department of Energy's first multifamily Builder's Challenge and won the Multifamily Project of the Year at the annual EarthCraft Awards.