The partner connection, Dec. 2012

December 2012

NEWS AND EVENTS Georgia Initiative for Community Housing Selects Five New Communities

Each year, the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing selects at least five new participants for its three-year program. Beginning in February 2013, the following communities will join the GICH family:

The City of Dalton Housing Authority The City of Greensboro The City of Lithonia The City of Pembroke The City of Roswell

These cities, along with others in the GICH program, participate in a series of retreats to receive facilitation, instruction, and technical assistance as they design and implement a housing strategy to improve the quality of life and economic conditions in their communities.

All Georgia State Government Offices will be closed Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25 in honor of the Christmas holiday, and Tuesday, January 1, 2013 for New Year's Day.
Happy Holidays!

The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing is a collaboration of the Housing and Demographics Research Center at the University of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and the Georgia Municipal Association. The program is partially funded by the Georgia Power Company, with additional support provided by the Atlanta Gas Light Company, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, and Wachovia. Any city, county, or public housing authority in Georgia is eligible to apply to GICH. Applications are available each summer, and GICH selects new communities in the fall of each year.
For more information about the program, contact Karen Tinsley at the University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center at 706.542.4949 or send an email to klt@uga.edu.

Recent Board Actions

City of Warner Robins Requests Design Assistance

At its November 7, 2012, monthly meeting, the Board of the Department of Community Affairs took the following actions:

1. Adopted new rules for local comprehensive planning that reflect the following themes:
Simplicity and Cost Reduction Flexibility and Choice Customization Incentives Continuity Coordination The NEW RULES take effect January 1, 2013. For more information, contact Jim Frederick at jim.frederick@dca.ga.gov.

Like many cities and counties in Georgia, the City of Warner Robins has gained an interest in enhancing its "sense of place" the physical attributes of a place that help create an atmosphere that citizens love. At the request of the Warner Robins Redevelopment Agency, the Offices of Planning and Environmental Management and Downtown Development helped city leaders re-imagine one of its main streets through town. Watson Boulevard runs through the heart of Warner Robins, linking Interstate 75 to the west with Robins Air Force Base to the east.

2. Adopted one new optional appendix and one amendment to the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (IRC), one new optional appendix to the International Building Code (IBC) and one amendment to the International Plumbing Code (IPC). The Appendices can be adopted in whole or in parts by local jurisdictions to fit the specific needs of their communities for disaster resilient construction (construction above current code). CLICK HERE for the code appendix and amendment. For more information please contact Ted Miltiades at ted.miltiades@dca.ga.gov or (404) 679-3106; or the DCA Office of Construction Codes at constructioncodes@dca.ga.gov or (404) 679-3118.
Volunteer Rate Jumps in Georgia

After working with city officials to understand their concerns and desires for Watson Boulevard, staff from OPEM and ODD provided recommendations and drawings for its redevelopment. The recommendations include:
Planting street trees to increase shade and overall atmosphere Reducing the number of curb cuts along the boulevard (to make it more pedestrian friendly) Continuous sidewalks Street furniture and lighting A suggested refurbishment of a faade of a vacant furniture store
Corridor redevelopment is part of Warner Robins' larger Urban Redevelopment Plan, and the City plans to apply for Opportunity Zone designation to provide incentives to businesses to locate along Watson Boulevard. The Warner Robins Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Gary Lee said, "the drawings DCA provided us will be very helpful in showing the community what improvements we are hoping for along the Watson Boulevard Corridor and they will assist us with our TE Grant application."
Many thanks to Carmine Fischetti of the Office of Downtown Development and Adriane Wood of the Office of Planning and Environmental Management for their great work on this project. If your community is interested in design assistance or redevelopment recommendations, contact Jim Frederick in OPEM at jim.frederick@dca.ga.gov or Billy Peppers in ODD at billy.peppers@dca.ga.gov.
UPCOMING DEADLINES, EVENTS, OPPORTUNITIES

MLK JR Advisory Council Now Accepting Nominations for Annual Service Awards

Volunteers in Georgia demonstrated their commitment to improving their communities in a variety of ways last year, as the volunteer rate jumped 4 percent in the state, according to the Volunteering and Civic Life in America (VCLA) report by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Almost two million Georgia volunteers served almost 294 million hours, which is valued at $5.9 billion.
"Involved citizens do so much to make our communities stronger," Governor Nathan Deal said. "Georgians take pride in helping their neighbors and dedicating their time to address critical issues. Our residents are committed to strengthening our state and our nation through service. Sandra and I inaugurated the 'With a Servant's Heart' annual day of service, and its success reflects Georgians' dedication to giving back."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" In the spirit of Dr. King, Georgians will be "Commemorating the Past", "Celebrating the Present" and "Inspiring the Future" with the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council's Service Awards during the ceremonies commemorating the King Holiday on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the State Capitol. Nominations for these awards will be accepted between December 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013 and must be in the name of a single individual, at least 13 years of age, who lives in the State of Georgia. All nominations must be submitted online through the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council website www.mlkcouncil.org. The awards will celebrate Dr. King's legacy constructed around three elements:
The Legacy Award calls on Georgians to remember and memorialize the service of fellow Georgians of Dr. King's generation who have made notable contributions to social justice, civil rights and the strength of their communities in the spirit of Dr. King's teaching and his nonviolent philosophy.
The Public Service Award recognizes a public official who has made a significant contribution to the state. The Service to Community Award recognizes the contribution of an individual from the private sector. The Youth Service to Community Award will recognize a citizen, age 13 to 21, who has made a significant contribution to the state and to the community.
The Leadership through Service Award is designed to recognize an individual who has brought Georgians together for service to their communities on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

For more information please contact Janet Cagnazzo, VISTA Team Leader (404) 327-6845 or Janet.Cagnazzo@dca.ga.gov.

Disaster Resilient Building Code Workshops

Georgia citizens need quick and easy access to affordable housing options and we can help! Whether you are searching by price, number of bedrooms, or even proximity to work, school or transportation, finding a home that meets your needs is easier with GeorgiaHousingSearch.org.
Landlords can register in a five-minute process or work with DCA staff to register large-scale listings. For more information, please contact Ron Pounds at 404-327-6864 or ron.pounds@dca.ga.gov.

The Office of Construction Codes is conducting comprehensive training for building officials on the importance, implementation and enforcement of the disaster resilient construction appendices adopted by the DCA Board in November 2012.
The workshops focus on the provisions within the appendices and helping communities determine which options may be best suitable for them. The appendices workshops are free of charge and registration is required.
To register, contact: Dee Leclair, DRBC Project Manager Phone: 404-327-7909 Email: dee.leclair@dca.ga.gov
Atlanta/Tucker: January 22, 2013

GeorgiaHousingSearch.org is the key
to linking tenants with landlords. We offer FREE property posting, bilingual assistance, and a toll-free number (877-428-8844) available to those without internet access.

N. Fulton/Johns Creek: January 24, 2013 Macon: February 6, 2013 Carrollton: February 13, 2013 Brunswick: March 18, 2013 Rome: April 3, 2013 Dublin: April 10,2013
Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) Application Workshop: February 14, 2013

HomeSafe Results: May-November 2012

programs.

The Department's Qualified Allocation Plan is the annual document that outlines how the Office of Housing Finance and Development selects applicants to build affordable housing using the Housing Tax Credit and the HOME loan

HomeSafe Georgia provides mortgage assistance to unemployed or underemployed Georgians. Between May and November 2012, the program:
Approved 1,196 applications Closed $20.4MM worth of loans Made $13.4MM in mortgage payments Strengthened partnerships with CredAbility, D&E, and Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Middle Georgia and Consumer Credit Counseling of Savannah as statewide and regional partners. Has run an ongoing statewide radio campaign to advertise HomeSafe availability. Targeted communities hardest hit by high foreclosures and unemployment. Partnered with congressional delegations and the faith-based community to provide outreach activities on nights and weekends.

The 2013 Applicant Workshop will be at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta from 8:30 until 3:00 PM on February 14, 2013. Register before January 18, 2013 for $100, and after for $125. Click HERE for a list of area hotels and a mail-in registration form, or HERE to register online. We look forward to seeing you there!
For more information, contact Andria Williams at andria.williams@dca.ga.gov.
Spring 2013: Georgia Academy for Economic Development

Registration is underway for the Georgia Academy for Economic Development in Regions 1, 6, 8, 9, and 11. Facilitators from Georgia Power and Georgia EMC will lead classes through four days of economic development and leadership fundamentals, with modules presented by experts from state agencies and local communities. The Georgia Academy provides an opportunity to learn about the essentials of community and economic development, with careful attention to regional issues. Contact your Team Georgia manager listed below for more details, or Corinne Thornton at corinne.thornton@dca.ga.gov.

Regio n

Sessio n 1

Sessio n 2

Sessio n 3

Sessio n 4

Contacts

1

2/12 3/12 4/9 5/7 leamon.scott@dca.ga.gov

5

2/14 3/14 4/11 5/9 kathy.papa@dca.ga.gov

6

2/13 3/13 4/16 5/8 lynn.ashcraft@dca.ga.gov

8

2/7 3/7 4/4 5/2 jo.childers@dca.ga.gov

9

2/6 3/6 4/3 5/1 tina.hutcheson@dca.ga.go

Congratulations to the recent graduates of the Fall 2012 Georgia Academy for Economic Development! More than 100 elected officials, local government staff, educators, board members and interested citizens in Regions 2,3,4,7,9 and 12 completed the four-day course
this fall. Since 1998, the GAED has helped provide Georgia's community leaders with a better understanding of
the economic and community development process. Click HERE for
a list of the Fall 2012 graduates.

v
11 2/5 3/5 4/2 4/30 lynn.ashcraft@dca.ga.gov
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING December Awards
Region Two
City of Helen $25,000 in Immediate Threat and Danger Funds Additional public investment (non-DCA) of $85,000 Replaces 1,000 linear feet of 6" water line Benefits 510 people

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