Georgia Department of Community Affairs newsletter, Dec. 2014

December 2014
Keep Georgia Beautiful Celebrates 36th Annual Awards Luncheon in Atlanta

NEWS AND EVENTS
A Note from Commissioner Gretchen Corbin
As you may know, Governor Deal has asked me to become the leader of the Technical College System of Georgia. I am incredibly honored by his nomination and excited about the opportunity to help further strengthen Georgia's infrastructure - this time, its workforce - to prepare our communities for economic growth.

I also couldn't be more pleased that Governor Deal has named Camila Knowles as your new DCA Commissioner. I have known Camila for some time, on both a personal and professional level, and she brings a wealth of strengths to the DCA team.

Keep Georgia Beautiful Executive Director Sarah Visser, DCA Chief Operating Officer Phil
Smith, and Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Jennifer Jehn were on hand to congratulate Keep Georgia Beautiful 2014 award winners.
More than 200 Georgians attended the 36th Annual Keep Georgia Beautiful Awards Luncheon on Friday, December 12 at the Marriott Century Center in Atlanta.
The annual program honors individuals and organizations working to improve Georgia's environment.
"Today's program celebrates and

So while I will greatly miss interacting with the wonderful DCA staff on a daily basis, I know that DCA will have the benefit of an outstanding new leader, and that, as 2015 begins, all of us will still be working together as members of the Georgia team to open wide the doors of opportunity for our citizens.
I thank each of you for the role you play in our state, and I thank you for making my time at DCA special. I am honored to be your friend and your partner, and I look forward to watching the continuing great works of each of you and this important agency, DCA.
Sincerely,
Five Communities Join the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing

recognizes 36 years of collaboration by individuals, schools, corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies to keep Georgia's environment beautiful," said Kevin Perry, President of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation.
Congratulations to the 2014 Keep Georgia Beautiful Award winners! Follow this link to see all award winners.

The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) has selected five new communities to receive assistance with their housing needs. Cedartown, Madison, Pine Mountain, Trion and Liberty County will begin the three-year program in February.Through training and technical instruction during a series of retreats, community housing teams design and implement strategies to enhance their economies as well as the quality of life for their citizens. During these work sessions, each team will work with and receive continuous feedback from a facilitator or housing professional, as well as engage in cross-community collaboration.
"Assistance with housing works best when communities are an active part of the process," said Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. "This program brings together and empowers the decision-makers who can and do make a difference in their communities."

The teams consist of about twelve members and include representatives from local government, business, nonprofit housing organizations and the public housing authority. Other groups may include faith-based organizations, churches, development authorities, chamber of commerce, school systems, major employers and law enforcement.

Since the program's inception in 2005, 50 Georgia communities have benefited from the GICH program. The communities currently enrolled in the program are Albany, Dalton, Douglasville, Greensboro, Lithonia, Perry, Pembroke, Porterdale, Rincon and Roswell.

4.00%
Georgia Dream First Mortgage FHA/VA/RD/Conventional Uninsured with a
Georgia Dream Down Payment Loan
The Georgia Dream website provides complete information.

GICH is a collaboration of partners including: the University of Georgia's Housing and Demographics Research Center, a unit of the Department of Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences; UGA's Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach; the Georgia Department of Community Affairs; and the Georgia Municipal Association, a voluntary, non-profit organization based in Atlanta that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and consulting services to its 521 member cities. The GICH program is funded by Georgia Power as well as the USDA, through a Rural Community Development Initiative grant. Additional in-kind services are provided by UGA's Archway Partnership, and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, both units of the UGA Office of Public Service and Outreach, and the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Follow Us on Social Media

AmeriCorps Workshops in January
In January, the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (GCSV) will host a series of technical assistance workshops for all parties interested in fall 2015 AmeriCorps funding. GCSV staff will provide an AmeriCorps overview, specifics of federal funding, and details regarding running an AmeriCorps program at each workshop.
All new applicants are required to attend at least one workshop:

DCA on Twitter
HomeSafe Georgia on Twitter

January 20 January 27 February 3

Atlanta (Department of Community Affairs) Rome (location TBD) Moultrie (location TBD)

Georgia Main Street on

To register, please email zaneta.ivery@dca.ga.gov by January 9. Subject

Facebook

line should include "2015 GCSV Workshops." Please include your organization's name, the number of participants, and which session you plan to attend. We will send specific times and locations to registered applicants via email.
Federally-funded AmeriCorps grants are designed to help communities address challenges in the areas of education, economic opportunity, disaster services, the environment, health, and assistance to veterans. Competing successfully for an AmeriCorps grant requires a substantial investment in time and resources by local organizations. For more information see the GCSV website.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Capitol
January 18, 2015 - 11:00 a.m.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council will host the State of Georgia's 30th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Tribute in the North Wing of the Capitol on Friday, January 18 at 11:00 a.m.
Governor Nathan Deal and Christine King-Farris will provide remarks during the ceremony and the Atlanta Boy Choir will provide music.
We look forward to seeing you there. For more information, please contact John Turner at john.turner@dca.ga.gov.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING
November Financial Awards
Region One
Murray County
$500,000 in Employment Incentive Program (EIP) funds Will spur $45 million in private investment Will spur an additional $700,000 in public (non-DCA) investment Will create 167 jobs Assists in the location of Mattex USA's new manufacturing facility
Region Three
The Atlanta Development Authority
$400,000 in Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) funds
Will spur an additional $65 million in private investment Will create 100 jobs Will retain 219 jobs Assists in the relocation and expansion of Porsche Cars North
America
Region Eleven
Brantley County
$170,000 in EIP funds Will spur an additional $280,000 in private investment

Will spur an additional $199,000 in public (non-DCA) investment Will create 16 jobs Assists in the construction of a facility for Georgia Metals of
Nahunta City of Nashville
$500,000 in EIP funds Will spur an additional $500,000 in private investment Will spur an additional $580,000 in public (non-DCA) investment Will create 50 jobs Assists in the expansion of Chaparral Boats, which will expand into
the manufacturing of jet-skis
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