The partner connection, Mar. 2014

March 2014
Imperial Hotel in Atlanta: Providing Housing Options in an
Historic Location

NEWS AND EVENTS
2014 Georgia Main Street Awards

At its 35th Anniversary Banquet in Douglasville on February 26, the Department of Community Affairs' Main Street program recognized 12 Georgia cities for excellence in improving their downtowns. The City of Cartersville, the Main Street manager in Blackshear, and Main Street programs in Americus, Douglas, Hartwell, Lavonia, Macon, Madison, Metter, Milledgeville, Moultrie and Woodstock all took home honors for various aspects of their programs.
"Georgia's Main Streets are the jewels of our state and play a critical part in economic development," said Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. "Establishing a vibrant and flourishing downtown speaks volumes about a community's commitment to economic growth for its citizens and its businesses."

Commissioner Corbin complimented the partnerships that made The Commons at Imperial Hotel possible. Photo Credit: Laurel Hart, DCA.
The Imperial Hotel has been a part of the Atlanta skyline since 1911, when it first opened its doors to customers paying $1.50 per room. It has a long and interesting history throughout the 20th century, and now is providing 90 LEED-Gold Certified, state-of-the-art permanent supportive housing units. The Commons at Imperial Hotel is a partnership of Columbia Residential and National Church Residences. The Department of Community Affairs, the City of Atlanta, and the

Economic Development

Award of Excellence in Economic Woodstock Main Street Development

Street Greatest Number of

Douglas Main Street

Business Expansions & Relocations

Exceptional Leadership in Financial Moultrie Main Street Packaging

Organization Best Community Planning Initiative Greatest Volunteer Support 2014 Emerging Leadership Award

City of Cartersville Lavonia Main Street Tommy Lowmon, Blackshear Main Street

Promotions Award of Excellence in Promotions Macon Main Street

Atlanta Housing Authority provided financial support. Private investors include JP Chase Morgan, Bank of America, Sugar Creek Investments, and philanthropic assistance led by the Home Depot Foundation.
"We are very proud to be a part of this team that came together to preserve this safe and affordable housing in the heart of the city," said Commissioner Gretchen Corbin at the Grand Opening on March 6. "The Imperial Hotel's central location means its residents will have access to amenities like transportation, shopping and the other community resources so important to daily life.

Most Events Held in a Downtown District
Highest Attendance at Downtown Events

Americus Main Street Metter Main Street

Design Georgia Historic Preservation Division Award of Excellence Award of Excellence in Design Most Public Improvement Projects

Milledgeville Main Street Madison Main Street Hartwell Main Street

"Our Main Street cities have had countless successes over the 35 years of the program, and it was extremely hard to single out just a few," said Billy Peppers, Director of the Office of Downtown Development. "We congratulate not only these 12 winners, but all 96 Georgia cities in the Main Street program as well as the 19 preparing to enter it, for their hard work and dedication to excellence."

Georgia's Neighborhood Stabilization Program Leads the Nation in Assisting Communities

Photo Credit: Creative Sources. Photo provided with permission from Columbia Residential and National Church Residences.
Wage and Salary Survey, Government Management Indicators
Survey Provide Valuable Information for Local
Governments
The Office of Research and Surveys has launched the 2014 editions of the Wage and Salary Survey and the Government Management Indicators Survey (GOMI). Though completion of the Wage and Salary Survey is voluntary, most local government officials agree that the information it provides is valuable. Showing comparisons among governments of similar sizes for staff positions and salary/wage ranges, the annual results are routinely among DCA's most accessed

The Department of Community Affairs manages Georgia's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), a HUD-funded program created in 2009 to assist communities nationwide dealing with high rates of foreclosure. HUD made funds available in three rounds, with Georgia choosing to participate in the first (NSP1) and third (NSP3) round. Because these funds were meant to purchase foreclosed homes and stabilize the real estate market, they came with strict deadlines in order to provide assistance quickly to communities with high foreclosure rates.
In 2011, DCA received more than $19 million to purchase, rehabilitate and resell foreclosed properties. This allocation was the largest given to any of the 49 states participating, and almost twice as much as the next largest allocation given to California, at more than $11 million. Georgia's NSP3, in partnership with 12 entities around the state, met the federal goal of 100 percent expenditure five weeks before the March 10, 2014 deadline. (By comparison, California has spent 50 percent of its funds in the same time period.)
"It's impressive that DCA and our partners have met the stringent goals and timelines laid out by HUD, and we're proud of that accomplishment," said Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. "But the real story is how this money has helped communities and families across the state recover from a tough financial period. Some of our partners have used funds to help with down-payment assistance, and now more than 70 working families are homeowners who have never had that chance before. Some communities used funds to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed houses to increase their energy efficiency, which helps working families lower their energy

publications. The survey data is published in annual reports grouping governments by population, as well as in a searchable database on our website by position or salary range.
State law requires that each local government complete the annual GOMI Survey. The annual GOMI report provides information on local government facilities and services offered statewide, as well as management practices in general administration, public safety, and public works arenas. Policy makers, state budget officers and researchers nationwide use the results of this survey to inform their decisions, and many Georgia public schools use the information to teach their students about local government in Georgia and the United States.

costs. Statewide, we've used this money to make a difference in the quality of life in our communities, and to provide more housing options for more people."
Local government partners in Georgia's NSP3 allocation are: Carroll County-City of Carrollton, Cobb County, Coweta County-City of Newnan, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Henry County, Jackson County, Newton County-City of Covington, Rockdale County, and Spalding County-City of Griffin. The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission created a regional partnership, and the Georgia Housing Finance Authority is a state partner.
Contact Glenn Misner at glenn.misner@dca.ga.gov for more information about NSP3.

The deadline for local governments to complete the GOMI survey is June 30. The complete annual report will be available by November, with interim updates available online throughout the summer.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

For information, please contact Jonathan Sharpe at jonathan.sharpe@dca.ga.gov or 404-679-4996.

Homeowners who became unemployed or underemployed within the last 36 months may be eligible for temporary mortgage payment assistance; and homeowners who have experienced other financial hardships within the last 36 months including those associated with military service, death of a spouse, or medical hardships may be eligible for HomeSafe Georgia assistance. We encourage potential eligible homeowners to attend one of the events.

DCA staff will partner with Department of Labor (DOL) and other agencies to provide information and to answer questions about HomeSafe Georgia at these March events:

4.25%
Georgia Dream First Mortgage FHA/VA/RD/Conventional Uninsured
with or without a Georgia Dream Down Payment Loan
The Georgia Dream website provides complete information.

March 13: Veterans' Spring Career Fair 2014; 1 - 4 p.m.; Georgia Department of Labor Valdosta Career Center, 221 South Ashley Street, Valdosta
March 20: Veterans' Career Fair & Diversity Job Expo; 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta
March 20: 11th Annual Career Expo and Job Fair; 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Columbus Trade Center, 801 Front Ave., Columbus
March 26: Treutlen County Job Fair; 1 - 3 p.m.; Soperton Club House, 4439 West Main Street, Soperton

March 27: Evans County Job Fair; 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.; The Veterans Community Center, Highway 280 West, Claxton

March 28: Congressman David Scott's 11th Annual Jobs Fair; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park

Since 2011, HomeSafe Georgia has provided more than $94 million in temporary mortgage assistance to 4,803 families

and individuals in 121 counties. Homeowners assisted by HomeSafe Georgia have a 99 percent retention rate after 24 months of entering the program.
For more information: www.homesafegeorgia.com/
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 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. Landlords can register in a five-minute process or work with DCA staff to register large-scale listings.
For information, please contact Ron Pounds at 404327-6864 or ron.pounds@dca.ga.gov.

The Georgia Main Street Program is now on Facebook! Like us and see what's happening in
downtowns from Blairsville to Brunswick.

Clean communities are ready for economic development!
Keep Georgia Beautiful continues 35 years of service by supporting local governments and community organizations that promote sustainability and an improved quality of life. Join us in March, April, and May alongside millions of volunteers nationwide cleaning, building, planting, recycling, beautifying, and educating our communities.
The Great American Cleanup program will provide resources to help you get groups in your community organized and involved. To get involved contact your local Keep Georgia Beautiful organization or Kanika Greenlee at kanika.greenlee@kgbf.org or 404-679-1580.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING February Financial Awards
Region Eight
City of Marshalville
$70,000 in Immediate Threat and Danger (ITD) funds Assists 1,096 people Spurs an additional $69,000 in public (non-DCA)
investment Will assist the city with repairs to its water treatment
facility
Region Twelve

City of Hiltonia
$12,500 in ITD funds Assists 342 people Spurs an additional $34,500 in public (non-DCA)
investment Will assist the city with repairs to its public water
system
City of Newington
$35,000 in ITD funds Assists 274 people Spurs an additonal $122,000 in public (non-DCA)
investment Will assist the city in making repairs to its wastewater
treatment facility
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