August 2014 Board Installs Fiscal Year 2015 Officers NEWS AND EVENTS In Memory of John Phillip "Phil" Foil September 11, 1967 - August 3, 2014 The Department of Community Affairs family mourns the passing of our good friend and colleague, Phil Foil. Phil's loss will be felt by all of us at DCA and many colleagues around Georgia, the state that Phil loved so much. Phil served Georgia as the Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Chief Operating Officer, and Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Community Affairs; and as Executive Director of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. He served on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Chapter of the ALS Association, and volunteered as the athletic director and basketball coach for the Greater Gwinnett Christian Barons girls' teams. L-R: 2014 Board Chair Billy Croker, Commissioner Gretchen Corbin, 2015 Board Chair Simon Bloom. (Photo credit: Brent Bridges) The DCA Board installed its Fiscal Year 2015 officers at its August meeting. Simon Bloom, Partner at Bloom Sugarman Everett, LLP, will serve as chair. Al Hodge, President and CEO of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, will serve as Vice Chair. Trip Tollison, President and CEO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, will serve as Secretary. His community and professional service are a testament to the person Phil strove to be, but they pale in comparison to his dedication to his wife Paula and his daughters Ashley and Elizabeth. His family was Phil's most important focus, and he was always quick to share a story about one or all of them. A graduate of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, Phil was an avid Bulldog, cheering for every sports team that represented the University, but especially the football team. "We will remember Phil as he lived," said Commissioner Corbin, "as a kind, gentle, energetic man who loved us all dearly and who exemplified true leadership, not just here at DCA, but throughout his career and, indeed, his life. Phil was an inspiring role model for us all. While his time on earth was much too short, we were privileged to have him with us for so much of that time. We're so grateful for the many lessons that he taught us to take forth into our own lives - lessons of humility, kindness and friendliness." Georgia's Neighborhood Stabilization Program: A National Model The Georgia Downtown Renaissance Act Commissioner Gretchen Corbin accepts a copy of the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Act, including Governor Deal's signature pen, from Boyd Austin of the Georgia Municipal Association. DCA's Neighborhood Stabilization Team L-R: Joanie Perry, Sally Adams, Dana Edwards, Brian Williamson and Glenn Misner. Managed by the Department of Community Affairs, The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP1 and NSP3) (HUD-funded programs) has invested $121 million through 22 communities to help stabilize Georgia's communities during the worst of the recession and beyond. Local governments have used NSP funds to create 1,700 affordable housing units which have since been purchased or rented by low-, moderate-, and middle-income families. Each local program uses a variety of strategies to meet their specific needs, including purchasing and rehabilitating single-family homes, constructing multifamily developments, and providing home buyer assistance to eligible purchasers. Georgia's NSP program has been ranked consistently in the top two among all 50 states, and have provided such excellent service that HUD staff will share DCA's NSP program measures as best practices for use among our other 49 states. Austin Boyd, Mayor of Dallas and 3rd Vice President of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), presented Commissioner Gretchen Corbin with a framed copy of the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Act at the August board meeting. Governor Deal signed the act March 26, 2014. The act provides for state tax credits for downtown investments and will be another tool for cities across Georgia to use to attract housing, businesses and jobs. "As the state's community development agency, we are pleased that the Renaissance Act provides us with the ability to extend even more resources toward protecting the heart and soul of our communities: Georgia's beautiful and unique downtowns," said DCA Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. "Programs like this are key to community development: they build up the private sector, protect historic resources through preservation and grow commerce in the central business districts of our state." Gov. Deal Announces AmeriCorps Grants for Georgia Communities Gov. Nathan Deal announced $3,437,917 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to engage 690 AmeriCorps members with 15 nonprofit organizations and meet education, health, environmental and other local needs in Georgia. "Service and volunteerism are key ingredients to increasing the vitality and competitiveness of our local communities," said Deal. "These grants will enable AmeriCorps members to better meet local needs, leaving a positive and lasting impact on the state." The grants will support AmeriCorps members who will tackle critical challenges in Georgia by tutoring and mentoring youth, facilitating health education programs and preserving natural resources. Congratulations to DCA's NSP team! Final Reminder! GICH Applications Due September 5 The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) is now accepting applications for participation in the three-year program. Applications are available on the GICH website and are due by September 5. Vibrant neighborhoods with safe, decent and affordable housing are essential to any community's economic vitality. Since 2004, the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, a partnership of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the University of Georgia Housing and Demographics Research Center, has been helping communities across Georgia address housing and community development needs. "DCA's great tool chest of resources continues to empower communities to grow in a diversity of ways," said Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. "The funding provided by AmeriCorps will help educate our future workforce, keep them healthy and sustain our quality of life, all while giving AmeriCorps members invaluable training in life and leadership." Below is a list of funded programs: Teach for America - Atlanta: $139,975 Hands on Atlanta: $377,000 Georgia 4-H AmeriCorps Program: $208,000 Clayton State University Tutoring Program: 182,695 Communities in Schools of Georgia-AmeriCorps Reading Tutorial Program: $181,699 Covenant House Georgia, Inc.-CHGA AmeriCorps: $137,345 Georgia State University Research Foundation-TEAM: Technology, Environment and Movement Program: $267,274 Georgia Tech Research Corporation: $191,348 Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, Inc.-Financial, Career and Training Services: $172,900 Inner Harbour Hospitals, Ltd.-Youth Villages AmeriCorps: $291,900 Jekyll Island State Park Authority-Georgia Sea Turtle Center: $251,703 Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc.: $182,692 Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta: $273,999 United Way of Metro Atlanta-Project Health Access: $258,816 WINGS for Kids: $320,571 For more information about Georgia's AmeriCorps program, contact Linda Thompson: linda.thompson@dca.ga.gov. UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES This program provides a platform for thinking of creative solutions and networking ideas with housing professionals, city officials and staff, as well as community volunteers from across the state. For questions, contact Karen Tinsley at 706-542-4949 or klt@uga.edu. Homeowners who became unemployed or underemployed within the last 36 months may be eligible for up to 24 months of 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 potentially eligible homeowners to attend an event, at which DCA staff will provide information and answer questions: August 16: 10th Annual 13th Congressional District Health Fair; 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Mundy's Mill High School, Jonesboro Community Planning Institute at Unicoi State Park October 10-11 August 19: 2014 Snellville Career Fair; 9:00 a.m. - noon; Snellville United Methodist Church, Snellville August 20: Veterans Helping Veterans; 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Benning Club, Fort Benning August 21: 2014 Business Expo and Job Fair; 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Gwinnett Center, Duluth In partnership with the Georgia Planning Association, the Office of Planning and Environmental Management (OPEM) is offering a two-day workshop for Georgia's planning commissioners, elected officials and staff. The class, Preparing and Implementing Your Comprehensive Plan, provides an overview of the planning process and tools to implement a local plan. See the OPEM webpage for more information and to register. August 21: Dublin Veterans Career Expo; 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Georgia National Guard Armory, Dublin September 4: 2014 Moody Transition Expo; 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Airmen and Family Readiness Center, Moody Air Force Base September 16: Annual Resource Fair; 9:00 a.m. - noon; Lanier Technical College; Oakwood Campus, Oakwood September 20: 1st Annual Community Housing Fair; 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Garden City Gym, Garden City September 23: Veterans Helping Veterans; 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Hilton Garden Inn-Midtown, Savannah September 26: Robins Air Force Base CPS Job Fair; 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Heritage Club; Robins Air Force Base September 27: Community Housing Fair; 9:00 a.m. - noon; Wellston Center, Warner Robins For more information: www.homesafegeorgia.com Follow HomeSafe Georgia on Twitter: #HomeSafeGeorgia 4.25% ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING July Financial Awards Region Two Georgia Dream First Mortgage FHA/VA/RD/Conventional Uninsured with a Georgia Dream Down Payment Loan The Georgia Dream website provides complete information. City of Oakwood $500,000 in Employment Incentive Program (EIP) funds Spurs an additional $1.1 million in public (non-DCA) investment Spurs an additional $25.5 million in private investment Creates 130 jobs Funds will assist with road construction to benefit King's Hawaiian Bakery's facility expansion Region Nine Emanuel County Follow Us on Social Media $300,000 in EIP funds Spurs an additional $700,000 in private investment Creates 30 jobs Funds will assist with leasehold improvements to Hotset America's existing industrial facility Region Eleven Berrien County DCA on Twitter HomeSafe Georgia on Twitter $500,000 in EIP funds Spurs an additional $660,000 public (non-DCA) investment Spurs an additional $148,000 private investment Creates 100 jobs Georgia Main Street on Facebook Berrien County will loan the funds to Coyote Manufacturing for the purchase of machinery and equipment Previous issues of The Partner Connection This email is prepared and emailed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 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