Georgia Department of Community Affairs newsletter, Jan. 2015

January 2015

NEWS AND EVENTS
DCA Welcomes Commissioner Camila Knowles
Commissioner Camila Knowles was sworn into office on January 15, 2015. Please join the staff of the Department of Community Affairs in offering a warm welcome to her as the seventh commissioner of DCA!

Following are some of her observations from her first day on the job.

Congratulations, Commissioner Knowles, and welcome to your new role in public service to Georgia! We're looking forward to your leadership. Working in Washington, D.C. as Chief of Staff for Senator Saxby Chambliss, you had the unique advantage of seeing Georgia from the outside in, while still being a Georgian. What do you see as some of our state's strengths in terms of economic and community development?

The DCA 2014 Year in Review is now available. You may find a PDF on our About DCA webpage.

Working with Senator Chambliss, I had the opportunity to get to know so many Georgians, and I am always impressed with how hardworking and resourceful our citizens are. It may sound clichd, but I do believe that the people of Georgia are one of our greatest economic development assets, and I look forward to working to grow businesses in Georgia that see their employees in that light.

We hope you enjoy learning more about our work in the past year, and we look forward to working with you and your communities in 2015 to continue creating communities we're proud to call home.

Georgia's transportation infrastructure has made us internationally famous. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick, our interstate systems and network of railroads all have been crucial to Georgia's growth. These systems allow us to connect the smallest town in our state to anywhere else in the region, and even the world. We've got the opportunity to grow businesses in small communities because of this transportation network.

Georgia's 2015 Job Tax Credit Tiers
The Georgia Job Tax Credit program provides a statewide tax credit to many types of business and industry that provide employment in Georgia. Each year, the Department of Community Affairs ranks Georgia's 159 counties according to a variety of economic indicators in four tiers. Businesses in Tier One counties are eligible for the highest amount of tax credits.
The 2015 Job Tax Credit rankings are now available. A map of Georgia's tiers is available here.
For more information on the Job Tax Credit program, contact John Van Brunt at john.vanbrunt@dca.ga.gov.

And how could I not mention the diversity of our geography? It's just amazing - we really have it all here in Georgia. We've got farmland and metropolitan areas, the coast and the mountains. Every region is so unique. I've learned that these differences are fascinating, and what make Georgia so special. Moultrie and Marietta are different - each has its own unique features - but each plays an important role in our state's economy and character.
How did growing up in a rural area of Georgia, then going to Harvard and Georgetown Universities influence your thinking about growing Georgia's economy and building its communities?
I love being from South Georgia and I think my heart will always be a part of rural Georgia. I appreciate that in order to thrive and grow our state needs our metropolitan areas and all that they have to offer. I'm raising my family in Atlanta and we love it, and I see the beauty and allure of a big city. I believe, too, that our rural areas have an influential role in Georgia's economic growth and success.
Our rural communities have so much to offer to small and midsize businesses that are looking for a high quality of life. So much of the history of our state is rooted in small towns, and I see potential for tourism opportunities across rural Georgia. Of course, agriculture is still Georgia's number one industry, and our small towns have a role to play in keeping agriculture and agribusiness strong in the future. I'm looking forward to working my way around the state and helping communities set goals and achieve their visions. DCA has so much to offer our communities, citizens and businesses, and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this agency as we continue to make a difference in as many communities as we can.
As you've been working through the transition period over the last month, what are some of the most interesting things you've learned or seen?

A new year...a new brand!
We at the Department of Community Affairs are proud to introduce our new look in 2015. This graphic will help us unite the many programs we offer at DCA, by presenting an image depicting an array of resources offered by the State of Georgia - specifically, the Department of Community Affairs - to assist communities with their economic growth.

The breadth of the work this agency does is fascinating and surprising. The people here are wonderful professionals and really know what they're doing. They're great technical experts in their program areas and I look forward to working with them and supporting them as we work with communities throughout Georgia to help prepare them for opportunities to create jobs and offer safe and affordable housing options for their citizens.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Georgia Better Back Roads Workshops: Feb. 9 in Waycross; Feb.10 in Statesboro
DCA, in partnership with the Two Rivers RC&D Council and Georgia Environmental Protection Division, is hosting the Georgia Better Back Roads Program. The workshop will teach new concepts for maintaining unpaved roads with an emphasis on protecting water quality.
We encourage county and city administrators, engineers, public works directors, road supervisors, equipment operators and other officials responsible for unpaved roads maintenance to attend.

The workshop is free but advance registration is required. Download paper registration forms at the Two Rivers RC&D website or register online here. Registration forms must be returned before February 3, 2015. Lunch will be provided at both workshops.

As Georgia and the United States take pause in January to remember the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we encourage communities and citizens to take the pledge of community service.
Last year, 67 million Americans volunteered 7.7 billion hours to community and non-profit efforts across the nation. These volunteers made an economic impact of $173 billion.

For more information contact Ebony Simpson at ebony.simpson@dca.ga.gov.
Qualified Allocation Plan Workshop: Feb. 19 - Cobb Galleria Centre
DCA's annual Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) application workshop will provide an overview of the requirements and criteria for those who intend to submit applications for Federal and State Low Income Housing Tax Credits and HOME loan funds during the 2015 Competitive Funding Round. This workshop will concentrate on 2015 scoring requirements.
The early registration fee of $100 is available until Jan. 30. For more information, see the QAP brochure.
Online registration is available here.

Together, we make a difference for our communities and for Georgia!

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING December 2014 Financial Awards
Region One

Appalachian Regional Commission
Program Manager
Annaka Woodruff is DCA's new Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Program Manager. The ARC provides technical and financial assistance to 37 counties in North Georgia for community and economic development activities. Contact Annaka at annaka.woodruff@dca.ga.gov.
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Murray County
$255,000 in Equity funds Funds will assist in constructing an agricultural events and education facility adjacent to North Murray County High School
Fannin Development Authority
$250,000 in Equity funds Will spur $1 million in private investment Will creates 38 jobs Funds will assist in building design and site preparation for a 20,000 square foot speculative building
Region Six
Development Authority of Milledgeville-Baldwin County
$264,000 in Equity funds Funds will assist in road improvements at the entrance of the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Industrial Park
Region Seven
Columbia County
$500,000 in Employment Incentive Program (EIP) funds Will spur $37 million in private investment Will spur an additional $131,000 in public (non-DCA) investment Will create 53 jobs Funds will assist in road and drainage improvements to serve GIW Industries' facility expansion
Region Eight

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City of Richland
$50,000 in Immediate Threat and Danger (ITD) funds Will assist 1,798 people Funds will assist in repairing the city's water pollution control facility
Development Authority of Columbus
$500,000 in EDGE funds Will spur $58 million in private investment Will spur an additional $4 million in public (non-DCA) investment Will create 250 jobs Funds will assist in the location of a medical administration facility for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia
Region Nine

Jeff Davis County
$500,000 in EIP funds Will spur $91 million in private investment Will spur an additional $4 million in public (non-DCA) investment Funds will assist in the construction of a rail spur for FRAM Renewable Fuels' new facility
Region Twelve

Development Authority of Bryan County
$200,000 in EDGE funds Will spur $70 million in private investment Will create 153 jobs Funds will assist in the location of Caesarstone Technologies, USA, a manufacturing facility





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