February 2015 New Executive Team Members NEWS AND EVENTS Georgia Celebrates 25 Years of Planning, Honors PlanFirst Communities L-R: Seth Coker, Jana Wiggins, Brian Dill. DCA welcomes three new members to Commissioner Knowles' Executive Team. Seth Coker is Director of Governmental Relations and comes to the Department from Senator Saxby Chambliss' office. In his more than four years with Senator Chambliss, Seth served in four different roles, and was most recently the State Director. Jana Wiggins, our new Director of Marketing and Communications, joins us from Moultrie Technical College, where she served as the Marketing Director for 12 years. In her role there, she helped the college attain the status as the only one of Georgia's technical schools to achieve growth for 13 consecutive Front row, L-R: Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-150), DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles, Athens-Clarke Mayor Nancy Denson, Rep. Chuck Williams (R119), Governor Nathan Deal and Sen. Frank Ginn (R-47) honor members of the PlanFirst communities at the Georgia Capitol. In January, DCA designated ten local governments as the inaugural members of DCA's PlanFirst: Athens-Clarke County, the Town of Braselton, Coweta County, the City of Gainesville, Johnson County, Jones County, the City of Madison, the City of Suwanee, the City of Vienna and the City of Woodstock in a ceremony at the State Capitol. These governments have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence in developing and implementing local plans to achieve their communities' visions. Since 1990, Georgia law has required local governments and their citizens to create comprehensive plans to help guide the decision-making process years. Brian Dill is our Chief Operating Officer. He joins DCA from his most recent post at Carroll Tomorrow, where he served for four years as Senior Vice-President for Economic Development and Global Commerce. Welcome, Seth, Jana and Brian! for communities. The Capitol ceremony included a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Georgia Planning Act, with both chambers of the General Assembly adopting resolutions in honor of the PlanFirst communities and the anniversary. In the 25 years since the Planning Act was first adopted, communities across Georgia have planned for community and economic development. The ten communities honored by PlanFirst are among the highest performers in Georgia and have consistently used their plans to guide decisions and investments to create places that have an economic impact beyond the borders of their jurisdictions. Congratulations to Georgia's New Main Street Cities "Planning, and then following that plan, can be a long process, and sometimes it seems like progress is slow. But when we look at the communities here today, we see how their hard work has paid off," said Commissioner Camila Knowles. Auburn Bowdon Avondale Ball Ground Estates Braselton Cairo Chamblee Grayson Hinesville For more information on PlanFirst, contact Brian Johnson at brian.johnson@dca.ga.gov. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Capitol Holly Springs Lawrence- Perry ville Porterdale Ringgold Stockbridge Swainsboro Sylvester On January 26, DCA recognized seventeen cities at the Annual Georgia Main Street Luncheon. These communities successfully completed the Georgia Main Street Start-up Program and will receive the national designation of Classic Main Street Community from the National Main Street Center. Since Fall 2013 these cities have worked closely with DCA to prepare local government staff, downtown business owners, volunteers and elected officials for the prestige of joining the Main Street program. First Lady Sandra Deal and Governor Deal listen as Commissioner Camila Knowles welcomes guests to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Capitol. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council hosted Georgia's 30th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the Capitol Friday, January 16. Governor Nathan Deal, Commissioner Camila Knowles and Mrs. Christine King Farris (the Reverend King's sister) provided comments. More than 300 people attended the ceremony, and the Atlanta Boy Choir provided music, as it has done for all thirty of Georgia's annual celebrations. "Georgia's Main Street cities provide vibrant opportunities for families and businesses to succeed, and we're proud of the work these 17 communities have done to meet their goals," said Commissioner Camila Knowles. New Building Codes Effective January 1, 2015 At its November 2014 meeting, the DCA Board adopted the following: "We look forward to working with all our Main Street cities as we continue to bring out the best that Georgia's downtowns have to offer," she continued. For more information about the Main Street program, contact Billy Peppers at billy.peppers@dca.ga.gov. The 2014 Edition of the National Electric Code (NEC) with no Georgia amendments. This code is now mandatory as the Georgia State Minimum Standard Electrical Code. The 2012 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), with Georgia amendments. This code is a permissive State Minimum Standard Code. The 2012 Edition of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) with Georgia amendments. This code is a permissive State Minimum Standard Code. The following codes have Georgia amendments effective in 2015: Homelessness Prevention Assistance The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $14.6 million in funding to DCA to provide homelessness prevention services to jurisdictions throughout Georgia. DCA manages the "Balance of State" continuum of care, meaning that the Department manages HUD funding for areas outside of Georgia's main metropolitan areas. These funds will provide: The International Residential Code (IRC) The International Building Code (IBC) The International Plumbing Code (IPC) The International Mechanical Code (IMC) The International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) Residential Prescriptive Deck Detail The Board approved a one-year delay for amendments to the Yellow Pine span tables in the IBC, IRC and Residential Prescriptive Deck Detail. These amendments become effective January 1, 2016. All codes listed above are available for download at the DCA Construction Codes webpage. Housing and services for 1,020 persons with permanent disabilities Transitional housing and assistance for 200 families Assistance to four new Rapid Re-housing programs Assistance to the Homeless Management Information System, the Coordinated Assessment program, and Continuum of Care planning. For more information about the Balance of State Continuum of Care, contact Don Watt at don.watt@dca.ga.gov. UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES Community Planning Institute in Richmond Hill: February 27-28 In partnership with the Georgia Planning Association, DCA will offer two workshops in Richmond Hill: Managing Your Water Resources - Feb. 27: a one-day workshop taught by water management professionals around Georgia. Registration is $25 and available here. Preparing and Implementing Your Comprehensive Plan - Feb. 27-28: Registration is $60/day and available here. Registration is free for all WaterFirst and PlanFirst communities. For more information, contact Adriane Wood at adriane.wood@dca.ga.gov. Follow Us on Social Media DCA on Twitter ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING January Financial Awards Region Three Development Authority of Alpharetta $1.25 million in Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) HomeSafe Georgia on Twitter Georgia Main Street on Facebook funds Will spur $41 million in private investment Will retain 1,693 jobs Will create 500 jobs REBA funds will assist in the relocation and expansion of FiServ, a financial services technology company. Previous issues of The DCA Newsletter This email is prepared and emailed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. If you wish to be removed from the email list, please be sure to click on the SafeUnsubscribe button below.