Georgia Department of Community Affairs newsletter, Aug. 2015

DCA Board of Directors sees change, additions in
leadership for FY '16

August 2015
NEWS AND EVENTS
Christopher Nunn joins DCA team as newest deputy
Nunn to take the reins of DCA's Community & Economic Development Finance Division on September 1

TOP PHOTO: DCA is excited to have the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce's Al Hodge, standing right, serve as our new DCA Board Chairman for 2015-16. Thank you to Simon Bloom, left, for his dedicated service and leadership to our Board and agency since 2010 and as Chair over the past year.
BOTTOM PHOTO: Help us welcome our three newest Board members to the team; from left, Adam Hatcher, Tippi Burch and Al Pond. Hatcher will represent the 12th Congressional District and serves as general counsel of MAU Workforce Solutions in Augusta. Burch is a partner in the Chalmers, Pak & Burch law firm in Atlanta and will represent the 5th Congressional District. Pond joined

DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles announced recently that a new era in the agency's history will begin on September 1st with Christopher Nunn at the helm as the Deputy Commissioner of Community & Economic Development Finance.
"We all know that Brian Williamson served the State and DCA faithfully for 33 years in this vital role until his retirement in June, and we look forward to the contributions that Christopher will now make to our agency and Georgia's communities," said Knowles.
Nunn was born and raised in Perry and attended Emory University earning an undergraduate degree in political science. He completed his

the Board as an At-Large member and is the chief executive officer of Pond & Company, a civil engineering firm in Sandy Springs.
DCA welcomes Susan Miller, Georgia's first Geospatial Information Officer

Masters in international relations in St. Andrews, Scotland, and joined Arthur Andersen in Atlanta as a consultant working with both large-cap and mid-sized companies to develop strategies, enhance business processes, conduct financial analysis/due diligence, and improve business performance. Nunn then spent seven years as a leadership consultant with Russell Reynolds Associates assisting boards and C-level executives with leadership issues and talent development.
He joined Windham Brannon four years ago as chief operating officer. Windham Brannon is a top-10, Atlanta-based accounting firm with extensive experience in DCA-administered job tax credits and other State credits. In addition to overall management responsibility for a 150person, $25 million business and leading the firm's growth, Nunn worked directly with clients on strategic planning and advisory services, including some involvement with DCA. Most recently, he assisted the College Football Hall of Fame in its bid for Tourism Development Act credits.

Georgia's local governments, state agencies, and even the private sector, can now benefit from the latest hire of the State's first geospatial information officer (GIO), Susan Miller, through a partnership between the Georgia Association of Regional Commissions (GARC) and the Georgia DCA. Miller made DCA's Atlanta headquarters her home base beginning in early August.
She comes with an award-winning term of service with Esri, an industry leader in geographic information system (GIS) software development based in California and as a transformative GIO for The Nature Conservancy, an international, non-governmental organization heavily reliant on geospatial technology and based in Washington, D.C.

Beyond his business career, Nunn serves as Chairman of the Board of Wesley Woods, a mission-driven organization with ten facilities across North Georgia serving more than 1,600 senior adults. He and his wife Nancy have two children and are active at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
"I am honored to join the DCA team and feel confident that this division will continue to provide the high quality services and resources that it is known for throughout the state," said Nunn. "We are committed to enhancing the ability of Georgia's communities to grow, to improve, and to prosper economically through job creation."
Commissioner Knowles hears from GA Home Builders Association team

With Miller on board as Georgia's new GIO, DCA will provide office space and administrative support, and the GARC, as the primary funding entity, will provide oversight through its newlyestablished Georgia Geospatial Network (GGN). Initially, the GGN will be comprised of GIS professionals from

Representatives of the Home Builders Association of Georgia (HBAG) met with DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles on August 17 at the DCA headquarters in Atlanta. The HBAG is the voice of Georgia's housing industry with nearly 5,000 members statewide and two dozen local associations. The organization is a great partner for DCA, and in particular, for Georgia's Construction Codes program. Pictured, from left,

each of Georgia's 12 regional commissions.
"DCA is honored to host the first GIO. It is a natural complement with our Office of Mapping and Decision Support. Our whole state will truly benefit, and we are proud to be part of this endeavor and to welcome Susan to Georgia," said DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles. "This level of coordination will lead to well-planned communities which are better equipped to expand industry, enhance public safety, and protect the property of Georgia's citizens."

are HBAG State Codes Advisory Committee representative Tim Williams, HBAG President Ted Noe, DCA Commissioner Knowles, HBAG Government Affairs Director Austin Hackney, HBAG Regulatory Affairs Consultant Bettie Sleeth, HBAG Executive Vice President Kelly Lass, and DCA Director of Construction Codes Ted Miltiades. For more information on the Georgia Home Builders Association, visit www.hbag.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
HomeSafe Georgia events in September & October

Don Watt: DCA Housing leader in homeless support takes expertise to Tennessee

One of DCA's most valuable Housing Division leaders, Don Watt, left for a similar position with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) in early August.
Watt began his career with the State in 1994 with the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority. For over 20 years, he provided leadership in all aspects of housing but particularly with the State's homeless and special needs housing programs. In July he announced the news that DCA has awarded over $9 million to organizations who will administer 200 programs during this fiscal year to serve Georgians who are homeless or threatened with

Events for September 2015:
5th Congressional District for the People Jobs Fair, September 1; 10 AM - 2 PM; Georgia International Convention Center Concourse in Atlanta
Leave No Veteran Behind, September 14; 10 AM - 3 PM; Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Ctr Concourse, Atlanta
Veterans' Career Fair, September 15; 10 AM - 1 PM; Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton
Garden City Housing Fair, September 19; 9 AM - Noon; Garden City Gym, 160 Priscilla D. Thomas Way in Garden City

homelessness and to assist people living with HIV/AIDS.
"I have personally worked with Don for the 20-plus years of his tenure and can attest to his commitment, knowledge and leadership," said DCA Deputy Commissioner of Housing Carmen Chubb. "We thank Don for his service to our state and congratulate him on his new position and his big move. THDA Executive Director Ralph Perry and the residents of Tennessee are lucky to get Don on their team."

Annual Resource Fair, September 29; 9 AM - Noon; Lanier Technical College, Oakwood Campus, Lecture Hall, Building 300; 2990 Landrum Education Drive in Oakwood
Annual Career Expo/Job Fair, September 30; 10 AM - 2 PM; Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center, Historic Columbus Iron Works
Events for October 2015:
Fall Job Fair, October 2; 10 AM - 2 PM; Winder Community Center, 113 E. Athens Street in Winder
Robins Air Force Base Civilian Personnel Services Job Fair, October 2; 9 AM - 1 PM; Heritage Club in Warner Robins

The 2015 Seniors and Baby Boomer Expo, October 17; Noon to 5 PM, Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia

About HomeSafe Georgia: It is a free, state government program to help homeowners who are unemployed, underemployed or face other types of financial hardships save their homes from foreclosure. There is no cost to apply and no fee if approved. A homeowner who has experienced a financial hardship within the last 36 months -- such as the loss of a job, military service, death of a spouse, or medical problems -- may be eligible for assistance.

GET to KNOW DCA
August Topic of the Month

For more information, visit www.HomeSafeGeorgia.com.

RADON:

Test. Fix. Save a life.
2015 Radon Poster Contest for kids announced

Take a look at this story from WRBL Channel 3 in Columbus featuring DCA Deputy Commissioner of Housing Carmen Chubb
and homeowner Lawanda Martin who avoided foreclosure through HomeSafe.

DCA's Office of Planning & Environmental Management and the University of Georgia Radon Education Program announce the 2015 Radon Poster Contest for 9 to 14-year-old students to help alert the general public about the dangers of radon.
Household radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, but the hazards of this dangerous

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING
July Financial Awards
Region 1: Murray County Murray County was awarded a $500,000 OneGeorgia Equity grant to assist with site preparation for the Murray County Inland Port Development, which is a proposed multi-modal, rural inland port comprising of an intermodal rail terminal for international and domestic cargo to be planned, designed and constructed by the Georgia Ports Authority and serviced by CSX Railway on 42 acres provided by Murray County. CSX has committed $5.4 million to the project with public

gas are still relatively unknown to many Georgia families. Radon is a gas released by the natural decay of uranium deposits in Georgia's granite bedrock that seeps up through foundations and accumulates in homes. The good news is that radon problems can be fixed and that testing for radon couldn't be easier, because test kits are available at UGA Extension offices and online at www.UGAradon.org.
Students who submit a poster design should first research the dangers of radon on UGA's College of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension website. Winners will be notified in November and may have the chance to meet Gov. Nathan Deal during Radon Awareness Month in January. Cash prizes of $50, $75 and $100 will be awarded the top three winners.

investment of $8.1 million committed from Murray County ($700,000) and the Georgia Ports Authority ($7.4 million). Total project cost is $23.5 million.
Region 5: Elbert County The Development Authority of Elbert County, Elberton and Bowman, through the Center of Innovation for Logistics, was awarded a $2.5 million OneGeorgia grant. The project is an economic development logistics effort to promote and increase rail capacity for the Northeast Georgia area to create jobs and generate private investments within the region.
Region 5: Morgan County The City of Madison was awarded $100,912 in CDBG Redevelopment funds to assist the Downtown Development Authority of Madison eliminate "blighted" conditions within the redeveloping area known as the Canaan Historic Neighborhood. The loan proceeds are proposed for use as permanent financing for the construction of a commercial building that will be leased for a small grocery store. The project is anticipated to create two new full-time jobs.

The deadline for entries is September 30, 2015.
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Multi-county
The Friends of Georgia Music Festival, Inc., a multi-county organization, was awarded a $100,000 OneGeorgia grant to assist in funding for the filming of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards and for the marketing and promotion of Georgia's music industry.

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