April 2016 IN THE NEWS Georgia looks forward to May as Building Safety Month Building Codes: Driving Growth through Innovation, Resilience and Safety Community Done Right success stories are a result of local governments adopting a partnership attitude with DCA and with each other and are examples to follow for all Georgia communities. REGION 7: Augusta sees housing tax credits at work As a destination city with world-class medical, education and recreation facilities, Augusta brings in visitors every year who visit museums, stroll the Riverwalk, or play a little golf. Locals enjoy the vibrant economy and beautiful setting as well. And the residents of Walton Oaks Affordable Apartment Community are enjoying the benefits of what Augusta has to offer, too -through a partnership between the Augusta Housing Authority and Walton Communities. Replacing the dilapidated Underwood Homes public housing project, Walton Oaks is a Georgia Department of Community DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles, along with DCA Office of Construction Codes & Research Director Ted Miltiades and building officials and construction industry representatives from across the state, joined Governor Deal for a proclamation signing at the Capitol. Governor Nathan Deal signed a proclamation on April 19 declaring May 2016 as Building Safety Month in Georgia. Founded by the International Code Council (ICC), Building Safety Month is celebrated by jurisdictions worldwide during the month of May. Affairs tax credit development that offers top-notch amenities, partnerships with area educational facilities, and a serene setting for its residents who live on limited incomes. The community is comprised of four phases: two are for families with no age restrictions. Legacy at Walton Oaks encompasses two phases and is reserved for people over the age of 55. Residents of the Legacy enjoy activities such as a "Senior Prom," and the entire community participates in family-oriented activities like the recent Easter egg hunt. Building Safety Month is a public awareness campaign offered each year to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. The campaign reinforces the need for adoption of modern, model building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement, and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system. DCA's Construction Codes and Industrialized Buildings Office is Georgia's resource for technical assistance for local code officials, local amendments, and current codes and related issues. We provide model codes and resolutions for local governments and workshops on a variety of code and building-related topics, as well as advisory groups for specific topics related to building and community development. Click here for more information about Building Safety Month and each week in May highlighting specific areas of building safety. The smoke-free community buildings feature wi-fi at no charge, as well as kitchen, bathroom and library facilities with abundant space for socializing. A deputy lives on site and serves as a Courtesy Officer on call to assist with law enforcement needs in the gated community. While their parents work or attend school, children enjoy the shaded play areas and the on-site after-school program. Hope for Augusta brings in volunteers to tutor school-age children, and instructors from the Jessye Norman School of the Arts bring the arts to Walton Oaks. A partnership with the First Foundation provides free books for children, and lending libraries in the community rooms provide reading material for all ages. Access DCA's Construction Codes resources here. Appalachian Regional Commission preapplication workshops on tap for May, June Georgia's 37-county ARC area eligible DCA's housing tax credit program allows developments like Walton Oaks in Augusta to keep rents at an affordable rate for its residents. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs - Appalachian Regional Commission invests funds in community and economic development activities in the 37-county Georgia ARC region. Attend a pre-application workshop to learn the specifics of successful applications, innovations across the 13-state ARC region, and successes and best practices in Georgia. Workshops are conveniently located in four Georgia communities from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on four dates. May 9: Hartwell, Hart County EMC, 1071 Elberton Road May 10: Rome, Rome ECO Center, 393 Riverside Pkwy NE June 20: Dalton, Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy, MultiPurpose Room #512, 2300 Maddox Chapel Road June 21: Blairsville, Union County Community Center, 129 County Recreation Road Eligible applicants: Local governments Registered economic/industrial development, downtown development, hospital and other authorities in Georgia Educational institutions Healthcare institutions Non-profit organizations Adult residents work and attend college and often move on to market rate rentals or home ownership in other parts of the community. Public transportation is available, and Walton Communities has provided a bus shelter for the comfort of residents. Many residents own cars, and a vibrant carpooling culture ensures that everyone has access to transportation. Walton Oaks recently sponsored a community event with a scheduled visit by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was a guest of the Boys and Girls Club of the CSRA at its 65th anniversary celebration on March 31. That event, which explored America's graduation rates, its workforce development needs, and the roles that communities and Boys & Girls Clubs play in building a competitive workforce proficient in the skills needed in the 21st century, reflects the values of Walton Communities. Priority areas for investment include: Creating economic opportunity through entrepreneur assistance and business development strategies Promoting a ready workforce by improving the education, knowledge, skills and health of residents to work and succeed in Appalachia Investing in critical infrastructure, especially broadband; transportation, including the Appalachian Development Highway System; and water/wastewater systems Strengthening Appalachia's community and economic development potential by leveraging the Region's natural and cultural heritage assets Building the capacity and skills of current and next-generation leaders and organizations to innovate, collaborate and advance community and economic development WORKSHOP REGISTRATION: There is no registration fee and lunch is provided. Please pre-register by emailing Annaka.woodruff@dca.ga.gov by May 5, 2016. Include your name, organization, the number attending, and date attending in your email. The large scale redevelopment has spurred other redevelopment activities, and the neighborhood enjoys all the benefits of having a carefully maintained residential community at its center. The affordable housing development is building Augusta's housing stock and contributing to its economic development growth. Fair Housing Month observed in April Celebrating "Shared Opportunity in Every Community" For more information about DCA's programs in Region 7, contact Housing Outreach Coordinator Teresa Concannon at teresa.concannon@dca.ga.gov or (912) 5365723 or Region 7 Community Services Team Representative Tina Hutcheson at tina.hutcheson@dca.ga.gov or (478) 2789434. IN OTHER NEWS What is Fair Housing Month? Why is fair housing important? On April 11, 1968, just seven days after the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Fair Housing Act. CDBG program receives 100-plus applications for 2016 competition DCA received 111 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications by the April 1 deadline for the 2016 Annual Competition. These applications represent many hours of effort on the part of local governments to assess their most pressing community development needs. Prior to the enactment, restrictive covenants such as these were commonplace: "...hereafter no part of said property or any portion thereof shall be...occupied by any person not of the Caucasian race, it being intended hereby to restrict the use of said property...against occupancy as owners or tenants of any portion of said property for resident or other purposes by people of the Negro or Mongolian race." In addition to these hidden covenants, blatant signage might be posted stating, "White only." Every year since this historic ruling, celebrations of Fair Housing in April have continued to grow. Every April, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) celebrates the strides we've made in furthering this landmark civil rights law with a series of celebrations, educational forums, and outreach activities in regions throughout the nation. On March 11, 2013, Georgia's Governor Nathan Deal proclaimed April 2013 as Fair Housing and Equal Employment Opportunity Month throughout the state. Injustices like those noted above still exist today, and HUD and Georgia DCA are committed to eradicating them -- which is why "Shared Opportunity in Every Community" is the theme of Fair Housing Month 2016. Georgia's State CDBG program is designed to address the health and safety needs and economic development opportunities of cities and counties across the state that do not receive direct U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding. CDBG funds must be used to primarily benefit low- to moderate-income people. The requests submitted total over $54 million in proposed projects for water and sewer line replacements, street and drainage improvements, buildings for the provision of services to low- to moderateincome people (LMI), and neighborhood revitalization through housing rehabilitation. More details regarding the types of applications submitted will be available on DCA's web pages in the coming days with award announcements coming in August. Fair Housing is designed to give housing choice to all persons regardless of race, sex, religion, disability, national origin, color and familial status. Without fair housing, persons in protected classes have been denied the opportunity to freely exercise their housing choice. At DCA we are tasked to take steps proactively to overcome historic patterns of segregation, promote fair housing choice, and foster inclusive communities for all. DCA, as a recipient and disbursing agency of federal funds, takes seriously its duty to ensure that public funds are not spent in a way which encourages, subsidizes or results in fair housing discrimination. For more information on Fair Housing, please reference these resources: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Fact Sheet DCA Fair Housing Statement In addition to the 111 applications received, 14 communities applied for the Revitalization Area Strategy (RAS) designation for local efforts in addressing comprehensive community development needs. This designation makes available additional points for the Annual Competition and the ability to apply each year for CDBG funds during the designation period, provided all designation and other program requirements are met. UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES HomeSafe Georgia: Quarterly wrap-up and late Spring events Click here for additional details on the CDBG program and for a recap of the 2015 awards and recipients. DCA Human Resources garners recognition for outstanding audit performance Pictured, from left, are DOAS Commissioner Sid Johnson, DCA Division Director of Administration Al Howell, and DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles. April events April 28: Southeastern Technical College Career Fair 2016 from 9 AM Noon at the Vidalia Campus, 3001 E. 1st Street, Vidalia April 29: Greenhood and Parents as Partners Academic Center, Spring 2016 Hiring Event and Community Resource from 10 AM - 2 PM at the PAPAC Resource Center, 225 James P. Brawley Dr. N.W, Atlanta DCA's Human Resources (HR) Office was recently recognized by the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) for Outstanding Performance in the FY2016 Human Resources Audit. The office scored 90 percent or higher on four of the six audit modules. The highest scores were achieved in classification management, leave management, performance management, and compensation management. The Human Resources staff May events May 3: Veterans/Wounded Warrior Job Fair from 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM at the Fort Gordon Army Reserve Bldg., 14401 Lane Avenue and 15th Street, at Fort Gordon in Augusta May 11: Athens Veterans Career Fair from 9 AM - Noon at the VFW Post 2872, 835 Sunset Drive, Athens received recognition during a ceremony held at DOAS on March 31. May 17: Robins Air Force Base Quarterly Job Fair from 10 AM - 2 PM at the Heritage Club, Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins The HR Audit compares DCA's HR practices with nationally-recognized best practice standards. Only 20 agencies received recognition, and only six received recognition in four or more categories. Congratulations to DCA's Human Resources team on this important achievement! May 18: Hiring Our Heroes from 1 - 4 PM at The Depot, 212 E. Broad Street, Camilla 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 four years -- such as the loss of a job or wages, military service, death of a spouse, or medical problems -- may be eligible for assistance. DCA's GCSV instrumental in service project for Georgia's homeless veterans For more information, visit www.HomeSafeGeorgia.com. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING March 2016 Financial Award Pictured, front row from left, are Lauren Boswell (Franklin Project); Amieko Watson (CNCS); and Zaneta Ivery (GCSV). On the back row, left to right, are Matthew Blackwell (Franklin Project); Michael Thomas (GCSV); Commissioner Joan Garner (Fulton County); Linda Thompson (GCSV); and Kimberly DuPree (GCSV). Region 3: DeKalb County The Development Authority of DeKalb County was awarded $750,000 in Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) funds to assist in the location of a facility for Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. in Decatur. The company will also expand its headquarters in Conyers/Rockdale County. Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. will create 700 new jobs, retain 1,012 jobs, and invest $16 million within 60 months of the performance period start-date of January 1, 2016. Total estimated project cost is $19,000,000. CONNECT WITH DCA The 2016 Mayors and County Commissioners Day of Celebration - Service Project for Homeless Veterans on April 5 was a collaborative effort of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs - Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism (GCSV), The Corporation for National and Community Service's (CNCS) State Office, and The Franklin Project. More than 100 volunteers assembled approximately 500 care packages for homeless veterans. These care packages will be distributed by Action Ministries and Follow DCA and its affiliate programs on social media! DCA on Facebook DCA on Twitter DCA on Instagram DCA on LinkedIn HomeSafe Georgia on Twitter Georgia Main Street on Facebook HOPE Atlanta. Participants served from various agencies such as Habitat for Humanity, the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps State and National, Senior Corps, Action Ministries, and HOPE Atlanta. Fulton County Commissioner Joan Garner attended the event and spoke eloquently about National Service and the impact it has made in Fulton County. Her comments reinforced the credibility of the mantra "AmeriCorps Works in Georgia!" More information on the Georgia Commission on Service and Volunteerism and AmeriCorps can be found here. Previous issues of The DCA Newsletter Camila Knowles, Commissioner This email is prepared and emailed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 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