Georgia Department of Community Affairs newsletter [May/June 2017]

DCA: BUILDING COMMUNITIES
May/June 2017
DCA gets sneak preview of Falcons' future home
Earlier this year, Commissioner Camila Knowles joined DCA staff from the Office of Construction Codes on an extensive tour of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, future home of the Atlanta Falcons. The tour was led by Jim Scerenscko, the lead electrical quality control manager for the project and a member of both the State Codes Advisory Committee and the 2017 National Electrical Code Task Force. His expertise has been an asset to the stadium construction as well as the State of Georgia in its adoption of construction codes. The group was able to view the impressive size and scale of stadium's mechanical and plumbing systems as well as its complex electrical design. Water conservation and management is a core focus of the stadium's design. The facility will capture rainwater for reuse in the cooling tower and in irrigation of the landscape and trees, will feature waterless urinals, and will slowly release captured storm water runoff. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be 42% more water efficient than the Georgia Dome. To reduce energy usage, the stadium will use solar panels, LED lighting, energy monitoring equipment, and energy-efficient glazing that allows plenty of natural light into the structure. Additionally, the stadium has a retractable roof for more natural light and ventilation. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will save more than 40% in energy usage compared to typical stadium designs. The tour highlighted the importance of DCA's process of adopting the latest editions of construction codes to address many of the advances in construction methods and technology. The stadium is currently scheduled to open with the Falcons' pre-season games vs. Arizona on August 26 and vs. Jacksonville on August 31, 2017.
The August 26th date represents a five-month delay from the stadium's original opening date, which resulted from issues with the roof pieces. Each piece weighs 500 tons and must be installed carefully to ensure the roof can close and open correctly. Everything from safety firewalls and points-of-sale devices to routers, security cameras, television screens and other tech-based features have all been given the test treatment prior to the current implementation stages. Despite delays, the construction team has achieved some major milestones. The stadium will be the first LEED Platinumcertified stadium and the first sports venue to earn 100% of the U.S. Green Building Council's water credits. The project also received national recognition last year when the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy held out the stadium as an example of sustainability for its inclusion of solar-powered electric-vehicle charging stations and solar panels in its design.

DCA: BUILDING COMMUNITIES
May/June 2017
HB73 Update: Next Steps for the RURAL bill
On May 8, Governor Nathan Deal signed the RURAL (Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas Legislation) bill, HB 73, into law. The bill, which goes into effect on July 1, 2017, is a comprehensive incentive package that integrates multiple resources to help build new opportunities for rural economic development. The legislation offers incentives for job creation, commercial investment, and business activity in rural downtown areas through a series of tax credits: a job tax credit, an investment credit and a rehabilitation credit.
In June, Commissioner Camila Knowles hosted a group of interested parties and partners to discuss ideas as DCA moves forward with writing rules for a successful program. The first step is to identify ten Rural Zones, which must be approved by the Commissioners of both DCA and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. There are 473 towns in Georgia with a population of 15,000 or less, but in addition to meeting the population criteria, to be eligible for any of these tax credits, a town would also need to be in a Rural Zone and demonstrate evidence of economic distress.
DCA is formulating the process by which cities will apply for a Rural Zone qualification, as well as drawing up the framework to implement and oversee the new program, including the steps for eligible prospective business owners, developers and investors to apply.
2020 Census: Initial prep work underway
It's that time again! While the 2020 Census is still nearly three years away, preparation has started and pre-2020 Census operations are ramping up. One of the first steps is the Local Update of Census Addresses Operation, or LUCA. This is the one and only opportunity for local governments to review and correct the Census address list, which is the foundation of an accurate count in 2020. Why should you allocate limited resources to Census programs? In short, political and economic impact. Census results are used for redistricting at the local, state and national levels. And over the next decade, $4 trillion ($400 billion per year) will be distributed using Census numbers.
DCA is hosting a number of training workshops this fall to help communities get ready to participate in LUCA. An invitation letter and registration forms for the workshops will be sent out in July. During the last Census, 93% of Georgia counties participated in LUCA2010. We'd like to beat that number for LUCA2020!

DCA: BUILDING COMMUNITIES
May/June 2017
DCA Division Highlight: Energy Code Updates & IBAC News
In January, the National Electrical Code (NEC) Task Force had their final meeting to review the 2017 National Electrical Code. The Task Force approved the proposed 2017 NEC code, which will replace the 2014 version as the State Minimum Standard Electrical Code, and presented its final report to the State Codes Advisory Committee on June 22, 2017. In August, the Committee's recommendation will go before the DCA Board. If you have questions about the 2017 NEC Task Force, please contact Matt McConnell at Matt.McConnell@dca.ga.gov or 404-679-1739. On June 15, the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Task Force met to review the 2015 IECC and any proposed amendments in order to replace the 2009 IECC as the State Minimum Standard Energy Code. The 2015 IECC Task Force has received 72 amendments. You can follow the 2015 IECC review process on the DCA Energy Hub. If you have questions, please contact Seti Ordoobadi at Setareh.Ordoobadi@dca.ga.gov or 404-679-3104.
The Industrialized Buildings Advisory Committee (IBAC) will meet on August 8, 2017, to consider whether factory-built residential storage sheds, shipping containers, and tiny houses should be included in Georgia's Industrialized Buildings (IB) program. Residential storage sheds are not regulated by the State of Georgia, though other states have begun including these structures in their IB programs. Currently, residential sheds are classified as accessory structures and are not intended for human habitation. With shipping containers being considered for habitable commercial and residential uses, non-occupied commercial uses and for limited use as construction site office buildings, there are issues that need to be resolved such as deciding which third party inspection protocols and industry standards should be utilized. Regulating sheds would ensure safe and quality built structures, as well as help with local code enforcement issues such as permitting and inspections. Previously, IBAC determined that nothing in current program rules would prohibit tiny houses from being factory-built on platform framing for installation on permanent foundations. Tiny Houses must comply with the current State Minimum Standard Residential Code and be third party inspected. IBAC has proposed a state code change that, if approved, would allow tiny houses installed on permanent foundations to comply with the current IRC Code. For questions, please contact the IB Program Office at 404-679-3778, or email dcaib@dca.ga.gov.

DCA: BUILDING COMMUNITIES
May/June 2017
Award of Appreciation: Ted Militiades
In May, Ted Miltiades, Director of the Office of Construction Codes, received an Award of Appreciation from the Assocation of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP). Shawn Still presented the award in recognition of Ted's contribution and effords to elevate the International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC) in Georgia. The 2012 ISPSC with 2014 Georgia State Amendments was changed from Permissive to Mandatory on January 1, 2017, and DCA coordinated with APSP to provided 12 training workshops across the state.
Georgia hosts National Housing Credit Connect Conference
Beginning June 20, DCA hosted the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) annual Housing Credit Connect Conference in Atlanta. Each year, this conference brings together Housing Finance Agency members from all 50 states and their industry partners.
DCA Commissioner Camila Knowles welcomed more than 1,100 conference attendees with a spotlight on the success stories achieved by the housing tax credit in Atlanta. Within steps of the conference, the Imperial Hotel provides housing for some of Atlanta's most fragile individuals. This project is a shining example of Supportive Housing for the Formerly Homeless, and what HOME funds can accomplish when tax credits alone cannot make safe, affordable housing a reality. A mile down the road is City Lights a senior housing community, and the first step of a multi-phase redevelopment of the Village of Bedford Pine. Both communities are, in their own way, solutions that are paving the way for national models.
Georgia has long been a pioneer in this arena Atlanta was the first city to build public housing developments and the first to tear them down. This is an important heritage, and DCA is mindful of the need to continuously innovate and improve access to safe, affordable housing.
Commissioner Knowles took the opportunity to show how Georgia is once again leading the way in the form of a pilot project that aims to take housing assistance efforts to the next level, and help working families achieve the dream of homeownership. Starting in 2012, DCA made several rental housing investments in Mechanicsville one of the oldest neighborhoods in Atlanta to redevelop former public housing units. Last October, DCA gathered with project partners to welcome residents home to an amazing new community, and unveiled a long-term plan to create first-time homeowners. After the 15year Housing Credit compliance period, a tenant ownership plan will allow 74 of these houses to be sold to existing tenants at an affordable price. This plan was shared with the industry at the Housing Credit Connect opening plenary session.

DCA: BUILDING COMMUNITIES
May/June 2017
HomeSafe Georgia: Updates and New Opportunity
HomeSafe Georgia is a statewide program designed to prevent foreclosure due to unemployment, under-employment or other types of hardships. The program is funded by the U.S. Treasury and is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). As of March, 9,233 individuals and families in 134 of Georgia's 159 counties have received $200 million in temporary mortgage assistance through HomeSafe Georgia. On June 16, HomeSafe Georgia stopped receiving new applications. Underwater Georgia is still is the process of contacting homeowners and delivering assistance. To date, DCA has delivered nearly $14.3 million in assistance to more than 479 homeowners to help bring them back to equity an average of $29,992 per homeowner.
On June 5, Commissioner Knowles announced a new opportunity that will be administered by DCA as part of the HomeSafe Georgia program and funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) program. The program is known as the Hardest Hit Fund Down Payment Assistance (HHF DPA). The new initiative is targeted to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible borrowers purchasing an existing home in ten of Georgia's hardest hit counties: Bibb, Chatham, Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Muscogee and Paulding. DCA has begun accepting reservations through participating lenders and will provide $15,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to each eligible borrower. The assistance is available on a first come, first served basis until the $15 million allotted for the program is depleted. For more information, please call 770-806-2100, or toll free 1-877-519-4443; or email homesafe@dca.ga.gov.
DCA's Region 12 to host first Regional Workshop
On Tuesday, July 11, DCA's first Regional Workshop will be held at the Richmond Hill City Center. This workshop will give a broad overview of the wide array of programs offered by DCA including Community Development, Housing Development, and Economic Development. The event will feature speakers from an array of DCA programs, along with local best practice examples. For more information and to register, please contact Jennifer Fordham at Region12@dca.ga.gov.
ARC funding workshop: Register now!
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) 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. The ARC workshop will take place from 10:00am-3:00pm on Thursday, July 13, at DCA headquarters in Atlanta. Lunch will be provided. No registration fee, but please pre-register by emailing Annaka.Woodruff@dca.ga.gov. Include name, organization, and number attending in your email.