DCA building communities: quarterly newsletter of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 1st quarter 2018

Quarterly Newsletter of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs
1st Quarter 2018
dca.ga.gov
FOCUS on: RURAL ZONES
The first nine Rural Zones have been designated. Where are they and what does it mean for these communities? How can your community be next to benefit from this designation? Find out all you need to know about the new Rural Zones program.

Important Calendar Dates

MAY
1 - Homesafe GA Underwater & Reinstatement Community Event
3:00-6:00pm Welcome All Park; College Park
2 - DCA Board Meeting
2:00-3:00pm Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy; Dalton
10 & 11 - Community Planning Institute
8:30am-4:00pm Middle Georgia Regional Commission; Macon
24 - Housing Tax Credit Application Intake Day
9:00am-4:00pm DCA Board Room; Atlanta
28 - Memorial Day
DCA Offices Closed
JULY 4 - Independence Day
DCA Offices Closed

Did you know...
This past April was not only the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, but also the 50th Anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. The MLK, Jr. Advisory Council honored the occasion with an anniversary bell ringing at Stone Mountain Park (photo below). Rev. King's "I Have a Dream" speech famously referenced Stone Mountain during his "let freedom ring" climax. The Council is working on plans to erect a monument commemorating his words at the mountain's summit.

STRAW POLL: What DCA event do you plan to attend this year?
Community Planning Institute
Select

Training workshop (CDBG, WaterFirst, PlanFirst, ARC)

The Georgia Academy for Economic Development was started in 1993 by a consortium of public and private organizations
involved in economic development.
Sign up for the next 4-day course in your region and learn how to enhance the economic and community development opportunities for your community!

Select
DCA Fall Conference
Select

Georgia Academy for Economic Development

Select

Federal Qualified Opportunity Zones
These are NOT the same as state Opportunity Zones. But besides being a new federal program and not state administered, what are the differences?
For these answers and more, check out the FAQs.
15 local communities receive over $7.6 million in CHIP grants
In March, more than $7.6 million in grants were awarded through the 2018 Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP). This program helps local governments, nonprofit organizations and public housing authorities provide safe and affordable housing in their communities.

Public comment period ends for 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan
The 5-year report for the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development will focus on how Georgia plans to utilize funding from five block grant programs Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, National Housing Trust Fund, Emergency Solutions Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS - to address affordable housing, special needs housing, homelessness, and community development. As part of the public comment period, which ended April 16, DCA held two hearings seeking input from communities.
The State of Georgia has received a multimillion dollar grant for 3D elevation data
The State of Georgia has been awarded a United States Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Elevation Program grant for the acquisition of elevation data for 67 Georgia counties -- over one third of the State.
Find out what this means for Georgia.
Exchange of ideas at ACCG conference in Savannah
Every April, county government officials gather in Savannah for an opportunity to network and share best practices with colleagues from across the state. DCA is pleased to support Georgia's county commissioners through participation at the ACCG Annual Conference, and sends congratulations to newly named Executive Director Dave Wills.
DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn (far right) manned the agency's booth with (L-R) Housing Outreach Coordinator Teresa Concannon, Deputy
Commissioner Rusty Haygood, and Region 12 Representative Jennifer Fordham.
DCA has a new website!
We've launched a refreshed and dynamic new website! Change can be exciting and challenging all at the same time. We hope the new navigation options, search capability and document database will help you find the information you need.

April is Fair Housing Month!
DCA held an in-house training, with guest HUD speaker Mary Ann Brooks to promote our Fair Housing campaign "Unity is Community"!

Have questions about landlord and tenant rights in Georgia? Be sure to check out the newest Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook!

Service Spotlight: State Housing Trust Fund
The mission of the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless (HTF) is to support the efforts of organizations that provide housing and essential services for individuals and families striving to end their state of homelessness.
Find facts and stats in the State Housing Trust Fund annual report.

Regional Report: Around the State

REGION 5 The City of Union Point recently reactivated its Downtown Development Authority. After the last regular meeting, the group hosted a planning session facilitated by DCA Regional Representative Beth Eavenson and Northeast Georgia Regional Commission Project Specialist Jordan Shoemaker.

REGION 1 On April 23, DCA Regional Representative Patrick Vickers and Appalachian Regional Commission Program Manager Annaka Woodruff represented DCA at U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk's Local Government Services Day in Acworth.

REGION 2 DCA Regional Representative Kathy Papa led the region's recent Economic Development workshop, where the success of the King's Hawaiian expansion project was touted.

Need help with planning? Want to learn more about what DCA has to offer? Your Regional Representative is here to help!
Georgia Department of Community Affairs | 404-679-4940 | communications@dca.ga.gov | www.dca.ga.gov
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