HOME Atlanta’ Affordable Workforce Housing Program Launches
On Friday May 4, the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA) will begin accepting applications for “HOME Atlanta”, a one-of-a-kind affordable workforce housing program for individuals who want to, but currently cannot afford to, live in the city.
HOME Atlanta supports Mayor Shirley Franklin’s Economic Development Plan goal to add 10,000 affordable workforce housing units inside the city limits by 2009. This program provides a 30-year mortgage at 5.95 percent with a four percent grant. Eligible borrowers may also receive 20 percent of the purchase price of the home as an additional incentive funded by the Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF).
The Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF) is an affordable workforce housing program which provides a total of $75 million towards rental and homebuyer assistance activities. The program, which was approved by Atlanta City Council in March 2007, closed on its first series of bonds, totaling $35 million, in April 2007.
The first program component to be launched, HOME Atlanta, will provide financial assistance to individuals seeking homeownership opportunities within the city of Atlanta. “No other program provides this much financial assistance towards down payment and closing costs,” said Clyde Anderson, ADA Single Family Manager. “This initiative is a true testimony to the City’s commitment to provide housing opportunities for the workforce.
HOME Atlanta is an ongoing program. For more information, please call 404.614.8280.
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New Taxiway Reduces Wait Time at World’s Busiest Airport
The new Taxiway Victor (Taxiway V) at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) will drastically reduce wait times for arriving passengers at the world’s busiest airport.
Taxiway V reduces the time arriving passengers spend getting to their gates by eliminating landings on the northernmost runway, up to 700 per day. These flights wait unspecified amounts of time for clearance to taxi across active runways to the gates.
Planes will now travel to the end of the northernmost runway, make a sharp left and then turn right onto the new taxiway. Taxiway V is 4,200 feet long, and dips 30 feet below runway-level before emerging at the gate area. The 30-foot depression allows planes taking off from the adjacent runway to continue their takeoffs without interruption.
“We expect to see an hourly departure production increase of between 10 and 13 percent when the airport is departing to the west. This will create at least a 30 percent reduction in departure delay,” Ben Decosta, Airport Manager.
Taxiway V is the first of its kind in the United States. The $42 million project is the latest major achievement under the airport’s $6 billion development program and the most anticipated since the fifth runway opened in May 2006.
For more information, visit the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) website.
Delta Flight 955 was the first plane to use the new Taxiway V last week. The new taxiway will decrease the time that passengers spend at the airport waiting to depart from arriving planes. |
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First City of Atlanta Code Compliance Week, May 7 - 11
The Bureau of Code Compliance (BCC) invites communities and stakeholders to join the City in keeping Atlanta safe and clean at the First City of Atlanta Code Compliance Week, May 7 - 11.
BCC is a bureau within the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD). BCC is responsible for inspecting and enforcing residential and commercial properties that violate Atlanta’s housing codes. Inspectors cite residents for broken window glass; overgrown, littered vacant lots; inoperative vehicles; graffiti; open and vacant structures; dilapidated buildings and other deficiencies which render properties unsafe to its occupants or the general public.
Code Compliance Week will launch with a breakfast on Tuesday May 8 for NPU chairs and other community leaders. An Education and Awareness Fair will also be held Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the City Hall Atrium. On Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4, BCC will coordinate “Neighborhood Sweeps.” During the Neighborhood Sweeps, City inspectors will teach residents how to spot housing code violations.
For more information about Code Compliance Week, contact Tanya Mitchell, Planning Resource Coordinator, at 404.330.6197 or email tmitchell@atlantaga.gov.
City Code Inspector John Harris leaves a notice for a home in violation of the City code during a Neighborhood Sweep. During next week’s Code Compliance Week, the City will host several Neighborhood Sweeps on Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4. For more information call Tanya Mitchell at 404.330.6197. |
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Golf Tournament Supports Mayor’s Youth Program Services
The Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) will host its 3rd Annual Million Dollar Shoot Out Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 10 at the Browns Mill Golf Course on Cleveland Avenue.
All proceeds support the Mayor’s Youth Program services. The Mayor’s Youth Program provides employment, educational and professional training and transportation to hundreds of Atlanta Public Schools (APS) seniors. The program helps seniors make their transition from high school to the next phase of their lives with scholarships, certification training and employment opportunities.
"The funds raised by the Golf Tournament assist students with achieving their goals in college, employment and training. By partnering with the local business community, we are able to raise funds that will help them mature into a skilled and talented workforce," said Deborah Lum, AWDA executive director.
For more information or to register to play, visit here.
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May is Older Atlantans Month, a time to recognize senior citizens with special events and activities. The City of Atlanta recently kicked-off the month-long celebration with event announcements at the Adamsville Recreation Center. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage where you can watch the kick-off and find out more about Older Atlantans Month activities.
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Rave Reviews!
- Students from Inman Middle School recently completed a volunteer project at the 24/7 Gateway Center, the centerpiece of the Regional Commission on Homelessness’ effort to impact chronic homelessness, where they painted vibrant murals in the Client Engagement Center. In addition to the murals, students also served as volunteers. “It is meaningful for students to engage the community in a personal manner, as did the students from Inman Middle School. Their efforts demonstrated care and concern for persons so often overlooked,” said Vince Smith, director, Gateway Center. The Gateway Center opened in July 2005, and is the point of entry to the county-wide ‘continuum of care’ created to help homeless individuals move out of dependency. The Gateway Center offers clients a connection with the specific services needed to move toward self-sufficiency. For more information about this initiative, please visit here.
Students at Inman Middle School completed a volunteer project last week at the 24/7 Gateway Center where they brightened its client intake center with murals. |
- The City of Atlanta collected 103 pints of blood during its Spring 2007 Blood Drive, enough to save 309 lives. The Departments of Public Works (DPW) and Watershed Management (DWM) led the City with the most donations. The City hosts public Blood Drives quarterly in City Hall and City Hall East. The next Blood Drive will be held this summer.
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Admission to the Atlanta History Center exhibit “I Have A Dream: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection,” is free this weekend, May 5 and 6, and on Monday, May 7. The exhibit closes permanently on May 13, 2007. For more information, please visit the Atlanta History Center online at www.atlantahistorycenter.com or call 404.814.4000.
- On Thursday, May 3 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., the Atlanta Commission on Women (ACOW) will host its fourth Annual “Women Doing Business in the City of Atlanta” Conference at The Loudermilk Center, 40 Courtland Street, Atlanta, 30303. 2007 Conference Highlights include: Informative workshops on recent changes in business processes including the City Procurement Process; legal aspects of City contracts; and Finance Risk Management; and Educational workshops in Business Finance, Marketing, Law and Best Practices. Ticket prices are $55.00 in advance; $65.00 at the door. For more information and a schedule of events, visit here.
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On Thursday May 3 from 5:30 – 8 p.m., City Gallery East will present the opening reception for “A 30 Year Retrospective in Photographs: The Atlanta Jazz Festival” at its location in City Hall East. The exhibit, which runs from May 1– June 8, chronicles the Atlanta Jazz Festival from 1977 – 2006. Photos were taken by six Atlanta photographers: Jim Alexander, Susan Ross, Michael Reese, Julie Yarbrough, Sheila Pree Bright and Eric Waters. The exhibit will also include Atlanta Jazz Festival posters. City Gallery East is located on the First Floor of City Hall East /675 Ponce De Leon Avenue, NE / Atlanta, GA 30308 /404.817.6981/ www.atlantafestivals.com. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.
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“The Jazz of the City Atlanta 2007” jazz portrait will be memorialized as postcards and posters. The portrait will be available for purchase through partner Jazz 91.9's web site, www.wclk.com.
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On Saturday, May 5 from 9 – 11 a.m. Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Peachtree Corridor Task Force will host a public forum regarding the recent recommendations for the Peachtree Corridor. The forum will be held in the City Hall City Council Chambers, 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta, 30303. To access the recommendations, visit www.atlantaga.gov. The report may be found under Key Topics and Initiatives.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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