HOME Atlanta: Making Affordable Housing a Reality
The Atlanta Development Authority (ADA), the economic development agency for the City, has issued $35 million in bonds for the second phase of HOME Atlanta, an affordable workforce housing program that provides grants and down-payment assistance to homebuyers within Atlanta’s city limits.
With the renewed funds, ADA estimates that nearly 400 families can find in-town housing that is both affordable and convenient to their jobs. HOME Atlanta provides a four percent grant for closing costs. Program participants may also be eligible to receive 10 percent of the purchase price of their home in the form of a forgivable loan.
Initially launched in May 2007, HOME Atlanta’s first issue of funds ($15 million) helped a diverse cross-section of Atlanta families, with an average annual income of $47,600. The loans financed purchases of new and existing condos, townhouses and single family residences in all parts of the city, with an average home sales price of $179,600. These figures are well below the maximum limits set for household income and purchase price.
HOME Atlanta is made possible through the City’s $75 million Housing Opportunity Fund (HOF). The HOF program will expire August 1, 2008 or until funds are expended.
ADA-approved lenders have already begun accepting applications. For a list of participating lenders and more information about HOME Atlanta, visit www.atlantada.com or call 404.614.8280.
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Strike for Camp Best Friends! Mayor’s Bowl 2007 Fundraiser
Mayor Shirley Franklin and the City of Atlanta invite you to support Camp Best Friends at the annual Mayor’s Bowl fundraiser, Tuesday September 25 from 7 pm – 1 am, at Ten Pin Alley in Atlantic Station.
For the past ten years, the City has successfully hosted tournament fundraisers that have contributed over $1 million to the Camp Best Friends endowment. Camp Best Friends has provided cultural and recreational programs to Atlanta youth ages 6-16 for more than 30 years.
The City is offering a special stakeholder price of $100 per person to participate in this year’s event. Your tax-deductible contribution of $100 includes non-tournament bowling (10:30 pm and later), open bar, savory fare from Dolce Restaurant, billiards, and a silent auction that includes a custom creation from artist Monica Tookes.
Participants must be 21 and over. For more information, email mayorsbowl@atlantaga.gov or call Catherine Woodling at 404.330.6763.
Mayor’s Bowl 2007 will be Tuesday September 25 from 7 pm – 1 am at Ten Pin Alley in Atlantic Station. |
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Department of Watershed Management Helps Small Businesses Grow
The Small Business Development Program (SBDP) is making it easier for small, female- and minority-owned businesses to compete for City contracts in the $3.9 billion Clean Water Atlanta program.
SBDP is a component of the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Vendor Development program. “SBDP provides in-depth construction management and utility construction training that small companies need to help them compete as sub-contractors, joint-venture partners, and eventually as prime contractors,” said Sue Ross, vendor development manager.
Last Friday, representatives from 30 small businesses graduated from SBDP. These pre-qualified business owners attended workshops in contract administration, safety, scheduling, estimating and bidding, conflict resolution, construction accounting and finance, and trenchless sewer rehab techniques. Participants also received a free financial overview of their company’s financial operations and assistance in securing bonding and insurance.
“Many contractors only look at building opportunities above ground, while the Clean Water Atlanta program offers just as much – if not more – work below ground,” said Ross.
For more information about SBDP, email Sue Ross at sross@atlantaga.gov or call 404.589.2692.
Mayor Shirley Franklin joins the graduates from the Small Business Development Program (SBDP), a component of the Department of Watershed Management Vendor Development program. |
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APS Seniors Discuss Career Plans at ‘Saturday with the Mayor’
Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) will host the first 2007 “Saturday with the Mayor” session for Atlanta Public Schools (APS) seniors in the Mayor’s Youth Program (MYP) on September 22.
This session will be for students at South Atlanta, Therrell and Washington High Schools. All Saturday with the Mayor sessions are held at the AWDA headquarters at 818 Pollard Street, Atlanta, 30315 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
A critical MYP tenet is for program participants to stay engaged with staff throughout the year. Saturday sessions give students a chance to share their post-graduation plans with Mayor Franklin and MYP staff. MYP also provides information on scholarships and other financial aid options, technical school programs, and a college prep workshop schedule.
Mayor Franklin has scheduled a Saturday session with all 10 APS high schools in 2007. The current 2007 “Saturday with the Mayor” schedule is:
- Saturday, October 20, 2007. This is for MYP students at Douglass and Crim High Schools.
- Saturday, November 10, 2007. This is for MYP students at Mays, North Atlanta and The New Schools of Carver High Schools.
- Saturday, December 15, 2007. This is for MYP students at Grady and Southside High Schools.
For more information on this program, visit www.mayorsyouthprogram.org.
Mayor Shirley Franklin (center) joins (l-r) V-103 disc jockey Frank Ski, Legacy Communities representatives Tom Justice and Scott Schmidt, and V-103 disc jockey Wanda Smith. Legacy Communities donated $10,000 to the Mayor’s Youth Program, an educational initative that assists Atlanta high public high school seniors with the transition into their next phase of life. |
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Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin joined a consortium of law enforcement officials, prosecutors, Department of Family and Child Services representatives and child advocates to announce the merger of the Georgia Center for Children and the Fulton County Child Advocacy Center. The new organization will be called the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage to learn more about the new Center.
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Rave Reviews!
- Congratulations to Cheryl Strickland, director, Atlanta Development Authority tax allocation districts (TADs) program, for receiving the 2007 Economic Improvement Award from CREW Atlanta, a commercial real estate organization. The award honors a CREW Atlanta member whose professional contributions to a commercial real estate deal, development, or re-development project resulted in a significant economic impact on a community. CREW Atlanta is the Southeast's premier women’s commercial real estate organization.
ADA director of TAD programs, Cheryl Strickland receives the 2007 CREW Atlanta Economic Improvement Award. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Join Mayor Shirley Franklin and the BeltLine Partnership, Park Pride, Trees Atlanta and the PATH Foundation on Saturday, October 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., for a BeltLine Clean Up Project and Picnic. We will remove kudzu, pick up litter and beautify a 1-mile stretch in Southwest Atlanta in preparation for construction of the first BeltLine trail, which will begin at the end of the year. To volunteer, register here, call 404.522.4097, or email susan@treesatlanta.org.
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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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