Georgia Department of Community Affairs

"Your downtown area is kind of like the heart and soul of your community," says Leesburg city manager Bob Alexander after his city was designated by DCA as a Rural Zone. The honor allows for developers to receive up to $500,000 in tax credits over the next five years for renovating buildings, creating jobs, and establishing facilities. The Rural Zone program is a collaboration between DCA and the Georgia Department of Economic Development aimed at strengthening the economies of historic downtown areas through tax incentives. These funds help lay the foundation for developers and business owners to bring their services to the heart of rural Georgia. Read the full story via FOX 31 WFXL-TV ALBANY.

#BuildingCommunities: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds the Community HOME Investment Grant program, money that is administered by DCA to local communities to aid in the construction and rehabilitation of homes and housing complexes. The City of Donalsonville is the latest to receive these funds and plans to use them to make repairs to the homes of low and moderate-income homeowners. Find more information in Donalsonville News via the link below.

The CDC outlines myriad ways you and your family can safely enjoy the spooky antics of #Halloween this weekend! Carving pumpkins, hosting a horror movie marathon, and continuing to wear a mask are just a few. Watch a video presentation from the AJC here for more info!

Georgia Trend reports nearly a dozen cities in Georgia have recently received designation as Rural Zones from DCA in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, allowing for these communities to access tax credits to use in the development of their historic downtown areas. The designation lasts for five years and includes benefits such as a $2,000 credit for new jobs created, up to $125,000 in investment credit, and up to $150,000 for rehabilitation. Was your community included? Find out via the article link below.

#BuildingCommunities: Nearly 700 residents will benefit from the $750,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds being awarded to the City of Cairo. The city plans to use the money to increase water pressure for its residents. The Grady County Joint Development Authority also received $500,000 in funds to be used for the construction of a 20,000 square foot facility aimed at bringing new industries to the area. CDBG is a federally funded program whose funds are issued by the state to local communities for the development of projects, including infrastructure construction, sewer system improvement, and much more.

The City of Moultrie joins a host of other communities throughout Georgia to receive designation as a Rural Zone. The distinction opens doors for cities and counties to assist in their quest for tax incentives, grants, and countless other benefits from DCA. The Rural Zone designation specifically exists to help further develop historic downtowns, something Moultrie city officials agree is of prime importance to their community. Read the full story in WALB News 10.

It's been over a decade since the City of Savannah partnered with Mercy Housing Southeast and Savannah's Community Housing Services Agency, Inc. Now, in the city's historic east side, the sixth and final phase of the construction of Savannah Gardens is officially underway! The project is funded by the DCA Housing Tax Credit that provides tax incentives to properties and developers that devote all or part of their units to low-to-moderate income residents. Savannah Gardens, like several other properties across the state, operate to help materialize DCA's mission of promoting the proliferation of safe and affordable housing. Find more info, including a virtual 3-D tour of the property, in Savannah Business Journal (see links below)!

Linda Thompson, Executive Director of the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism, wants you to be part of the solution by volunteering with AmeriCorps. In an interview with Atlanta & Company, Thompson described ways you can lend a helping hand to your friends and neighbors by delivering services directly to the communities around you. Watch the full interview here!

DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn traveled around the state to personally deliver a variety of awards to several communities across Georgia. There were checks for Community Development Block Grant funds, special certificates for new Rural Zones, awards for PlanFirst communities, and a host of additional special recognitions. Was your city and/or country recognized? Find out here

Executive Director of the Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism Linda Thompson sits down with John Clark, director of Georgia News Network, to discuss AmeriCorps. View the full interview here on our YouTube channel for information on how to get involved, where you can serve, and so much more!

Join us for Part 3 of a webinar series presented by Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and Appalachian Regional Commission. The series will provide attendees with invaluable information about rural broadband, downtown development, procurement, and other information. October 28: The past few months have proven that access to high-speed internet is essential to maintaining a functioning society in the modern era. Session Thr...ee will provide insight into how best to bring broadband services to your community. Don't miss out! Register today.

"The state has done a phenomenal job of allocating and helping cities like Savannah bring affordable housing, says housing developer Bill Gross regarding Georgia's Housing Tax Credit and the way it makes the construction of safe and affordable housing possible. One such property is Live Oak Landing Apartments, scheduled to open later this year in historic Savannah. The community will provide homes for the city's aging population facing a housing crisis. Credit: WTOC-TV

#OnTheDCABlog: Jobs creation, investment, and renovations are all in store for 10 Georgia cities who have been designated as Rural Zones, a program that stems from a collaboration with DCA and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Since its creation in 2017, this initiative provides tax credits to individuals creating jobs and making qualifying investments within historic downtown areas that have been designated Rural Zones. Drum roll ... Congratulations to Colquitt, Donalsonville, Hawkinsville, Hiawassee, Leesburg, Moultrie, Stone Mountain, Thomson, West Point, and Woodbury!