City Of Atlanta: Mayor Bottoms' Legislative Priorities, Including Centennial Yards Community Investment, Low-Income Housing Water Assist ...

Press release from the City of Atlanta:

11/01/2021 3:07 PM

Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303   Mayor Bottoms’ Legislative Priorities, Including Centennial Yards Community Investment, Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program and COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program, Approved

ATLANTA- Several items on Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ legislative agenda were approved by the Atlanta City Council. 

Center for Transportation and Logistics: Legislation put forward by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and passed by City Council will deliver $33.5 million to fund affordable housing, economic development and workforce development initiatives. The investment, made possible by the redevelopment of Centennial Yards, will fund a new Center for Transportation and Logistics. The Center will be located at Atlanta Technical College and provide training and technical education to prepare students for careers in transportation and logistics.

"The investments made possible by the redevelopment of Centennial Yards are truly historic," said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. "They are investments in the people of Atlanta — investments in a more equitable, resilient and affordable Atlanta — and their impact will be felt for generations to come."

Disparity Study: With equity, diversity and inclusion at the core of the Mayor Bottoms’ vision for Atlanta, providing female- and minority-owned businesses access to opportunities remains a top priority.

A 2021 Disparity Study of the City’s Equal Business Opportunity Program (EBO)/ Small Business Opportunity Program (SBO) revealed that – while the City has made improvements – certain minority groups and women continue to be underrepresented in City-funded contracts. For these reasons, the Administration put forward legislation, which was approved by City Council, to extend the EBO and SBO Programs with certain program modifications for an additional five years.

“Although the Disparity Study showed that we have made marked improvements, it also revealed that there is still work to be done to ensure every business has equal opportunity to City-funded contracts,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “With this legislation, we are one step closer to eliminating any remaining barriers to female and minority-owned businesses.”

Waive Distance Requirements Supportive Housing: To improve access to affordable housing and reduce the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, City Council approved Mayor Bottoms’ request to waive the provisions of the Land Development Code to build 40 new affordable housing units in West Atlanta. 

ARRC Capital Partners, Alexander Goshen and Tenth Street Ventures teamed up to acquire the property with financing from Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund and American South Real Estate Fund. The property is located in Atlanta’s Hunter Hills neighborhood and will be fully renovated with one hundred percent of units designated as affordable housing.

Vaccination Booster Incentive Program: In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Bottoms is meeting compassion with action by extending and expanding the City’s vaccination incentive program.

“As the world faced uncertainty and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, our City employees never stopped providing quality services to Atlanta residents,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “Now, the best way for us to ensure our employees stay healthy and safe is to make sure they are vaccinated. This vaccine inventive program will help protect our employees, their families and our community.”

City of Atlanta employees who receive their COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot through December 31, 2021 will be eligible to receive a one-time $100 incentive.

Low-income Housing Water Assistance Program: In an effort to assist families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other circumstances, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has entered into an agreement with Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children (DHS) to launch a Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). 

“This program is part of our ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the far-reaching effects it has had on families,” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “It is impossible to combat this virus and focus on public health without ensuring households have access to drinking water and wastewater services.”

LIHWAP is a federal program that helps low-income households pay for their home water bill, funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan. Through a partnership with the Atlanta Fulton Community Action Authority, Incorporated, customers of the City’s Department of Watershed Management will be eligible to apply and receive LIHWAP assistance. The program is scheduled to begin November 1, 2021.

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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta.

This press release was produced by the City of Atlanta. The views expressed here are the author’s own.