Cathy Woolard, former Atlanta City Council president, talks about what good leaders do when they find a great idea . . . and what she did when she became aware of a transformative idea for Atlanta, the BeltLine.
Published Date:
May 15, 2013
Kathie Gannon, a county commissioner in DeKalb County, Georgia, explains how collaborations can sometimes bring about great results in cities and do so with unconventional solutions. But, she adds, you have to be patient.
Published Date:
March 11, 2013
Mayor Robert Reichert explains why voters in his city, Macon, Georgia, voted to merge the city and county governments, and what leaders everywhere can learn about managing high-stakes public referendums.
Published Date:
December 10, 2012
How can Americus and Sumter County—a mostly agricultural community with a population of approximately 17,000, about the same at its height in 1901—become a destination for the young, entrepreneurial and/or retirees?
Published Date:
December 7, 2012
Denise Brinson, economic and community development director of Suwanee, Georgia, explains why her suburban city decided to build an entirely new downtown – and how it managed such an audacious project.
Published Date:
November 13, 2012
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the Livable Centers Coalition lauded several metro Atlanta cities with awards for creating great spaces and livable places in the Atlanta region at the ARC’s annual State of the Region event in October.
Published Date:
November 6, 2012
Each year, the Georgia Planning Association rewards local communities and regional commissions for their work to make Georgia a better place to live. The 2012 Chapter Awards were given last month at GPA's Fall Conference held in Columbus to plans and projects that showed innovation, transferability, quality, effectiveness of implementation, comprehensiveness, public participation, technology, equity, sustainability and collaboration.
Published Date:
October 18, 2012
Walkable 101: The Walkability Workbook is a free set of documents and slide presentations providing guidance on everything needed to organize community walkability workshops, conduct walkability audits and prioritize changes for a better built environment.
Published Date:
September 11, 2012
Proposed revisions to Georgia's comprehensive planning requirements will be voted on by the the Board of the Department of Community Affairs on November 7, 2012.
Published Date:
August 30, 2012
This publication provides policy options that can help rural communities strengthen their economies while preserving rural character.
Published Date:
August 30, 2012
Cities throughout the state of Georgia have issues relating to derelict property and GMA often gets questions related to the options cities have in controlling this growing problem.
Published Date:
June 28, 2012
Creative Placemaking is a resource for city officials, arts organizations, the philanthropic sector, and others interested in understanding strategies for leveraging the arts to help shape and revitalize the physical, social, and economic character of neighborhoods, cities, and towns.
Published Date:
May 30, 2012
On September 1, 2011 the city of Douglasville received its first opportunity zone designation. The idea to research and apply for opportunity zone designation was generated in a Main Street Douglasville Economic Restructuring committee meeting.
Published Date:
May 9, 2012
This report focuses on smart growth strategies that can help guide growth in rural areas while protecting natural and working lands and preserving the rural character of existing communities.
Published Date:
May 4, 2012
This guide for town, city and county leaders outlines a new tool they can use to build the financial and political support needed to reclaim and redevelop the thousands of abandoned gas stations, auto body shops, and industrial facilities nationwide.
Published Date:
March 14, 2012