Atlanta City Council Greenlights Nearly $1 Million Grant for Neighborhood Development, Advances Key Infrastructure Projects

The Atlanta City Council convened yesterday to discuss and vote on various agenda items aimed at addressing community needs and improvements across the city.

One of the key decisions made during the session was the approval of an ordinance allowing the City of Atlanta to accept a substantial grant of $960,000 from the Housing Authority. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be utilized to administer the Bowen Choice Neighborhood Grant (24-O-1096).

In addition to this significant allocation of funds, several other items were on the agenda for consideration:

An ordinance was introduced to amend the Lighting Services Agreement between the Atlanta Department of Transportation and Georgia Power Company. This amendment includes additional funding to install more streetlights at crucial locations and to upgrade existing streetlights to energy-efficient LED lighting as part of the City’s Light up the Night initiative (24-O-1092).
A resolution was proposed to authorize a project management agreement between the Atlanta Department of Transportation and the Westside/Howell Mill Community Improvement District. The agreement aims to oversee a sidewalk installation project on Chattahoochee Avenue, with a budget of $1.9 million (24-R-3249).
Another resolution was put forward to establish a Fire Station Design Committee. This committee will facilitate discussions between the Department of Enterprise Asset Management and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department regarding fire station design and architectural phase recommendations (24-R-3248).
The council also considered a resolution to allocate a $250,000 donation to FCS Urban Ministries. This contribution is intended to support the implementation of the Thomasville Heights Neighborhood Plan and other community initiatives (24-R-3244).

Furthermore, the session featured proclamations and recognitions honoring notable individuals and organizations, including highly decorated former Atlanta police chief Eldrin Bell, the first all-woman football officiating crew, movie and documentary producer Sidra Smith, Grant Park restaurant owner Ria Pell, and the non-profit organization Lifeline for Pets.

Several items were introduced for further consideration in committee, including a resolution to authorize a project management agreement with the PATH Foundation for the Silver Comet Connector – Macarthur Boulevard, NW project; a resolution to establish a commission to determine an appropriate way to honor former Mayor Shirley Clarke Franklin; a resolution to allocate $3 million from the housing trust fund to Partners for Home (PFH) to support the provision of quick-delivery housing for the city’s unhoused residents; a resolution to allocate $300,000 to the Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation; and an ordinance to accept a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Dislocated Worker Program grant worth $1.6 million.