Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms' Legislative Agenda Moves Forward in Atlanta City Council

Strategic Insights -

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has put forth several important legislative initiatives in the Atlanta City Council, focusing on historic community investment and equity, economic development, and workforce development. The initiatives aim to benefit the community with affordable housing, economic growth, and job opportunities. The legislation includes investing $33.5 million in the Centennial Yards Redevelopment, establishing a Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program, and launching a 2021 Disparity Study to identify contracting disparities and barriers in the Atlanta region.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has introduced legislation to invest $33.5 million in the Centennial Yards Redevelopment, focusing on historic community investment and equity.
  • The redevelopment plans include affordable housing funds, economic development funds, and workforce development funds to support small businesses, the Local Hire Program, and the Mayor's Guaranteed Income Pilot Program.
  • The redevelopment will also offer world-class opportunities for retail, commercial office, residential, hotel, and entertainment, as well as new infrastructure and open space.
  • The Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was introduced, which helps low-income households pay for their home water bill, funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan.
  • The 2021 Disparity Study and the Equal Business Opportunity Program (EBO)/Small Business Opportunity Program (SBO) Code of Ordinances were also introduced to identify contracting disparities and barriers in the Atlanta region.
  • The study focused on data collected from over 1,800 businesses located in the surrounding 20 counties in the Atlanta Region.
  • The results revealed that the City has reduced underutilization of minority-owned businesses in general, but certain minority groups and women face continued underutilization in City-funded contracts and contracting disparities.

Statistics:

  • $33.5 million funding for the Centennial Yards Redevelopment
  • 50-acre development in the Centennial Yards Redevelopment
  • Over 1,800 businesses located in the surrounding 20 counties in the Atlanta Region that were included in the 2021 Disparity Study
  • Federal funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan for the Low-Income Housing Water Assistance Program

Sources:

  • The City of Atlanta
  • Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children (DHS)
  • Atlanta Fulton Community Action Authority, Inc.
  • American Rescue Plan
  • Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021