Dear Friends,
Thanks to everyone who made the past month such a productive time in the District. I always enjoy seeing everyone and like you, spending some much-needed time with family. Here’s a brief review and a look forward at some upcoming events you and your family might like to attend.
FUNDS TO FIGHT FORECLOSURES: I’m pleased to announce that more than $7 million in Neighborhood Stabilization grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development is heading to DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. DeKalb County will receive $5.2 million and Gwinnett will receive more than $2 million. Rockdale County will be able to apply to the state to receive a share of the funds. Counties can use the money to buy foreclosed homes, stabilize home prices and invest in the revitalization of depressed neighborhoods.
The funding is the third round of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. DeKalb received $18.5 million, Atlanta received $3.9 million, Rockdale received $2.7 million and Gwinnett received $3 million in the first round. Georgia did not receive any Neighborhood Stabilization funds in Round 2.
For more on this program, click here.
JOB SEEKERS’ SITE: The U.S. Department of Labor launched a Web portal to help job seekers match their skills to new careers and find out what training is needed to transition into a new career. Visitors to the site can view local job postings and locate training and educational opportunities. For more, click here.
ONE DEKALB: The county Office of Neighborhood Empowerment (ONE), in conjunction with the Planning and Development Department, is offering classes on zoning and planning to help residents navigate county processes. The classes will be held at the Clark Harrison Building - Conference Room A, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur. The inaugural class is limited to the first 40 neighborhood leaders who RSVP. For more information, call (404) 371-3689 or send an e-mail.
CHILDHOOD OBESITY: This September is our nation’s first Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Congress passed the measure because childhood obesity affects more than 30 percent of our children and can lead to a variety of health problems. Prevention of this growing epidemic begins at home. For more on fighting childhood obesity, click here.
BE PREPARED: September also marks National Preparedness Month. I encourage you to take some simple steps to prepare for emergencies in your home, business and communities. For more, click here.
FLOOD MITIGATION: Speaking of being prepared, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is making $1.2 million available to DeKalb County to help it acquire and demolish five homes that were damaged in a 2007 flood. Because the area where these homes were located is prone to flooding, the county will not rebuild on the properties.
WEATHERIZATION IN ATLANTA: Free home repairs are now available for low-income families living in the City of Atlanta through grants to the City of Atlanta by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. For more, click here. For residents in DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties, visit the Partnership for Community Action for more on weatherization efforts in your area.
PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK: I’m pleased to announce that Goodwill of North Georgia will receive nearly $300,000 to help train and find jobs for women, minorities, and disadvantaged persons in the highway construction workforce. For more, click here.
SOUTHERN STATES ENERGY GRANT: I’m also pleased to announce that Southern States Energy Board/Clean Coal and Energy Technology Collaboration Committee in Norcross will receive a $999,000 grant from the Department of Energy to advance opportunities for applied research and development, investment, international cooperation and technology design for coal in the Southern region. For more, click here.
EVENTS AROUND THE DISTRICT: Chamblee is holding its compost and recycle day on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 3210 Cumberland Drive. For more, click here. In Conyers, they’re offering a Citizens Police Academy this fall to local residents and business owners beginning October 7 at 6:30 p.m. For more, click here.
Doraville will hold its Movies Under the Stars at Honeysuckle Park on Saturday, Sept. 18. For more, click here. Pine Lake is celebrating its 10th annual LakeFest on October 2-3. For more, click here. Be sure to stop by Norcross for their Norcross Art Fest on Saturday, Oct. 2. For more, click here.
As always, thank you for your time, and have a great week.
Hank
