The Georgia Department of Community Affairs will visit the City of Valdosta on May 13-14 to hold their quarterly board meeting.  The two-day visit will bring in approximately 31 community-building board members and staff professionals to conduct the business of the board.  While here, they will also view DCA-funded projects in the city and downtown, and other economic development sites in the city.  This is the first time the DCA board has held their board meeting in Valdosta.

DCA provides funding and technical assistance throughout Georgia, partnering with local communities to create a climate of success for Georgia’s families and businesses and manages millions of state and federal dollars through its 65 programs. Many of the programs and funding that local governments—such as Valdosta—utilize to serve local citizens and agencies passes through DCA.

“The City of Valdosta is honored to welcome this influential group of people to our community and for the opportunity to highlight some of the key projects and success stories in our city,” said City Manager Larry Hanson, who became one of the board’s newest members after being appointed by Governor Nathan Deal in October 2014. “DCA works hand-in-hand with local governments to better our cities, counties and our state, and we are pleased to showcase the Valdosta community and the projects that this agency helped fund.”  

Following their board meeting, the DCA board members and staff will take a downtown walking tour highlighting specific DCA-funded projects, such as the Ashley House and the Cranford Building.  In the redevelopment of the Ashley House, resources were utilized from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program to help redevelop this 61-unit apartment building, which re-invigorates the downtown Valdosta area.  The Cranford Building utilized the assistance of Downtown Development Revolving Loan funds from the Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Cities Foundation, resulting in 11 new apartments in downtown Valdosta and three additional commercial spaces. 

The DCA board members will also tour Valdosta’s Pinevale neighborhood, the MLK Jr. Memorial Park which used CDBG funding, and the collaborative community revitalization that has taken place in that neighborhood, as well as visit other economic development and industrial sites in the city.

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at (229) 259-3548.