ARC "Wireside Chats" to Provide Greater Understanding of Transportation Referendum

On July 31, metro residents will have the opportunity to vote on a penny sales tax referendum to fund transportation projects around the 10-county Atlanta region. Inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "fireside chats" during World War II, the Atlanta Regional Commission will host a series of 12 Wireside Chats over six evenings in June to provide information about projects the sales tax would fund. Local officials will be on the line to answer questions about the referendum projects. In order to participate, simply register your name and phone number at www.wiresidechats.com and be available at the designated time on the number you provide.

Plan Now to Attend Transportation Summit Targeting Senior Mobility

Last year the Atlanta region ranked worst among large metro areas for access to transit for older adults, persons with disabilities and non-drivers. But, regional leaders have worked hard to create transportation alternatives. There are more options today than ever before and more are on the way. On June 7, ARC, Transform Metro Atlanta, AARP and the Traffic Safety Foundation will host a day-long summit to examine what is working in the Atlanta region to give non-drivers greater mobility and what other areas of the county are doing that can help move metro Atlanta from worst to first in this arena.
Learn more…

ARC's Community Choices Program to Help Five Communities

Each year, through the Community Choices program, ARC provides cities and counties with the tools, resources and strategies needed to implement the unique plans they have for their communities. ARC Community Choices projects selected for 2012 are:

• City of Duluth – Assistance with reviewing and revising the downtown overlay district, to include adding quality growth components promoted in the city's comprehensive plan.
• City of Lithonia – An in-depth review of the Main Street Overlay District to check for implementation of the adopted Livable Centers Initiative study and recent Blueprints process, including revisions to the overlay as needed.
• City of Morrow – Audit of commercial zoning districts and assistance in creating an implementation plan for a rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance.
• City of Pine Lake – Quality growth audit, comparing the city's comprehensive plan and other planning documents to its adopted ordinances and policies.
• City of Powder Springs – A review of the city's development and permitting processes, including a comparison to three peer local governments.

ARC's LINK Program Brings Lessons Home from DC Region

More than 100 elected officials and business/nonprofit leaders participated in ARC's LINK (Leadership, Involvement, Networking & Knowledge) program on April 18-21. This year's trip was to the Washington DC region, including Baltimore and northern Virginia. Participants visited with Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, Representatives Rob Woodall and John Lewis, DC Mayor Vincent Gray and numerous elected officials and experts from around Greater Washington. Topics of discussion included education, transportation, sustainable growth and attracting the jobs of the future. Perhaps the greatest lesson learned was that investment in the region's infrastructure, from the public and private sectors, pays off in the long run with economic growth.

Mobile Career Lab Bringing Job Search Resources Closer to Home

Job seekers age 16 and older in Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette and Henry counties now have additional resources as they look for employment. The Atlanta Regional Workforce Board's Mobile Career Lab has scheduled regular visits to libraries in each county, continuing through June.

Experienced career coaches are available to advise job seekers in all aspects of their job search and provide information on training opportunities funded through the Workforce Investment Act. The mobile center offers assistance in career planning, job readiness, job search and training opportunities. The unit, which has 12 computer workstations, also offers copying, printing and scanning services, as well as a host of resource material for job search and career guidance. Individuals who are looking for help in defining a career path may take the CareerScope, an online tool to help users learn about careers and jobs that are a good fit for based on their interests and aptitude.

Download the schedule… (PDF)

ARC Named a Bicycle Friendly Business

The League of American Bicyclists recently recognized ARC as a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB).The ARC joins a group of more than 400 businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies across the U.S. The ARC encourages bicycling as an easy option by providing convenient indoor and outdoor parking, showers for employees, tools for minor repair, a shared office bike for short trips and various incentive programs for employees. In addition as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Atlanta region, ARC also supports a range of educational, encouragement and engineering programs to help expand cycling as a transportation solution throughout the region.

Upcoming Registrations and Events

Monetizing Sustainability (APA Webinar)

Explore how incentives are created for sustainability. Who creates them? Who gets them? At what level do they work best, and what has been most effective over time? Experts discuss both the tools and the underlying policy objectives. Hear about incentives, such as surcharges, fees and tax reductions, and learn how they have been implemented. Speakers assess how they have fared in different locations. Learn what can be applied to your circumstances by attending this free Community Planning Academy webinar on Wednesday, May 2 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the ARC offices and earn 1.5 AICP credits.
Register here…

Customer Service: The Value of Pleasant Interaction

Customer service is often the hallmark of successful organizations, both public and private. The Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) has designed this course to equip local government managers, department heads and staff with the tools to assist them in providing excellent external and internal customer service. Join us and earn POST credits on May 31.
Register by May 17.

Regional Housing Forum is June 6

Dr. Arthur C. Nelson will address the theme "This is NOT Your Parents' Housing Market" at the quarterly Atlanta Regional Housing Forum on June 6 at the Loudermilk Center for the Regional Community. The forum is free and attendees are asked to bring canned goods to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Register here…

Mark Your Calendar for ARC's State of the Region Breakfast

ARC will be holding its annual State of the Region breakfast on Friday, October 12, 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center. More information will be available in the coming months.