Untitled Document The Livable Centers Initiative program is open for funding to government jurisdictions and non-profit organizations in the 18-county Atlanta Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) boundaries (PDF) (includes all of 13 counties and portions of five additional counties). The LCI program utilizes federal transportation program L230 funds administered through ARC. To be considered for an LCI award, a jurisdiction must maintain Qualified Local Government (QLG) status or show progress toward reinstating QLG status through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
Over the 12 years of the LCI program from 2000 to 2011, 266 studies have been proposed by cities, counties and nonprofit organizations. ARC has funded 93 of these LCI studies. In addition, 18 communities have completed plans using other funds and have been “grandfathered” (accepted) as LCI communities.
Requirements to be grandfathered as an LCI area:
LCI study areas (PDF) must be one of the following four:
- Town Center
- Activity Center
- Corridor
- “Emerging” Regional Center or Corridor
In July 2009, the ARC Board authorized LCI study funds for an additional three years (for 2010, 2011 and 2012). In doing so, there was an added requirement linking eligible study areas to priority development areas in the region. LCI study areas must be in an eligible category (as described here) and located within one of three focus areas within the MPO boundaries: Mega-Corridors or Regional Places as noted on the Unified Growth Policy Map (UGPM), or within a station area identified by the Transit Implementation Board (TIB) Concept 3. Appropriately defined LCI study areas must meet one of the following:
- A minimum of 75 percent of the proposed LCI study area must be located within the boundaries of the Mega-Corridors or Regional Places on the UGPM or
- A study area focused around a TIB Concept 3 station area can be one of two types: 1) ½-mile around a proposed station area location, 2) a feasibility analysis and concept plan to identify a specific station area site consistent with a proposed Concept 3 location. Both must meet all other requirements of an LCI study area and prepare the required study deliverables.
Number and Type of Studies Funded
| Study Year | Town Center Study | Activity Center Study | Corridor Study | Amount Funded |
| 2000 | 8 | 3 | 1 | $1 million |
| 2001 | 3 | 7 | 0 | $1 million |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $896,250 |
| 2003 | 7 | 2 | 1 | $896,250 |
| 2004 | 5 | 4 | 0 | $843,750 |
| 2005 | 2 | 4 | 3 | $908,500 |
| 2006 | 3 | 2 | 2 | $762,500 |
| 2007 | 2 | 2 | 3 | $793,750 |
| 2008 | 2 | 4 | 0 | $695,000 |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | 2 | $596,000 |
| 2010 | 2 | 3 | 0 | $440,000 |
| 2011 | 0 | 2 | 0 | $200,000 |