Stonecrest is successful in bid for $100,000 LCI grant

LITHONIA—The Stonecrest community in Southeast DeKalb County is now ready to take its first step toward planning for long-term economic viability.

The community was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Livable Centers Initiative, officials announced Feb. 10.

Stonecrest, whose application was submitted by DeKalb County government, applied for the program in December after months of collaboration with county officials, businesses, residents and other stakeholders.

“We all worked hard to get it done and make sure that we had a good application,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Lee May. “It’s going to provide the additional planning that we need for that area to have quality economic development and growth.”

May worked with the Stonecrest Task Force and the emerging Stonecrest Business Alliance to facilitate the LCI application.

The ARC awards the federally-funded grants on a competitive basis to local governments and nonprofit organizations, which must provide some matching funding.

In addition to Stonecrest, the ARC announced two other new grant recipients this month: the City of Atlanta, which received $120,000 and the city of Marietta, which received $80,000.

The city of Atlanta will use its grant to create strategies for growth and development around the Lakewood Fairgrounds.

The plan will focus on leveraging Aaron’s Lakewood Amphitheater and increasing new movie and television production jobs.

In Marietta, the study will focus on the usage of land along Cobb Parkway, specifically the areas surrounding Southern Polytechnic State University and Life University.

The plan will include improving the visibility of the universities through transportation projects that will link the universities to the community to create a campus atmosphere.

With this round of grants announced, five other communities received funding for supplemental studies to help advance their current LCI planning.

In addition, grants for two PLAN 2040 Innovation studies will be awarded to the City of Atlanta and the Stone Mountain CID at $80,000 each.

These grants support jurisdiction-wide policies, plans or programs that focus on livable communities, consistent with the goals of PLAN 2040 and LCI.

The LCI program, in its 13^th year, has awarded 127 communities with more than $153 million in planning and implementation grants.

The program was created to allocate federal transportation dollars for planning in local communities. Once the plans have been created, local governments can apply for federal funding to assist in bringing their plans into reality.

Since the first LCI grants were awarded in 2000, more than 84,000 residential units, 20 million square feet of commercial space and 35 million square feet of office space are either planned, under construction or complete in the grantee areas.

Regionally, 67 percent of all office space built since 2000 has been built within LCI areas. LCI areas have attracted 8.5 percent of all new residential units and 21 percent of all new commercial development built in the region.

“LCI has helped communities across metro Atlanta re-tool and redesign over the years, creating more places that attract residents and businesses alike,” said Tad Leithead, ARC Chairman.

Stonecrest Business Alliance welcomes new members

The Stonecrest Business Alliance will officially launch on Feb. 29, 8:30 a.m., at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel at Stonecrest. Businesses and residents in the Stonecrest area are encouraged to attend the meeting and join the group.

Organizers have been working on forming the alliance for several months, engaging stakeholders in the area through several activities including two community cleanup drives—one at Turner Hill Road, the other along Evans Mill Road—as well as a survey.

Those involved have established an interim board of directors and will elect a permanent board after the official launch.

The interim board of directors are:

President Van Jakes, owner McDonald’s

Vice President Dr. Al Scott, owner of DeKalb Women’s Specialist

Secretary Sheila Cobb Williams, co-owner of Zaxby’s at Stonecrest

Treasurer Sam Armstrong, Spa @ Stonecrest

There will be an update at the launch meeting on the Livable Centers Initiative, a collaborative effort of the Stonecrest Task Force, Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce, community, and civic leaders.

Business Calendar

DeKalb Chamber: Enhance your business with social media

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce will host “3 Workshops in One” for businesses to better understand social media and Constant Contact on Feb. 21, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Doubletree by Hilton Atlanta Northlake, 4156 La Vista Road, Tucker.

Lanelle Henderson, Georgia Regional Development Director for Constant Contact will host “3 Workshops in One—Social Media Marketing, 3 Keys to Email Marketing and Getting Started, Constant Contact.”

The information-packed seminar will review the essential strategies and best practices a business or organization should understand to successfully get started with social media marketing. Participants will have plenty of time to ask questions, share experiences, and network with peers. They’ll leave with real-world insights and knowledge that they can put to work immediately to help their business or organization succeed.

The workshop is free to attend, however, registration is requested. Register at www.dekalbchamber.org or call 404-378-8000.

Atlanta Shakers and Stirrers set networking mixer

Members of the business community are invited to join Atlanta’s Shakers and Stirrers networking mixer on Feb. 21, 6 – 8p.m. at Tantra Restaurant and Lounge, 2285 Peachtree Road, Suite 100, Atlanta.

Participants will have the opportunity to make quality business connections and mingle with top professionals in several fields of business. The day after the event, organizers will e-mail a list of confirmed attendees to help attendees follow up with new contacts made at the event. Only those who sign up in advance online will receive the list of attendees.

The cost to attend is $15 to attend and $20 at the door. Prices include hors d’oeuvres or

drink specials at a cash bar. Register at www.networkingforprofessionals.com.

Gwinnett Chamber to host Day at the Capitol

The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce is accepting registration for its annual Gwinnett Day at the Capitol on Feb. 22, 5 p.m., at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, 65 Martin Luther King Jr., Drive, S.E., Atlanta.

The annual event is the Chamber’s premier public policy event targeting Georgia’s top policy makers and Gwinnett local leadership.

The event includes an invitation-only luncheon and photo opportunity in the Governor’s office, proclamations in both the Senate and House declaring Gwinnett Day and concludes with a reception at the Freight Room at the Georgia Depot across the street from the Capitol.

The cost to attend is $60. For more information or to register, call 770-232-3000 or visit www.gwinnettchamber.org.

ABWA sets monthly meeting

The American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) will host its monthly networking session on Feb. 22, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Rockdale Leadership Center, 2826 GA Highway 20, S.E., Conyers.

Businesswomen of diverse occupations meet to learn more about growing personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking and national recognition.

The cost to attend is $20. For more information, call Patti Bryson at 770-918-1039.

Buckhead Business Alliance welcomes MARTA CEO

The Buckhead Business Alliance will welcome Beverly Scott, general manager and CEO of MARTA, for its business breakfast on Feb. 23, 7:30 – 9 a.m., at the City Club of Buckhead, 3343 Peachtree Road, Suite 1850, Atlanta.

Scott was appointed to head MARTA in 2007 by the MARTA Board of Directors–the first female executive to hold this position.

MARTA is the ninth largest public transportation system in the United States. The MARTA system includes heavy rail, bus, and para-transit service. With 4,500 employees, MARTA is one of the largest employers in the Atlanta region.

The cost to attend the meeting is $20 and includes breakfast and two-hour validated parking. For more information or to register, visit www.buckheadbusiness.org or call 404-467-7607.

Johnson, South DeKalb businesses strategize to fight crime

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will present a forum, “No Crime Zone,” for businesses in the Flat Shoals-Candler Road area.

The forum will be held Feb. 23, 10 – 11 a.m., at the Flat Shoals Library, 4022 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur. Johnson is inviting the business community to discuss ways to fight crime in the area. 404-371-2425.

On Common Ground News is an independent African-American owned community resource newspaper serving residents and businesses in DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and Henry counties.

These are the areas we focus our efforts in reporting on. DeKalb county areas consist of Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Tucker, Clarkston, Stonecrest, Decatur, Avondale, Estates, Eastlake, and Pinelake. Gwinnett county areas consist of Lawrenceville, Snellville, and Buford. Henry county areas consist of Ellenwood and Stockbridge. Fulton county areas consist of Atlanta, College Park, and East Point. Rockdale county area consist of Conyers.

The information contained in this On Common Ground News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of On Common Ground, Inc. For questions about redistribution or use online or print, call 770-679-5607.