Hiawassee Mayor Liz Ordiales attends PlanFirst Day at Capitol

Press Release

Atlanta, GA – The Georgia Department of Community Affairs honored 18 communities as part of the 5th Annual PlanFirst Capitol Event on February 27. The 2019 PlanFirst honorees were recognized for their communities’ successes in coordinated comprehensive planning in Georgia.

PlanFirst is a DCA program which recognizes and rewards communities that demonstrate an established pattern of successfully implementing their Local Comprehensive Plan. The process for PlanFirst designation includes meeting multiple prerequisites and evaluation by multiple state agencies.

Designation brings statewide recognition and incentives for these communities.

This year’s honorees were the cities of Centreville, Chamblee, Dublin, Gainesville, Fitzgerald, Hiawassee, Lula, Porterdale, Roswell, Suwanee, Swainsboro, Sylvester, Toccoa, and Washington; Colquitt, Gwinnett, and Liberty counties; and Columbus Consolidated Government.

Ebony Simpson, Planning Outreach and Training Coordinator, congratulated the recipients saying, “We are here to celebrate and commend you for doing excellent planning in your communities.” Tyler Reinagel, Director of the Office and Planning and Research, echoed Simpson’s sentiments in his remarks,saying, “You are committed to building better, stronger, communities across the state.”

Christopher Nunn, Commissioner, said DCA’s mission of building helping communities created a climate of success and understanding that good planning is one of the essential building blocks to accomplishing that goal.

“The fruits of labor take time and energy. That’s what we are here to celebrate today,” Nunn said. “What you are doing is the core of success.” Nunn added, “DCA values our partnership with Georgia’s cities and counties to assist with comprehensive planning and to promote successful communities. Our staff was impressed with the accomplishments of each of these communities and the community vision they created – along with
their skill and commitment as they turned their visions into reality.”

Applications for the 2020 designation are due May 15.

For more information, visit dca.ga.gov or call 404-679-4840.