The Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) is a program that awards planning grants on a competitive basis to local governments and nonprofit organizations to prepare and implement plans for the enhancement of existing centers and corridors consistent with regional development policies, and also provides transportation infrastructure funding for projects identified in the LCI plans.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Board has approved $18 million in study funds – $1 million annually – for use in years 2000 to 2017.
The ARC Board also approved an initial allocation of $350 million for priority funding of transportation projects resulting from Livable Centers Initiative studies. An additional $150 million was approved for these projects in the 2030 RTP, for a total commitment of $500 million dedicated to transportation projects resulting from completed LCI studies.
Since its inception in 1999, LCI has assisted 112 communities with more than $194 million in planning and implementation grants to devise strategies that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by better connecting homes, shops and offices.
LCI communities cover less than four percent of the region’s land area, but contain seven percent of its residential development, 29 percent of its commercial development and 69 percent of its office development.
One example of LCI funding is the 2015 award of $60,000 to the McPherson Redevelopment Authority for planning the reuse of the U.S. Army’s former Fort McPherson property (pictured above).
Our thanks to Julie (Jones) Ralston, Director of the Center for Strategic Relations at the Atlanta Regional Commission for submitting this information to REVITALIZATION.
See press release announcing the eight communities winning LCI funding in 2015.