The City of Douglas has been selected as a PlanFirst Community by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The PlanFirst designation recognizes communities for successful comprehensive plan implementation efforts over many years.
The prestigious designation enables the City of Douglas to take advantage of various incentives offered through the program which will be in effect for a three-year period.
Benefits of a city becoming a PlanFirst designation are the incentives available to designees from DCA and GEFA during the designation period. Incentives available to the PlanFirst designees include:
• Statewide recognition for community achievement
• PlanFirst Community plaque indicating date of designation
• Annual CDBG application eligibility
• Bonus points on applications for select DCA programs such as EIP, DDRLF and the Redevelopment Fund
• Access to a reduced interest rate on certain Georgia Environmental Financing Authority (GEFA) state loans
• Free attendance at the DCA Community Planning Institute events
“We are very happy to receive this designation,” says Mayor Tony Paulk. “Citizens should be proud to know that across the State of Georgia, the City of Douglas will be recognized as a community that possesses a vision of its future and maintains an active strategy for implementing that vision.”
A formal presentation to the mayor and city commission will be made by Ms. Adriane Wood from the DCA Office of Planning and Environmental Management on November 28 during the city commission meeting. The city will also attend the “PlanFirst Day” at the Capitol in January where all the successful applicants will be recognized.
– Submitted