Today's Focus

FOCUS: Lawrenceville named a Georgia PlanFirst community

by GwinnettForum
Council Member Austin Thompson; Mayor Pro Tem Victoria Jones; Paul Lorenc, City Planner; Council Member Marlene Taylor-Crawford; Daniel Gaddis, Georgia Department of Community Affairs; Mayor David Still; Council Member Bruce Johnson; and Todd Hargrave, Planning and Development Director.

By Melissa Hardegree

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.  |  The City of Lawrenceville has been officially designated as a PlanFirst community by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), recognizing the city’s long-standing commitment to planning and consistent implementation of its comprehensive plan. 

As part of the recognition, Daniel Gaddis from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs attended a recent City Council Meeting to present the designation.

Mayor David Still says: “Being named a PlanFirst community is an honor for our city, since it reflects years of coordinated work across departments and our commitment to planning that supports long-term growth and quality of life for the people of Lawrenceville.”

Through this designation, Lawrenceville will receive statewide recognition from DCA, including placement on the agency’s website, outreach materials, and presentations. As a PlanFirst community, Lawrenceville becomes eligible for several benefits, including:

  • Additional bonus points on qualifying Housing Tax Credit applications;
    • Annual eligibility for state-administered Community Development Block Grants;
    • Interest rate reductions on eligible loans through the Employment Incentive Program, Redevelopment Fund, and Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund; and
    • Referral to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for reduced interest rates on certain state loans.

The City of Lawrenceville is one of only 14 communities in the state to achieve the PlanFirst designation for the 2026-2028 timeframe,” said Daniel Gaddis, Planning Outreach Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “The public, staff, and leadership of this community have shown outstanding commitment to a successful comprehensive plan implementation and Lawrenceville is now recognized as a model PlanFirst community in the state of Georgia.”

As part of the agreement, Lawrenceville will continue advancing best practices in comprehensive planning, participate in PlanFirst program activities, submit annual success stories when requested, and maintain its Qualified Local Government status.

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