HUD updates Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) on American Rescue Plan during Virtual Interagency Roundtable: 2021 Quarter Two Meeting

Shea Johnson, HUD Georgia Operations Director(center) and Georgia Municipal Association members during their 2nd Quarter Virtual Interagency Roundtable update.

Focus: American Rescue Plan (ARP), sharing resources, and training opportunities

Understanding the value added that the American Rescue Plan provides to Georgia communities was top of mind as Shea Johnson, HUD Georgia Operations (GA Ops) Director, participated in the Georgia Municipality Association's (GMA) Virtual Interagency Roundtable: 2021 Quarter II meeting hosted by Becky Taylor, Director of Federal Relations & Research for the Georgia Municipal Association.

Johnson provided an update of the HUD-American Rescue Plan which included the announcement that HUD Announces $5 Billion to Increase Affordable Housing to Address Homelessness, and the award of over 1380 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) to Georgia Public Housing Agencies. The presentation also included HOME Supplemental funding allocated through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program for Georgia which totaled $140,400,000.

"The Georgia Municipal Association provides HUD with a unique opportunity to keep the local communities abreast of the latest developments that can benefit them as well as serving as a forum for them to express their concerns," said Johnson.

During the meeting, GMA was primarily focused on getting information about the American Rescue Plan (ARP), sharing resources, and training opportunities. The federal and state agencies provided information about their ARP allocations and how ARP funding will be used moving forward. GMA supports the sharing of interagency data, news, current events, and resources with city officials.

Additionally, Johnson informed GMA about HUD training and grant opportunities, including HUD and HHS partnered to conduct targeted outreach regarding COVID-19 vaccine (www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/05/05/hhs-secretary-becerra-hud-secretary-fudge-announce-joint-effort-increase-access-covid-19-vaccinations.html)and HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH): Lead Safe Housing Rule Webinar Series: Subparts J and K - May/June 2021 (www.hudexchange.info/trainings/courses/lead-safe-housing-rule-webinar-series-subparts-j-and-k/4073/). She also highlighted information about the Notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for FY 2021 Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program, and FY21 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants (www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333491).

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