U.S. House Passes Major Housing Reform Bill

On Monday, February 9, the U.S. House passed the bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act, which aims to boost housing supply and affordability by updating federal programs and reducing regulatory barriers. With the Senate passing a similar version in the ROAD to Housing Act, House, Senate and White House leaders will now negotiate which provisions make the final cut.

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Publication | Taxation

Millage Rate Process Manual

This publication guides city staff through the millage rate setting process, from calculating the rollback rate to adopting the final millage and submitting required state forms.
Article | Children & Youth

New Guides Help Cities Engage Young People in Civic Life

GeorgiaForward recently released two guides to help cities connect young people with civic life as part of the America250 celebration. In this Q&A, GeorgiaForward Managing Director Sadie Krawczyk talks about what's in the guides and how cities can put them to use.
Updates

Four Cities Complete Economic Placemaking Collaborative

GMA and the Georgia Cities Foundation have announced that Clarkston, Perry, Union City, and Warner Robins have successfully completed the Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative (GEPC), a two-year initiative designed to help communities strengthen downtowns and neighborhood centers through community-driven economic development strategies. 

Upcoming Events

Feb
18
District 9 Mayors' Meeting
Metter
Feb
19
TIUT: Celebrate What Makes Your City Shine: Planning for a Successful Georgia Cities Week
Feb
25
2026 Newly Elected Officials Institute Athens--Sold Out!!!!
Athens
Mar
03
2026 Municipal Revenue Administration Certificate (MRAC)
Americus
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In the Spotlight

Grant and Award Opportunities | Infrastructure

AARP Community Challenge Grants

The AARP Community Challenge focuses on tangible change and community engagement. Previously funded projects have also assisted in securing additional funding or support from public and private funders, encourage innovation, and overcome local policy barriers. Deadline: March 04, 2026
Article | Housing

Study: Neighborhood Revitalization Can Break Poverty Cycle

January 30, 2026
A new study from Harvard's Opportunity Insights team examines the long-term effects of the federal HOPE VI program, which invested $17 billion between the 1990s and 2000s to transform 262 distressed public housing developments across the country into mixed-income communities.

Smart Solutions for City Success

Empowering City Leaders with Knowledge and Skills

The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute offers city officials a comprehensive learning experience, covering everything from municipal finance and budgeting to ethics and data literacy. Designed to enhance leadership and expertise in local government, this program is a partnership between GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government—equipping officials with the tools they need to serve their communities effectively.

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City Spotlight

Carlton, located in GMA's District 5 in Madison County, has a population of 263. Incorporated in 1892, it holds the distinction of being Madison County's first railroad community. The city was named for H.H. Carlton, a former U.S. Representative for Georgia's 8th district.

Fun fact: The town was also known as Berkeley because the railroad station adopted that name for the train station to prevent freight mix-ups with Carrollton.