LULA — Lula officials won’t receive the formal presentation until January, but that’s not stopping city leaders from celebrating Lula’s designation as a PlanFirst Community.
Mayor Jim Grier made the announcement during Monday night’s city council work session, saying the recognition is meaningful to the city at a time when it is growing into the future.
“We are very excited about the Department of Community Affairs awarding the City of Lula the PlanFirst designation,” Grier said. “It means that we’re being recognized for the fact that we’re looking forward to make plans to accomplish different things for the citizens of Lula, and we’ve been recognized as one of the 18 communities to receive this designation.”
Other governments that renewed their PlanFirst designation include Gainesville, Gwinnett County, Columbus Consolidated Government, Dublin, Liberty County, Porterdale, Roswell and Suwanee.
The cities of Centerville, Chamblee, Fitzgerald, Hiawassee, Swainsboro, Sylvester, Toccoa and Washington, and Colquitt County, each has achieved the state’s PlanFirst designation.
“There were actually 694 communities that were eligible to receive this award, and out of those that applied only 18 received it and Lula was one of those,” Grier said.
Designated communities are eligible for technical assistance, as well as bonus points and enhanced eligibility for certain DCA funding opportunities.
“I think it goes back to the commitment the council has made to express concern about what’s coming our way as far as growth and the future and be ready to meet those challenges,” Grier said.
The three-year designation begins Jan. 1, 2019, and enables the selected communities to take advantage of public recognition, eligibility for specified grant opportunities, and certain reduced interest rates. This is the second consecutive PlanFirst designation for Lula.
To apply for PlanFirst, communities must address four primary program criteria focused on having a proven record of plan implementation success: goals, leadership, community participation, and implementation.
