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Mike Alexander Talks About
The Future of Our Area
COO Mr. Mike Alexander
Our keynote speaker,
Mike Alexander, COO of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), provided a very interesting statistical slide presentation that sliced and diced Atlanta’s growth projections and demographics in dozens of ways. See the link to his presentation below. To start his talk, Mike asked ChatGBT (the new AI app) if it was easy to grow old in Decatur and received a pretty accurate and favorable answer. See slides for the whole answer. He also asked the audience and Chat GBT what the greatest problem was for Decatur and both the Rotary audience and ChatGBT guessed correctly: affordable housing.
Because Mike is the Atlanta Regional Commission COO and leads the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that serves the 10-county Atlanta region in Georgia, he was able to shed light on where we all are going. The ARC has achieved several notable accomplishments, including:
1. Transportation planning: The ARC has led efforts to plan and develop a comprehensive transportation system for the region, including major projects like the expansion of the MARTA transit system, the development of the Atlanta Beltline, and the construction of the I-75/I-575 northwest corridor express lanes.
2. Economic development: The ARC has played a key role in promoting economic development in the region, including the development of the Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, a partnership focused on promoting economic growth around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
3. Environmental stewardship: The ARC has implemented several initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability in the region, including the development of the Green Communities program, which provides resources and incentives for local governments to pursue sustainability initiatives.
4. Aging and healthcare: The ARC has been a leader in addressing the needs of older adults in the region, including the development of the Aging and Health Resources Division, which provides information and resources on healthcare and aging-related issues.
5. Community engagement: The ARC has prioritized community engagement in its planning and development efforts, working closely with local governments, community organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that the needs and concerns of residents are taken into account.
ARC’s Focus on Decatur
The city of Decatur has benefited from the ARC's various initiatives and programs in notable ways:
1. Planning and transportation: The ARC has provided funding and technical assistance for several transportation and planning projects in Decatur, including the development of the city's comprehensive plan and the construction of the East Decatur Greenway trail.
2. Economic development: The ARC has provided resources and technical assistance to local businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as promoting the city as a destination for tourism and investment.
3. Aging and healthcare: The ARC's Aging and Health Resources Division has provided resources and support to older adults in Decatur, including health education, caregiver training, and assistance with accessing healthcare services.
4. Community engagement: The ARC has provided funding and support for community engagement initiatives in Decatur, including the city's Active Living Advisory Board, which promotes physical activity and healthy lifestyles among residents.
Three Key Slides from Mike’s presentation:
Growth Forecast for the 21 county region
A city-by-city comparison of several major trends
President Alan presented a book to be donated to the DeKalb Library System to Mike in his honor and thanked him for speaking
Janis Middleton, EVP
Spence Kramer
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