Clayton County accepts ARC grant application support, matching funds pledged for countywide housing study

Clayton County commissioners voted March 11 to approve Resolution 2025‑45, authorizing the county to apply for and accept Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) funds to conduct a countywide housing study.

County staff said the study is expected to cost about $200,000; Aerotropolis Incorporated and the Housing Authority of Clayton County committed matching funds for the project so the county itself will not incur a direct cost for the grant application. Director G.J. (presenting staff) said the study covers the whole county — all cities and unincorporated areas — and that the housing committee convened by the Housing Authority has begun meeting to guide the work.

Board members asked about the committee membership and timeline. Staff said the housing committee has been convened by the Housing Authority and includes county and city representatives; membership details were not made fully public in the discussion. Staff noted the ARC award decision is expected in late March or early April; the zoning rewrite RFP was released the week before the meeting and the county intends to use findings from the housing study, if awarded, to inform the zoning rewrite.

The board voted to approve the resolution and authorized the chairwoman to execute documents and accept the matching funds. Commissioners discussed the study's intended purpose: to develop housing strategy recommendations and to provide data that can be incorporated into a zoning rewrite and other housing policy efforts.

Ending: staff will notify the ARC of transmittal and return with additional details if the award is granted; the county emphasized the study is countywide and linked to ongoing zoning and planning updates.