Fourteen communities in Georgia have received the PlanFirst designation from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for the 2026-2028 program cycle. The selected communities are Brookhaven, Brunswick, Bryan County, Cedartown, Cochran, Covington, Douglas, Dublin, Gainesville, Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville, Oconee County, Sugar Hill, and Woodstock.
The PlanFirst program recognizes local governments for their efforts in community engagement and implementing Local Comprehensive Plans. Of the newly designated communities, Douglas, Dublin, Gainesville, and Gwinnett County have achieved this status four times.
To qualify for PlanFirst status, a community must hold Qualified Local Government status; have an approved Service Delivery Strategy; submit all required reports to DCA such as Government Management Indicators and the Report of Local Government Finances; and meet regional Minimum Performance Standards set by their regional commission.
Applicants are evaluated on four main criteria: goals, leadership, community engagement, and implementation. The designation lasts three years starting January 1, 2026.
PlanFirst communities receive several incentives including bonus points on Housing Tax Credit applications and eligibility for reduced interest loans. They can also apply annually for Community Development Block Grants and receive bonus points on other DCA programs such as the Redevelopment Fund and Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP), Employment Incentive Program or Downtown Revolving Loan Fund.
“These communities join an esteemed group of local governments recognized for their outstanding efforts in community engagement and the successful implementation of their Local Comprehensive Plans,” according to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
