The Cobb Galleria Centre buzzed with activity on June 26 as about 125 mayors, city council members and county commissioners from across metro Atlanta gathered at ARC’s inaugural Regional Assembly of Public Officials.

During the day-long event, participants had the opportunity to learn about some of the biggest challenges facing the region and explore solutions.

The day’s program included a deep dive into regional data, a keynote conversation with former state Rep. Calvin Smyre, and breakout sessions on housing affordability, freight & logistics, and building resilience to extreme weather events.

Andre Dickens, ARC Board Chair and City of Atlanta Mayor, noted the event provided an opportunity for local officials to consider issues from a regional perspective.

“The reason is simple: None of us works in isolation. What happens in one part of our region affects others.” he said. “Think about it. Things like traffic, housing costs, and air quality don’t stop at the city or county line. They affect ALL of us. Our region must work together to tackle these complex challenges. Collaboration isn’t a ‘nice to have.’ It’s a ‘must have.’

ARC Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach Discusses ARC’s Key Regional Role

Following Chair Dickens, Anna Roach provided an overview of the Atlanta Regional Commission, focusing on the agency’s investments in local communities.

“ARC works every day to improve quality of life in the Atlanta region. This includes every jurisdiction represented here today,” she said.

Roach broke down ARC’s value to the region to demonstrate the agency’s impact:

• Allocated $5.2 billion in federal, state, and local transportation funds through 2028 to improve our transportation network.

• Invested $414 million in Livable Centers Initiative grants and transportation projects in the past 25 years to help local communities become more vibrant, walkable places.

• Provided about $150 million to the region’s senior services agencies to help older adults and people with disabilities remain in their homes and communities as their needs change.

• Reduced vehicle miles traveled by 4 million miles in the past year for residents who participate in the Georgia Commute Options program.

“At ARC, we like to say that great places don’t happen by accident,” she said. “It takes careful, deliberate planning, driven by feedback from the community, to develop a shared vision for the future. ARC is your partner along this journey.”

Data Dive Explains Where Our Region is Today, and Where We Are Headed

ARC Chief Operating Officer Mike Alexander provided a extensive look at key data points that shed light on metro Atlanta. He noted the Atlanta region is now the eighth largest metro area in the country, and that ARC forecasts the region will potentially add 1.8 million people by 2050.

Other key data points:

• The fastest growing age group between now and 2050 is forecast to be those age 75 and older.

• Housing permits in the region are about half the level they were in 2007, before the financial crisis.

• Top job sectors in the region include health care, government, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

• Metro Atlanta has become one of the nation’s top markets for data centers, as the AI boom continues.

• Traffic congestion along key highway corridors has returned to, and in some cases exceeded, pre-pandemic levels.

A Conversation with Former State Rep. Calvin Smyre

The event’s featured guest was former State Rep. Calvin Smyre, known as the “Dean of the House.” During a wide-ranging conversation with John Bayalis, ARC’s Intergovernmental Affairs Manager, Dean Smyre reflected on his 48 years in the Georgia General Assembly and offered insights into his longevity and how he was successfully navigated often tricky political waters.

Here are some highlights:

What motivates him as a public official:

“I’m just a community guy. Those of us in public office, we are not there for self-aggrandizement. We are there to lift others up. Our job is to improve quality of life for those we represent.”

How to bridge political divides

“I believe in effective communications. I believe in not sacrificing my principles, but at the same time being tolerant.”

“There’s a way to use power …. It should be used to empower and uplift people, not to punish. That’s been my mantra my entire political life.”

Advice to attendees

“You need to keep doing this. Keep coming together. Republicans and Democrats. City and County.”

Break-out Sessions Offer Insights on Regional Challenges

Three break-out sessions were offered in the afternoon. Attendees could explore solutions to the region’s housing affordability challenges, discuss how to better accommodate freight traffic in their communities, and participate in group exercises on building resilience to extreme weather events.

Reflections on the Day’s Program

Beverly Jones, Mayor of the City of Stone Mountain

“I thought it went very well. It was very well organized. And I think the panelists were exceptional. They had a wealth of information, but more importantly, we have means and ways to get back in contact with them.”

Anthony Ford, Mayor of Stockbridge

“I actually got some good information in reference to attainable, affordable, and accessible type of housing. The City of Stockbridge is growing quite a bit. We’ve approved a lot of different housing options in the last several years, so I just wanted to get a better idea of how we could market that to the community. I’m glad ARC decided to do this for the first time. I think it’s great. I look forward to participating more often.”

Mark Perkins, City Council Member, City of Clarkston

The Regional Assembly provided an opportunity to “network and have conversations to get a feel for how other municipalities and leaders are approaching problems. It sparks ideas I can then take back to my community and help us solve problems – or even if we’re not necessarily solving the problem immediately, having better conversations that lead us to a solution.”