Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that P. Nigel Roberts has been named Commissioner of the Department of Grants and Community Development. After months of planning and preparation, the City took a significant step towards restructuring the management of federal grants – centralizing management under one new department, the Department of Grants and Community Development.
 
“As we continue to develop One Atlanta, we want to strengthen our efforts towards those that help us build our communities,” said Mayor Bottoms. “This step is part of a broader plan to address long-standing, systemic issues and to enable the City to better serve its residents and non-profit partners.  Nigel’s extensive and diverse experience will assist us in doing that. I am pleased to welcome him to the City.”
 
To lead this new department a nation-wide search was conducted. Many strong candidates were considered before the City ultimately selected P. Nigel Roberts. Nigel brings over twenty-seven years of hands-on, practical, and specialized experience working in city, county, state, not-for-profit and private sectors successfully administering U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Entitlement Funds.
 
Serving on the Executive teams under five Mayors nationwide, Roberts has developed comprehensive action plans, while implementing housing and community development programs. His specialization in grants and program management has made Roberts an expert in providing technical assistance and guidance on grant applications and approaches.
 
Most recently, he served as Deputy Director of the Jefferson County Commission, Community and Workforce Development Department. In this role, he was responsible for the administration and oversight of federal, state, and locally funded community, economic and workforce development activities. As the Deputy Director of Community Development for the City of Birmingham, Roberts provided management and oversight for the City of Birmingham’s housing and community development programs.
 
“I am truly a proud native of Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in the Dixie Hills neighborhood,” said Roberts. “I am eager to return home to work to revitalize the communities I hold dear to heart. Thank you to Mayor Bottoms and the City of Atlanta for this honor.”
 
In this role, Nigel will provide strategic leadership to the department focused on the management of grants programs and compliance. The department works closely with our communities and delivery partners to plan, deliver, monitor, and evaluate grant funding that supports affordable housing, people living with HIV/AIDS, homelessness, public infrastructure, blight remediation, workforce development, and other critical services.
 
Roberts’ appointment is effective February 17th.