Atlanta politics news: Startup fund, grant money, healthcare concerns
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There's never a quiet week in Atlanta politics, so every Wednesday Axios will aspire to highlight what you need to know about the local government in a new weekly series.
- Our colleague Emma Hurt had a similar series called "Trail Notes" during last year's primary campaign season. Please send us name suggestions for this new segment!
🖥️ Tech startup support: Applications are open for Atlanta's new $1 million loan program, which will give local technology startups direct loans of up to $150,000 to grow and scale.
- The loans are for equipment, furniture, fixtures, signage, inventory, and purchasing or renovating commercial space in the city.
- Recipients must be incorporated within the last five years with a city business license.
- Applicants must have a "scalable, high-impact solution" within technology.
- Startups must demonstrate growth potential in their sector (AI, SaaS, e-commerce, manufacturing sustainability, fintech, etc.)
- Applicants can operate from home, commercial space, incubator, accelerator, or a co-working space in the city.
☀️ EPA solar grant: The City Council is set to discuss plans to seek $250 million in federal funding.
- The funds come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All Grant program.
- Atlanta is a co-applicant with three Georgia local governments and a non-profit.
- What we're watching: How exactly do lawmakers envision spending this money, if the city receives it?
🏡 Property tax relief: The Council will also consider whether to seek $250,000 to provide property tax assistance to Atlanta homeowners.
- The grant would come from the Rocket Community Fund, a philanthropic arm of Rocket Companies, which is the Detroit-based parent company of the Rocket Mortgage company.
🏥 Atlanta Medical Center: City Councilman Amir Farokhi wants to end the redevelopment ban on the former AMC site, according to the AJC's Donovan J. Thomas.
- Farokhi says the 25-acre site is "ripe for mixed-use development, including affordable housing."
- Mayor Andre Dickens initiated the ban because he wants health care services at the site.
- If the council extends the ban, Wellstar Health System will have to wait until April before it can do anything new with the property.
What's next: No votes are expected this week on these issues. The Council will host committee meetings next week to decide if these items will go before the full council on Nov. 6.
