Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a non-profit organization? Does ADA offer business grants? How do I qualify for a small business loan? What is a tax allocation district (TAD)? Do you have a brochure on everything that ADA does? How do I qualify and apply for mortgage assistance? How can people who do not have a computer get information about ADA and their programs?

No. ADA is a State of Georgia registered local government authority. There are over 800 such authorities in the state. We receive our powers mainly through 2 pieces of legislation; the Local Government Authorities Registration Act and the Georgia Redevelopment Powers Law. The 1992 Census of Governments notes that authorities are by far the most rapidly growing type of government. We are in essence, a public body corporate and politic of the State of Georgia and an instrumentality (an agent) of the City of Atlanta. ADA is able to receive charitable donations. To view a listing of authorities on the State of Georgia's website, click here >>

Yes.  Some are our own programs and some we adminster/facilitate on behalf of the State of Georgia or the City of Atlanta.  Here is a listing of our current business and homeownership grant programs (as of Summer 2008):

Business and Development Grants

• Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) grant - a job creation incentive program run by the State of Georgia to encourage business relocation into the State of Georgia.  
• Economic Opportunity Fund (EOF) - a closing fund for businesses relocating into the City of Atlanta who offer significant job creation
• Tax allocation districts (TADs) - incentive for developers to build in designated areas by reimbursing for infrastructure and other capital costs
• Westside TAD Neighborhood Fund - provides grants for capital costs for approved projects (demolition, land acquisition, renovation, construction) in the Vine City and English Avenue neighborhoods of the City of Atlanta
• Homeless Opportunity Fund - supports the creation of permanent supportive housing to end homelessness in Atlanta

Home Buyer Grants

• Eastside TAD Affordable Housing Program - grants for people purchasing a condo in select new construction buildings on the east side of downtown Atlanta to bring down the cost of a market rate unit to an affordable level
• HOME Atlanta Program - grants of 4% of sales price of a house, condo or townhouse to be used towards closing costs to encourage homeownership in the City of Atlanta, additional downpayment dollars may also be available up to 10% of sales price

For more information about any of these programs, call 404-880-4100.

ADA offers three types of business loan; BILF or Business Improvement Loan Fund, SBA loans and Phoenix Fund.  To learn more, visit the Entrepreneurs & Small Business section of this website.  Applications are also available for download.

We also offer monthly informational seminars that explain our loan programs and how they work.  These meetings occur the last Wednesday of every month.  To RSVP for one of these seminars, call Cathy Brackett at 404-614-8295.

A tax allocation district (sometimes called TIF) is a financing incentive tool in which bonds are issued to pay for infrastructure and other improvements in a designated area, and those bonds are repaid by increases in property values (and corresponding property "tax increments") from that area.  A tax allocation district is not an increase in property taxes, but a way to stimulate reinvestment in an area by financing needed infrastructure or improvements from future tax proceeds from a designated area. 

The City of Atlanta currently has 10 tax allocation districts including:  Westside (Downtown), Eastside (Downtown), Princeton Lakes, Perry-Bolton, Atlantic Station, BeltLine, ML King/Hollowell, Stadium Neighborhoods, Campbellton Road and Metropolitan Parkway.

Under the Georgia Redevelopment Powers Act, the City of Atlanta was given the power to create tax allocation districts after winning a voter referredum held on August 12, 1986.  This incentive tool has created 1,200 units of affordable housing to date (12/31/06) and is expected to produce an additional 1,600 by 2009.

If you are interested in the kinds of activities we do at ADA, the best single document to review would be our "2007 Annual Reports" which can be viewed in the "About ADA" section of this website.

Mortgage assistance is provided for first time homebuyers who meet certain income criteria and are purchasing a home within the City limits. The amount of assistance is up to 10% of the purchase price not to exceed $15,000.  For more information, contact our mortgage officer at 404-614-8296.

Bridging the digital divide is one of the goals of one of our sister agencies, the Atlanta Workforce Development.  They have ten Cyber Centers conveniently located throughout the City of Atlanta where you can take free classes on how to use a computer, email basics as well as intermediate and advanced computer training.  Computers for use by the public are located at the main library on Mitchell Street.

To find a class near you, call Cyber Center at 404-880-7220 or visit their headquarters at 818 Pollard Blvd.  Their web address is www.atlantaworkforce.org.