Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) are created under the authority of the Constitution of Georgia to help create accessible, safe and welcoming places that result in greater value for businesses, property owners and local governments. A CID brings together stakeholders, businesses and communities to act as a collective catalyst for economic progress, creating brighter prospects for the Districts represented.
For over 30 years, CIDs have utilized self-imposed tax revenues from commercial businesses to dramatically change local communities. Since 1988, CIDs have helped to produce more than $5 billion of investments in infrastructure, green space, public safety, traffic mitigation projects, wayfinding and landscape improvements, among other projects. (1) (2)
CIDs allow private commercial property owners to self-invest in projects that are most important to the local community, reflecting the values of the surrounding area and creating optimal experiences for property owners and local stakeholders. CIDs also provide mechanisms to receive grants and matching funding from state and federal agencies to support development initiatives. With greater flexibility than local government working alone, CIDs cooperate with other entities to encourage and deliver on initiatives including sustained economic growth, roadway safety, and beautification of right-of-way areas, all while raising the collective value of the communities.
Stakeholders often form CIDs to attract outside funding for critical public investments including transportation and mobility infrastructure, as well as to encourage the revitalization of local communities. Commercial property owners are not mandated to form CIDs; they choose to do so because they see the value in becoming partners in growth, development, and innovation. A recent study found that on average, for every dollar spent by CIDs, five more dollars are leveraged in outside funding. (1)
While CIDs have traditionally focused on public safety, mobility and beautification, future initiatives include helping to implement traffic technology, extend security capabilities, and otherwise help local municipalities introduce Smart City concepts across the greater Atlanta area. CIDs offer valuable opportunities for public-private partnerships to pursue the innovations necessary to meet tomorrow’s infrastructure needs.
Rainey & Vaughan, LLC represents 20 CIDs in Barrow, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall and Newton Counties, and Lynn Rainey is an expert in the creation, formation, and representation of CIDs.
Citations:
(1) Rivers, Malaika, Lam, Debra, Rao, Arthi, Muller, Rachel. “Ready for the Smart(er) City: How Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) are Building the Future”, Georgia Institute of Technology & Lexicon Strategies, February 2021. www.cidreport.com/read-the-full-report.
(2) Community Improvement Districts. Council for Quality Growth, 15 Dec. 2020, www.councilforqualitygrowth.org/advocacy/community-improvement-districts.
Rainey & Vaughan, LLC represents the following CIDs - which are linked below.
- ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts - Airport West
- Buckhead CID
- Chamblee Doraville CID
- Cumberland CID
- Evermore CID
- Fulton Industrial CID
- Gwinnett Place CID
- Gateway85 Gwinnett CID
- Gateway Marietta CID
- Highway 278 CID
- Lilburn CID
- Midtown CID
- True North 400
- South Forsyth County CID
- South Fulton CID
- Town of Braselton CID
- Town Center CID
- Tucker Summit CID
- Sugarloaf CID
- West End CID
More on CIDs
- For more information on CIDs, read Lynn Rainey’s summary on the constitutional basis, purposes, creation, administration and functions of CIDs here.
- Read “Ready for the Smart(er) City: How Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) are Building the Future, ” a collaboration of Georgia Tech’s Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation, Georgia Tech’s Center for Quality Growth & Regional Development and Lexicon Strategies. (Malaika Rivers, Debra Lam, et. al) – February 2021 here.
- Read the Council For Quality Growth’s information on CIDs here.
