DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, Commissioner Larry Johnson attend White House Communities in Action

WASHINGTON, D.C. — DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and Commissioner Larry Johnson (NACo Past President) are participating in the White House’s Communities in Action: Building a Better Georgia event this week.

The Biden-Harris Administration created the Communities in Action series to highlight the impact of various community programs for elected officials and community leaders across the country to share real-life experiences.

DeKalb County has received approximately $364 million in CARES, ERA and ARP funding from the Biden-Harris administration.

These federal funds have enabled DeKalb County to be a state and national leader in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by:

• Allocated $14 million in American Rescue Plan funding to implement a Public Safety and Crime Prevention and Intervention Strategy, which included bonuses and front line pay for police, fire and other essential workers.
• $1 million in grants for the DeKalb Youth Safety and Violence Prevention Grant initiative, through which the county will partner with local nonprofits that provide youth violence interruption and intervention strategies.
• Mitigating food insecurity by distributing 99,700 boxes of fresh fruits, vegetables and protein produced by Georgia farmers to struggling families. Approximate cost: $5 million.
• Administering approximately 15,000 COVID-19 vaccinations through the “Get Vaxxed!” incentive program. Each person receiving a vaccination received a $100 prepaid debit card.
• Achieving nearly 67 percent of DeKalb County Government employees being fully vaccinated, exceeding county, state and national rates. The county provided information and $300 incentives to DeKalb County Government employees who provided documentation that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Distributing more than 36,000 COVID-19 home tests to residents and employees.
• Distributing $54.3 million in rental assistance to 5,000 tenants and landlords, to date.
• Demolishing and abating nearly 600 homes and apartments to fight blight.
• Creating 3,000 virtual summer jobs for young job seekers.
• Launched a $15 million DeKalb Better Business Program, a partnership with local area banks to provide loans to small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Invested approximately $12 million in the Superior, Magistrate and State courts to reduce caseload reduction strategy
• Provided approximately $15 million to the DeKalb Board of Health for mobile health vans, vaccinations and to increase personnel.
• Allocated $2 million to the Community Service Board for mental health programs.
• $11 million in federal funds to purchase equipment and increase emergency room capacity at two major local hospitals.
• Allocated $5 million to assist with payment of overdue residential water bills.

CEO Thurmond and Commissioner Johnson also will have the opportunity to engage with Biden–Harris Administration officials about the benefits of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act for working families in the State of Georgia.

•     Julie Chávez Rodriguez, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
•      Keisha Lance Bottoms, Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement
•      Eugene (Gene) Sperling, Senior Advisor to the President and American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Coordinator
•      Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to the President and Infrastructure Coordinator
•      Aaron “Ronnie” Chatterji, U.S. Department of Commerce Chief Economist
•     Susan Rice, Director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council