Opportunity Zones is a strategy that focuses on neighborhoods that can dramatically benefit if local services are coordinated, local leadership is mobilized and the assets in the community work together toward shared goals. There are hundreds of organizations doing great work and helping people every day, but it’s not rolling up to the big fix. The mounting challenges that families face have made it increasingly clear that our approach has to be holistic, community-based and directed toward a common vision.

Across metro Atlanta too many low-income families work hard but continue to walk a financial tightrope and where people live dictates the opportunities they have. United Way volunteers and partners have developed a place-based strategy to open the doors of opportunity. In Opportunity Zones, United Way is partnering with families, agencies, and community leaders to take long-term action.

United Way volunteers invited four metro communities to become Opportunity Zones:

• College Park in Fulton County
• Norcross in Gwinnett County
• Scottdale/Clarkston in DeKalb County
• Six Flags Drive in Cobb County

Each community has strong leaders and has brought together a Council on Opportunity Zones to lead the effort in partnership with several local nonprofits, and to identify needs and assets of the community.

 As part of a three-year commitment, United Way volunteers have awarded grants to support the next year of changing the lives of local families. College Park and Scottdale/Clarkston have been awarded $100,000 grants, Norcross has been awarded $50,000 and Six Flags Drive has been awarded $35,000. Each of the grants includes training and capacity building for neighborhood leaders.

The grants signal the end of a long and thoughtful application process, during which each neighborhood convened residents and identified assets and areas that need support. United Way volunteers also completed a site visit of each neighborhood to better understand the particular needs and opportunities within the community.

What do these communities look like? Click here to watch a video tour of the Norcross/Meadowcreek area on YouTube.

Check back for updates as the Opportunity Zones start to change the future for local families. Email us if you have questions or want to get involved with one of the four Opportunty Zones.