Atlanta City Council Approves $6.4 Million in State Funds for Street Resurfacing

The Atlanta City Council moved on a slate of infrastructure, public safety, and facilities measures during its May 18 session, approving an ordinance that accepts approximately $6.4 million in state transportation funds earmarked for street resurfacing and re-stripping across the city.

State Funds to Address Street Conditions

The funds arrive through the Georgia Department of Transportation’s 2026 Local Maintenance Improvement Award program, a state mechanism that allocates infrastructure dollars to municipalities for road maintenance work. The ordinance, designated 26-O-1288, formally accepts and appropriates the award.

The Local Maintenance Improvement Award program is a recurring source of pavement funding for Georgia cities and counties. Atlanta has drawn from the program in prior years, including a $4.9 million resolution in 2024 and a $10.7 million acceptance earlier that year. The latest award of $6.4 million represents a continued pipeline of state dollars directed toward maintaining Atlanta’s road network.

Street resurfacing projects typically involve milling down worn pavement, laying new surface material, and re-stripping lane markings and intersection designations. According to the Atlanta Department of Transportation, resurfacing work may also include sub-base patching, curb installations or repairs, ADA ramp installations, and restriping for bicycle lanes. The work preserves road integrity, improves driver and pedestrian safety, and extends the lifespan of city streets.

The approval comes as Atlanta continues managing a large and aging road network in a city that has seen sustained population and traffic growth. The $6.4 million award supplements broader infrastructure investment the city has undertaken in recent years, including a $120 million bond package approved in October 2024 to fund 25 miles of downtown road resurfacing, intersection restriping, new street lighting, and sidewalk repairs in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Public Safety Funding Also Approved

Alongside the infrastructure measure, the council approved an ordinance accepting approximately $15,000 in Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant funds from the Governor’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. The funds are directed to the Atlanta Police Department to support public safety and crime reduction initiatives under ordinance 26-O-1285.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a federal initiative administered at the state level that funds targeted crime-reduction strategies in communities across the country. Though modest in dollar amount, the grant contributes to the Atlanta Police Department’s toolkit for community-based safety programming.

Demolition and Abatement Contract Extended

The council also voted on the eighth amendment to the city’s Citywide Demolition and Asbestos Abatement Services contract, ratifying services already rendered and extending the agreement through February 19, 2027. The extension carries an annual cost of approximately $4.9 million.

The contract covers demolition and asbestos abatement work citywide, services that touch a wide range of municipal projects including the removal of condemned structures, site clearance for development, and the handling of hazardous building materials in older properties across Atlanta’s neighborhoods. Extending the contract maintains continuity of service for ongoing and future city projects requiring demolition and abatement work through early 2027.

The council’s May 18 agenda also included a resolution requesting that a representative from the Airport Minority Advisory Council’s Atlanta chapter co-chair the Conference Planning Committee for the 42nd Annual AMAC Business Conference, set to be held at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in summer 2027.

The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the city and is composed of 12 district representatives and three at-large posts, currently under the leadership of Council President Marci Collier Overstreet. The body holds jurisdiction over the city’s operating and capital budgets, land-use and zoning decisions, and major economic development projects.

Atlanta’s Own Dr. Raé N. Lundy Crowned Ms. Georgia Corporate America 2026

ATLANTA, GA – Atlanta continues to produce influential leaders who are transforming lives across education, healthcare, and community empowerment, and now one of the city’s leading mental health advocates has earned one of Georgia’s most distinguished titles.

Dr. Raé N. Lundy has officially been crowned Ms. Georgia Corporate America 2026, representing Henry County and bringing a powerful platform centered around mental health awareness, resilience, healing, and empowerment.

A respected psychologist, speaker, wellness strategist, and nationally recognized advocate for culturally responsive care, Dr. Lundy has become one of Georgia’s leading voices in emotional wellbeing and mental health leadership.

Currently serving as the Chief Psychologist and Director of Counseling Services at Georgia State University, Dr. Lundy leads a comprehensive mental health system that supports students across multiple campuses through counseling, psychiatry, crisis response, prevention programming, and advocacy services.

Her leadership continues to have a major impact throughout the Atlanta community and beyond as conversations surrounding mental health, burnout, emotional wellness, and trauma recovery become increasingly important nationwide.

In addition to her work in higher education, Dr. Lundy is the Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of The Self-Care Doc, LLC, where she partners with organizations, corporations, universities, and nonprofits to provide trauma-informed wellness strategies and leadership development experiences.

Known for her dynamic presentations and authentic storytelling, Dr. Lundy has spoken across the country on topics including emotional intelligence, resilience, suicide prevention, trauma recovery, and mental health equity.

Photo Courtesy: Alex Alexander

Her leadership extends nationally through her service as a Mental Health Expert for The Steve Fund, Board Chair of StandUp SpeakOut, and member of the United Negro College Fund Mental Health Advisory Council.

What resonates most with audiences, however, is her authenticity. As a suicide survivor, Dr. Lundy openly shares her journey to inspire healing and remove stigma surrounding mental health conversations within communities of color and professional spaces.

Now, with the title of Ms. Georgia Corporate America 2026, she plans to expand that impact even further.

“This platform allows me to continue helping people understand that healing matters, wellness matters, and mental health is essential to thriving communities,” Dr. Lundy shared.

The Ms. Georgia Corporate America competition celebrated women from across the state who are making a difference in leadership, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and service.

Official Results – Ms. Georgia Corporate America 2026

Winner
Dr. Raé N. Lundy – Ms. Henry County

1st Runner-Up
Dr. Darlene Williams-Roberts – Ms. Crawford County

2nd Runner-Up
Sophia Gethers – Ms. Fayette County

3rd Runner-Up
Shaniece Marsh – Ms. Central Henry County

4th Runner-Up
Dr. Theresa Vance – Ms. Fulton County

Under the leadership of Dr. Jacqueline Mohair, President of Ms. Georgia Corporate America, the organization continues to empower women across Georgia through leadership development, mentorship, visibility, and transformational opportunities.

Dr. Lundy’s victory represents more than a crown, it represents a new era of leadership where healing, resilience, and emotional wellness are taking center stage throughout Georgia and beyond.