Equitable Growth & Inclusion Strategic Plan
City of East Point
About the Plan
In February 2019, the City of East Point Mayor and City Council adopted an East Point Equity Resolution. This resolution demonstrated a commitment to advancing community health and equitable development by embedding social justice and social equity throughout the City’s programs, policies, and practices. They understood that growth must be designed to intentionally promote inclusion rather than exacerbate and perpetuate patterns of exclusion and inequity that disproportionately impact lower-income communities of color. Subsequently, the City of East Point contracted with the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) to engage in a 14-month, stakeholder-driven process to develop an Equitable Growth and Inclusion Strategic Plan (EGISP). In early 2020, this process commenced.
Why is the Plan important?
Growth affects everyone. During the planning process, PSE heard many repeated sentiments from stakeholders, many of which are listed below. The EGISP may be important to you if any of the following statements resonates with you:
Planning through a Global Pandemic
Although engagement and research were constrained by unprecedented public health mandates and shelter-in-place requirements, thoughtful considerations were made to accommodate City of East Point staff and stakeholders who participated in socially distanced outdoor events, virtual town halls, the East Point Leaders for Equity Academy, surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
Four Goal Areas:
Engaged Community | Just Industry | Inclusive Housing | Equitable Economic Development
Equitable growth policies and practices are important to ensure the staying power of legacy residents while welcoming to new residents—of all income levels—as growth brings new investments and attention to East Point’s quality of life. Growth is good – balanced growth is essential.
What is an Equitable Growth & Inclusion Strategic Plan (EGISP)?
It is a roadmap - a set of recommended changes in policy and practices that will remove barriers and create opportunities for all of East Point to be included in the growth of the community, especially as the Atlanta metro region grows.
Focused on helping the City:
Ensure stakeholders of all income levels have access to permanent affordable housing as development pressure increases
Ensure that tax dollars are spent, and services are delivered in ways that create opportunities for East Point residents and entrepreneurs
Grow economic assets for greater inclusion for all stakeholders
Carry out policies and investments that improve the health of stakeholders of all income levels, particularly in those communities most burdened historically with environmental hazards, economic disinvestments and limited health services.
Who is the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE)?
Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) advances policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all in the growth of metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. It does this by focusing on the following priority areas:
PSE has expertise in racial equity, land use planning, policy analysis, economic development, community organizing and engagement, environmental sustainability, green infrastructure, affordable housing, energy systems, community health, and more. The team also understands deeply that East Point stakeholders are the best experts on East Point equity issues.