Uncle Sam is paying West Atlanta a visit today as part of a $30 million grant earmarked for the area earlier this year. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are in town to participate in in-depth discussions about the recently awarded Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant with lead partners, service providers and community members. According to the city, the money will go toward supporting development of housing and bolstering the communities in West Atlanta. In an area long starved for investment, the news comes at an important time.

Neighborhoods just west of downtown such as Vine City, Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center and other communities near the Mercedes-Benz Stadium have seen a boost in investment in the last year. Federal funding helps support other initiatives sponsored by the City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Housing Authority and private and public partners in the community.

Thus far, improvements in the neighborhood range from new housing and retail, new transit opportunities and the addition of new green space. In an email from the city, it was announced that the $30 million grant will leverage $395 million in other public and private sector funds to bolster the neighborhood.