Atlanta Regional Commission

What Atlanta Regional Commission does

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the 11-county Atlanta region and the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the 19-county Atlanta MPO area. Established in 1947 under Georgia state law and headquartered at 229 Peachtree St NE in downtown Atlanta, ARC holds six federal and state designations — Metropolitan Planning Organization, Area Agency on Aging, Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board, Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative, Economic Development District, and Transportation Demand Management coordination — that no other Atlanta-region entity combines. The agency is governed by a 41-member board comprising all 11 county commission chairs, the Atlanta mayor, additional mayors, citizen district members, and an Atlanta City Council representative.

ARC delivers a portfolio of interconnected programs across transportation planning, aging services, community development, workforce development, mobility services, homeland security, natural resources, research, and leadership development. Its core planning outputs include the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (programming $168 billion in federal, state, and local transportation funding through 2050) and the FY 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program ($5.2 billion). The agency operates the Empowerline aging services portal, WorkSource Atlanta Regional workforce centers, Georgia Commute Options, the Atlanta E-Bike Rebate Program, the Atlanta UASI homeland security program, Green Communities certification, and the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) and Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) grant programs. Underlying these are research outputs including the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey, the 33°N data blog, the ARC Open Data Hub, the 21-County Data Dashboard, and population/employment forecasts that feed regional planning. Technology is delivered via ArcGIS Online, Tableau, Streamlit dashboards, and an in-house Research & Innovation team that maintains the region's Activity-Based Model and Household Travel Survey data.

ARC does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded primarily through federal pass-through grants (FHWA/FTA, WIOA via Technical College System of Georgia, DHS UASI, EDA), state appropriations (notably GDOT for Georgia Commute Options), member-county and City of Atlanta contributions, corporate sponsorships (Georgia Power, Delta, Atlanta Gas Light, AT&T, Verizon, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Google), and restricted foundation grants. Its go-to-market is community- and stakeholder-led, anchored by the State of the Region event (up to 1,500 attendees), standing advisory committees, Model Users Group, and Geospatial Community convenings, plus a public Open Data and mapping hub. The agency's customers are member governments, residents (older adults, job seekers, employers), and federal/state funders rather than commercial buyers.

Name

Atlanta Regional Commission

Legal name

Atlanta Regional Commission

Website

https://atlantaregional.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Atlanta Regional Commission is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the 11-county Atlanta region and the federally designated MPO for the 19-county area, delivering transportation, aging, workforce, community development, homeland security, and natural resource programs across metro Atlanta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Planning and Intergovernmental Coordination Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

Keywords

• Regional planning services
• Transportation planning
• Community development programs
• Workforce development
• Aging services

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Government Grants: ARC is funded through federal grants (e.g., Federal Highway Administration/FTA transportation planning funds, USDOL Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds administered via Technical College System of Georgia, DHS Urban Area Security Initiative funding), state appropriations (e.g., Georgia DOT funding for Georgia Commute Options), and the federal Economic Development Administration for CEDS. Federal grants have been a critical and volatile source — recent federal rescissions affected the $65M Atlanta Beltline West End Trail and broader bike/ped funding.
2. Local Government and Member Contributions: Funding and in-kind support from the 11 member counties (Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale) and the City of Atlanta, who also contribute leadership via 41 board members.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Annual Partners: Revenue from corporate sponsors for signature events (State of the Region) including venue, presenting, premier, champion, connecting, and supporting tiers, and from Strategic Annual Partners (Visionary: Georgia Power; Innovator: Delta, Atlanta Gas Light). Sponsorship tiers support ARC leadership programs, research and events.
4. Targeted Foundation and Corporate Grants: Restricted grants from corporations and foundations to fund specific initiatives (e.g., $200,000 from Google for the Pathways to the Digital Economy (PADE) program in partnership with Technical College System of Georgia Foundation).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Atlanta Regional Commission is a state-established regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that delivers long-range transportation planning (Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program), community development grant programs (Livable Centers Initiative, CDAP, Green Communities), workforce development (WorkSource Atlanta Regional, AtlWorks.org), aging and disability services (Empowerline, Live Beyond Expectations), economic development strategy (CEDS), homeland security coordination (Atlanta UASI), and natural resources/water planning for the 11-county Atlanta region and 19-county MPO planning area. It funds these activities through federal, state, and local appropriations; administers competitive grants; convenes member governments through a 41-member board; and publishes regional data products including the Metro Atlanta Speaks survey, the 33°N blog, and the Open Data Hub.

Product overview

ARC delivers its services as a portfolio of interconnected regional planning, community development, and public-service programs rather than a single commercial product. The core operational platform centers on Transportation Planning (the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization producing the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program), supported by Aging & Independence Services anchored by Empowerline and the Live Beyond Expectations framework; Community Development grants and planning assistance including the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI), Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), and the Regional Development Plan (RDP); Workforce Solutions delivered through WorkSource Atlanta Regional, AtlWorks.org, and the new Building Georgia program; Mobility Services through Georgia Commute Options and the Atlanta E-Bike Rebate Program; Homeland Security via the Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI); Natural Resources programs such as Green Communities and the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual; and Leadership Development programs including RLI, LINK, and MARC. Underpinning these are Research & Innovation offerings — Metro Atlanta Speaks, the 33°N blog, the ARC Open Data Hub, the 21-County Data Dashboard, and Population and Employment Forecasts — which provide the data foundation for the agency's planning outputs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 33°N: ARC's data blog that shares research about the metro Atlanta region.
• Empowerline
• ConnectATL
• Georgia Commute Options
• WorkSource Atlanta Regional
• Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)
• Metro Atlanta Speaks
• Livable Centers Initiative (LCI)
• Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP)

Products and services

• Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) Long-range blueprint detailing transportation investments through 2050 to ensure metro Atlanta's future success; approved by ARC Board in February 2024 and programs $168 billion in federal, state, and local transportation funding, including 63% for Maintenance & Modernization and 21% for Major System Expansion (roads, transit, bike-ped).
• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Short-range program that allocates federal funds (currently $5.2 billion through 2028) for construction of the highest-priority projects in the MTP; projects must be fully funded.
• WorkSource Atlanta Regional Workforce development program serving Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties, providing career resource centers, mobile career labs, business services, and NextGen youth services under WIOA.
• AtlWorks.org Website providing an overview of services available to help job seekers find employment, including career training and employment assistance for those who meet eligibility requirements.
• Building Georgia Workforce Program Program aimed at closing workforce gaps in infrastructure construction in Georgia, run in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Technical College System of Georgia; first cohort began May 7, 2026.
• Pathways to the Digital Economy (PADE) Initiative launched with a $200,000 contribution from Google and in partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation to expand youth digital skills and career pathways.
• Empowerline Provides services and information for aging, disability, and caregiver needs in metro Atlanta via the Empowerline.org website and a phone line (404-463-3333); operated by ARC's Aging and Independence Services Department.
• Live Beyond Expectations Strategic Plan Regional strategic framework covering 2020-2025 designed to identify and address inequities that create disparities in life expectancy in metro Atlanta.
• Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Provides local jurisdictions with grants to re-envision their communities as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options and encourage healthy lifestyles; $1.42 million awarded to six communities in May 2026.
• Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP) Offers planning and technical support to metro Atlanta communities that want to improve their quality of life.
• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Action-oriented regional economic development plan updated every five years (current plan covering 2023-2027) and required by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which also enables ARC's Economic Development District status for the 11-county region.
• Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Federal Department of Homeland Security program managed by ARC that provides enhanced preparedness funding, training and exercises for first responders, equipping, regional planning projects, interoperability communications, and community preparedness across six jurisdictional members.
• Georgia Commute Options (GCO) Program managed by ARC and funded by the Georgia DOT that works with employers, commuters, and schools to reduce single-occupant vehicle trips in metro Atlanta, particularly during peak times.
• Atlanta E-Bike Rebate Program Equity-focused e-bike rebate program run in partnership between Atlanta Regional Commission, the City of Atlanta, and PropelATL to make sustainable commuting affordable.
• Regional Development Plan (RDP) Strategic policy guide for local governments in the Atlanta region focusing on land use, quality of life, infrastructure, and economic development, updated every five years; current version is the 2026 RDP Update: Growing Together for 2050.
• ARC Open Data Hub Data accessibility and exploration site showcasing web maps, story maps, dashboards and tools across ArcGIS Online and other platforms, driven by live data feeds from ARC and local governments.
• Metro Atlanta Speaks Largest annual public opinion survey of its kind in the Atlanta region (begun in 2013) covering 13 counties, statistically significant to the county level and for the City of Atlanta; provides insights into residents' views on transportation, economy, education, aging and neighborhood quality of life.
• ARC 21-County Data Dashboard Interactive Tableau dashboards providing information about population, the economy, and demographics for the 21-county region and individual counties.
• Population and Employment Forecasts Forecasts for the 21-county region that inform the development of the region's long-range transportation plan.
• Green Communities Voluntary sustainability certification program that helps local governments reduce their environmental impact through actionable measures.
• Georgia Stormwater Management Manual Document known as the 'Blue Book' that provides an up-to-date tool for managing stormwater, including state-of-the-industry practices and information specific to Georgia.
• Regional Leadership Institute (RLI) Comprehensive leadership development program designed to better prepare a diverse group of community, government, business, and nonprofit leaders to work collaboratively in addressing regional issues.
• LINK (Leadership Involvement Networking Knowledge) Takes the region's most influential leaders to another metropolitan area in North America to learn about new ideas and approaches for dealing with the issues and challenges facing metro Atlanta.
• Model Atlanta Regional Commission (MARC) Award-winning program that brings together high school students from the 10-county Atlanta region to learn about regional issues and challenges.
• Community-Centered Design Program Convenes artists, culture bearers, and planning and design professionals to develop arts and culture-focused community design projects with community organizations.
• Community Engagement Fellowship Program that pairs artists with housing planners to explore long-term affordability issues and develop creative tools for community understanding; renewed for 2026 after 2025 inaugural year.
• Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) ARC reviews large-scale developments and other projects to identify and assess potential impacts before conflicts arise.
• Metro Atlanta Housing Strategy Enables local governments to explore solutions to their housing affordability challenges through actionable strategies; complements the Housing Strategy for the Atlanta Region initiative.
• PlanIT Database Database supporting transportation project exploration for the Atlanta region, alongside the interactive ArcGIS experience for the MTP.
• Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan Regional transportation plan adopted by the ARC Board to improve mobility options for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and other underserved populations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2050 MTP programs $168 billion in federal, state, and local transportation funding through 2050, including 63% for Maintenance & Modernization and 21% for Major System Expansion (roads, transit, bike-ped).
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Georgia PowerflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia Power is ARC's Visionary Annual Strategic Partner, the top sponsorship tier. ARC Annual Partners are committed to fostering collaborative regional approaches that improve quality of life in metro Atlanta, and their support elevates ARC leadership programs, research and events throughout the year.
• Delta (Delta Air Lines)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDelta is an Innovator-tier ARC Annual Strategic Partner. Delta CEO Ed Bastian participated in a keynote conversation at the 2025 State of the Region event with ARC Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach and ARC Chairman Mayor Andre Dickens, discussing collaboration, innovation, and workforce development.
• Atlanta Gas LightflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAtlanta Gas Light is an Innovator-tier ARC Annual Strategic Partner, supporting ARC leadership programs, research, and events throughout the year.
• Georgia World Congress CenterflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia World Congress Center is the venue sponsor for the 2025 and 2026 State of the Region events, hosting up to 1,500 attendees at the November 4, 2026 event.
• AT&TflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAT&T is a Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• VerizonflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerVerizon is a Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• The Coca-Cola CompanyflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Coca-Cola Company is a Premier Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event. Harry West Visionary Leadership Award recipient Kathy N. Waller is former EVP and CFO of The Coca-Cola Company.
• MicrosoftflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrosoft is a Premier Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoogle provided a $200,000 contribution to launch the Pathways to the Digital Economy (PADE) program in partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation, expanding youth digital skills and career pathways.
• Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCSG administers WIOA funds across Georgia and oversees 19 WorkSource programs including WorkSource Atlanta Regional. ARC, TCSG, and Georgia DOT partnered to launch the Building Georgia workforce program with the first cohort beginning May 7, 2026.
• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGDOT funds ARC's Georgia Commute Options program and serves on the Transportation & Air Quality Committee. ARC, GDOT, and TCSG partnered on the Building Georgia workforce program for transportation workforce training.
• City of BrookhavencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Brookhaven is a Premier Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event. Brookhaven Mayor John Park delivered a 'What's Next ATL' talk on Brookhaven's infrastructure investments including the Peachtree Creek Greenway, mixed-use developments, and affordable housing partnerships with the DeKalb Housing Authority.
• City of South FultoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of South Fulton is a Premier Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerARC manages the Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) as part of the federal DHS program, providing enhanced federal preparedness funding to high-threat, high-density urban areas. The UASI Senior Policy Group comprises chief elected officials of the City of Atlanta and Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties.
• U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDA designation makes ARC the Economic Development District (EDD) for the 11-county Metro Region. The CEDS, updated every five years and required by EDA, enables communities and organizations to receive EDA grants and technical assistance. Update in progress June 2026 – November 2027: 'Pathways to Opportunity'.
• DeKalb County, GAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARC awarded a $200,000 grant to DeKalb County for an area plan update. ARC is also renewing its 2026 Community Engagement Fellowship to expand affordable housing efforts to all of DeKalb County, following a 2025 inaugural year that paired Atlanta-based artist Mark Kendall with housing planners.
• Technical College System of Georgia FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARC partnered with the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation to receive the $200,000 Google contribution launching the Pathways to the Digital Economy (PADE) program.
• Aerotropolis AtlantacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerotropolis Atlanta is a Supporting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event. Aerotropolis Atlanta partnered with Clayton County, Cities of Jonesboro and Lovejoy, and ARC on the Tara Boulevard LCI Study that won the 2025 Regional Excellence Award for Visionary Planning.
• Atlanta BeltlineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAtlanta Beltline is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event. The Atlanta Beltline West End Trail lost a $65 million federal grant that was rescinded last year, per Governing reporting.
• Chick-fil-AminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChick-fil-A is a Champion Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• Wells FargominorGTM or Marketing PartnerWells Fargo is a Supporting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• Kaiser PermanenteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKaiser Permanente is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• Cox EnterprisesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCox Enterprises is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• United Way of Greater AtlantaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way of Greater Atlanta is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event. UnitedHealthcare donated $1 million to Georgia nonprofits as part of $11 million Empowering Health grants to address social determinants of health.
• DeloitteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDeloitte is a Supporting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• Metro Atlanta ChambercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMetro Atlanta Chamber is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event and serves as a regional economic partner.
• Invest AtlantaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInvest Atlanta is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMARTA's Board Chair or designee sits on ARC's Transportation & Air Quality Committee. MARTA collaborates on transit planning including the Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan adopted by the ARC Board to improve mobility for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and others.
• Annie E. Casey FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Annie E. Casey Foundation is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• Kennesaw State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKennesaw State University is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event, supporting ARC's regional research and education agenda.
• Atlanta Community Food BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAtlanta Community Foodbank is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event and a partner on regional food security initiatives.
• WellstarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWellstar is a Connecting Sponsor of the 2025 State of the Region event.
• Mark Kendall (Atlanta-based artist)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta-based artist Mark Kendall was paired with housing planners in 2025 under ARC's Community Engagement Fellowship to explore long-term affordability issues through community land trusts and creative outreach. Fellowship renewed for 2026.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG): Voluntary association of governments serving the 16-county Dallas-Fort Worth region with transportation, aging, workforce, and emergency preparedness programs — a strong functional parallel to ARC's portfolio breadth.
• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP): Federally designated MPO and regional planning body for the seven-county Chicago region, combining transportation planning, economic development, and water/natural resources under one umbrella — directly comparable in scope and statutory function to ARC.
• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG): Federally designated MPO for six counties and 191 cities in Southern California, producing long-range RTP/SCS plans and administering major federal funding programs — analogous to ARC's MTP/TIP pipeline in scale and function.
• Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC): Regional planning body and MPO for the four-county Seattle region, producing long-range transportation plans with extensive public engagement and data products — directly comparable to ARC's MTP and Metro Atlanta Speaks survey work.
• San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG): Regional agency combining MPO, transit planning, housing, and economic development for San Diego County — a multi-designation regional body comparable to ARC's six-designation portfolio.
• New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC): Federally designated MPO for the ten-county New York City region, programming long-range transportation funds through 2050 — directly comparable to ARC's MTP/TIP pipeline and federal-pass-through role.
• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG): Regional planning body and MPO for the Denver metro region, combining transportation, aging, workforce, and community development programs — closely mirrors ARC's multi-designation structure.
• Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC): Regional council serving 13 counties around Houston with MPO, community development, aging, and emergency management functions — directly comparable to ARC's six-designation structure.
• Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG): Regional association of 24 local governments and the District of Columbia coordinating transportation, housing, emergency preparedness, and data products — comparable to ARC in scope and convening function.
• Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG): Regional planning body and MPO for the seven-county Southeast Michigan region, combining transportation, aging, workforce, and community development — directly analogous to ARC's multi-designation model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AtlantaRegional
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgTIkDXULvnfnT9nC3BsWeQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/atlantaregionalcommission
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlanta-regional-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/planatlanta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atlanta Regional Commission