Georgia Municipal Association

What Georgia Municipal Association does

Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), legally Georgia Municipal Association, Inc., is a nonprofit membership association founded in 1933 and headquartered at 201 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia. It serves as the primary statewide representative body for all 536 incorporated cities in Georgia, providing advocacy before the state legislature, professional training, risk management and employee benefits programs, purchasing and financing services, legal advocacy, and consulting. GMA's service portfolio is structured as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a single product, with notable offerings including the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency (GIRMA, 370+ members for property/liability insurance), the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS, 290+ entities for retirement coverage), the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute (operated with UGA's Carl Vinson Institute of Government), and the Momentum financial wellness program (powered by Truist Bank).

GMA operates ten wholly-owned affiliated entities spanning research (Georgia City Solutions), charitable work (Georgia Cities Foundation), professional associations for clerks, fire chiefs, and city-county managers, county-level municipal associations (DeKalb, Gwinnett), leadership development (GeorgiaForward), and a natural gas purchasing program. Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues from 536 cities, supplemented by pooled insurance and benefits premiums, Business Alliance Program corporate sponsorships across three tiers, event registration fees (notably the Annual Convention drawing city officials statewide), and program fees. GMA employs 51–100 staff and distributes services through its member portal, in-person events, and direct member consultant engagement.

The organization holds structural advantages as the dominant municipal association in Georgia: it captures approximately 45% of the state's population through member cities, which collectively contribute 70% of state jobs and face an estimated $33 billion in capital project needs over 2025–2029. GMA's technology footprint is light — a member website, mobile apps, payment processing integrations, and SSO-enabled federal compliance portals — with no disclosed AI capabilities, APIs, or proprietary software products. Leadership includes CEO Larry Hanson and President Bianca Motley Broom.

Name

Georgia Municipal Association

Legal name

Georgia Municipal Association, Inc.

Website

https://gacities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Association Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), City Clerk/Records, Elections & Civic Engagement (BPAIACAB), Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local) (BPAIACAD)

Keywords

• Municipal association services
• Local government advocacy
• Municipal risk management
• Employee benefits programs
• Municipal training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: GMA operates as a membership organization serving Georgia's municipal governments. Revenue is generated through membership fees from the 536 cities, supplemented by program fees, event registrations, and sponsorship revenue from the Business Alliance Program.
2. Business Alliance Program Sponsorships: The Business Alliance Program offers three sponsorship levels for companies to engage with mayors, councilmembers, city managers, and other decision-makers in Georgia's cities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Georgia Municipal Association is a membership-based association serving Georgia municipal governments. It provides advocacy, training and education, risk management, employee benefits, purchasing and financing, revenue, operations, consultation, and legal advocacy services for member cities.

Product overview

Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) operates as an association providing a comprehensive suite of services to Georgia's 536 cities, structured as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include risk management and employee benefits programs (workers' compensation, property/liability insurance via GIRMA, firefighters' cancer and PTSD benefits, defined benefit and contribution retirement programs, life/health insurance, and wellness grants), financial services (purchasing and financing, revenue opportunities, financial wellness through the Truist-powered Momentum program), operational support (efficiency programs, consultation, legal advocacy), and professional development (the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute in partnership with UGA's Carl Vinson Institute). Additionally, GMA provides ARPA compliance guidance and a Business Alliance Program for corporate engagement. GMA also administers the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS) retirement plans and partners with Truist Bank for financial education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Georgia Municipal Employees Benefit System (GMEBS): Defined benefit retirement plan and health insurance programs for municipal employees
• Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency (GIRMA)
• Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute
• Georgia Cities Foundation
• GeorgiaForward
• Momentum

Products and services

• Municipal Membership and Advocacy Services
• Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Fund
• Property and Liability Insurance (GIRMA)
• Firefighters' Cancer Benefit Program
• First Responder PTSD Program
• GMEBS Defined Benefit Program
• Defined Contribution Program
• Life and Health Insurance Fund
• Other Post Employment Benefits Trust
• GMEBS Health Wellness Grant Program
• Momentum Financial Wellness Program
• Purchasing & Financing Services
• Revenue Opportunities
• Operations Efficiency
• Consultation Services
• Legal Advocacy Program
• Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute
• American Rescue Plan Act Guidance and Compliance
• Business Alliance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• GMA projects Georgia cities will need $33 billion for capital projects between 2025-2029
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Truist BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTruist Bank partners with GMA to offer the Momentum financial wellness program, providing free interactive financial education classes to employees of Georgia municipalities that are members of GMA's Risk Management and Employee Benefits Programs.
• University of Georgia - Carl Vinson Institute of GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute, offering comprehensive learning experiences for city officials covering municipal finance, budgeting, ethics, and data literacy. The institute provides professional development and training certification.
• BM&K (an LJA Company)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-disciplinary engineering and consulting company, participant in the 2026 GMA Business Alliance Program. Has partnered with Georgia cities for over 20 years.
• EnvisiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic planning and performance management software provider for local government. Participant in 2026 GMA Business Alliance Program, connecting companies with municipal leaders across Georgia's 536 cities.
• Thomas & HuttonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivately held professional services firm specializing in engineering, surveying, planning, and landscape architecture. Long-standing participant in GMA Business Alliance Program. Operations span Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida.
• Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGEMA partnered with GMA and ACCG to develop the Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement, enabling public and private agencies to provide reciprocal emergency management aid during disasters.
• Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with GEMA and GMA to develop the Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement for emergency management coordination across Georgia.
• Local Government ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with GMA to create model documents for small cell/small wireless facility ordinances and permits, helping local governments comply with state and federal laws while maintaining local control.
• Mobilitie, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWireless infrastructure company partnered with GMA to develop a Model Master Right-of-Way License Agreement that balances local right-of-way protection with infrastructure needs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• International City/County Management Association (ICMA): International professional association for local government managers and administrators. Adjacent peer because ICMA serves the same municipal official audience as GMA with overlapping training, ethics, and credentialing programs.
• National League of Cities (NLC): National umbrella association for municipal governments across the U.S. Operates as a higher-level peer to which GMA is a state affiliate; comparable in mission (advocacy, training, networking) but broader in geographic scope.
• National Association of Counties (NACo): National association representing U.S. county governments. Comparable to the county-side counterpart of GMA's mission; relevant for benchmarking advocacy and pooled-services strategy.

Direct peers

• Texas Municipal League: Statewide association for Texas cities offering advocacy, training, risk pooling, and member services. Operates at significantly larger scale but with the same integrated service-portfolio model as GMA.
• North Carolina League of Municipalities: Statewide association for North Carolina municipalities providing advocacy, training, and risk services. Functionally and structurally similar to GMA at the state level.
• Municipal Association of South Carolina: South Carolina's statewide municipal association. Comparable in size and mandate to GMA, providing advocacy, training, and risk/benefit services to member cities.
• Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG): Sister statewide association representing Georgia's county governments. Direct peer because ACCG provides the same bundle of advocacy, training, risk management (through GIRMA jointly with GMA), and pooled services to the county level of Georgia's local governments.
• Florida League of Cities: Statewide municipal association serving all Florida municipalities. Closely comparable model — advocacy, training institute, pooled insurance and benefit programs, and member consulting — making it one of the most direct parallels to GMA.
• Michigan Municipal League: Statewide Michigan association for cities and villages. Closely analogous to GMA in mission, member services portfolio, and advocacy role before the state legislature.
• League of Arizona Cities and Towns: Statewide municipal association for Arizona cities and towns. Comparable member-driven advocacy and training model to GMA, though with a different pooled-program footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GACities
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GeorgiaCities
• Facebookfacebook.com/GeorgiaMunicipalAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georgia-municipal-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Georgia Municipal Association