James_Nov-Dec_2025_web - Flipbook - Page 41
T
he Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) is closing in on 100 years of hard work on
behalf of the more than 500 cities that comprise its membership. Founded in 1933,
the GMA offers training and consulting to elected leaders and city of昀椀cials and is
well known for lobbying at the state capital regarding public policy issues. During
all this time, as evidence of the deep commitment the GMA has for its member cities, there have only been six executive directors. Larry Hanson became that sixth
director in 2017 after serving as Valdosta’s City Manager for 22 years.
There is perhaps no one in the
country with more expertise in
municipal issues at this point than
Hanson. In 1975 he started work
in Valdosta, holding the positions
of Director of Parks, Recreation &
Community Affairs and Assistant
City Manager before being appointed City Manager in 1995. Hanson
had already been very active with
the organization, serving on the
Board of Directors, the Legislative
Policy Council and the Federal
Policy Council, as well as a frequent
instructor at GMA training events.
Hanson has made his mark at
GMA and has led the non-partisan
group through the chaos of the
pandemic, natural disasters and
shifting political climates.
Strengthening Resources
“During my time as CEO of
GMA, what I’m most proud of
how is how we’ve continued to
strengthen and expand the resources available to Georgia’s cities,”
said Hanson. “Whether through
advocating for good legislation,
enhancing our training programs
through our partnership with the
University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson
Institute of Government, to creating new financing tools and service
initiatives, we work hard to meet
cities where they are and help
them move forward.”
GMA has a team that works
year-round, and especially during
the January-March General Assembly session, to advance public
policy that gives local leaders the
tools and flexibility to serve their
communities effectively. Working
with state leaders in recent years,
Hanson and his team helped secure
$365 million in Local Road Assistance Grants for cities and counties
with no local match required. They
also helped secure $5 million in
new state funding for the Downtown Development Revolving Loan
Fund, which led to an additional
$2.5 million in private foundation
support for the Georgia Cities
Foundation’s loan program. These
revolving loan funds have helped
to catalyze private investment in
downtowns across the state exceeding $250,000,000.
Perhaps to no surprise, budgetary issues are a big question for
members. “Another major success
has been the growth and stability
of our retirement and insurance
programs. Our retirement fund
holds more than $4.3 billion in
assets and continues to deliver
strong, consistent returns that
help cities meet their long-term
obligations,” said Hanson. “That
performance reflects the financial
strength of GMA and the trust our
members place in us.”
Like their member cities, GMA
faces the challenge of meeting
increasing needs with limited
resources. That challenge drives
them to keep innovating and to find
practical solutions that strengthen
every city in Georgia.
Continuing Economic Growth
From Atlanta to Savannah, to the
numerous small towns that make up
the charm of rural Georgia, cities are
at the heart of Georgia’s growth and
identity. Helping members to guard
that identity and continuing economic growth vital for their residents is a
main goal for GMA.
“It’s in cities where Georgia’s
economy, culture, and identity come
together. Although they occupy
only nine percent of the state’s land
area, they are home to nearly half
of its residents and generate about
seventy percent of the state’s jobs,”
said Hanson. “They are the heart
and soul of the state. As Georgia
continues to grow, cities carry the
load in areas such as housing, infrastructure, technology, and workforce development while maintaining the essential services that make
daily life possible.”
GMA’s role is to make sure cities
have the tools, resources, and voice
they need to succeed. That advocacy role— in Atlanta but also in
Washington, is at the heart of what
they do. “We work every day to
ensure that city voices are heard at
the State Capitol and in DC and that
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