Closing the Racial Wealth Gap through Neighborhood Wealth-Building and Revitalization

Atlanta faces one of the largest wealth disparities in the country, with stark differences in wealth levels between different demographic groups. This wealth gap is most evident in predominantly Black neighborhoods where residents have limited access to wealth-building resources such as capital for small businesses, neighborhood-serving retail, and local employment opportunities. Without strategic intervention, ongoing private investment and development increase the risk of displacing long-standing legacy residents, potentially widening the wealth gap further. Under Mayor Andre Dickens’ vision to make Atlanta “the best place in the country to raise a child,” the City has launched several initiatives centered on community development, including the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative.

FUSE Executive Fellow Carla C. Whitlock will conduct extensive stakeholder engagement through a listening tour with community leaders, small business owners, nonprofit organizations, and residents in target neighborhoods. This process will inform the development of a targeted neighborhood wealth-building strategy that outlines pathways to foster economic resilience and support local businesses. The strategy will incorporate key areas of wealth-building and community reinvestment best practices, including growing individual assets in distressed areas, building collective neighborhood-based assets, improving access to private capital, supporting legacy businesses, and enhancing financial inclusion. Whitlock will then implement a pilot project creating a “Main Street” economic initiative along key commercial corridors to activate underutilized spaces, support small businesses, and create job opportunities while preserving cultural heritage. This work will result in a comprehensive neighborhood wealth-building strategy, strategic recommendations for policy and partnerships, and a monitoring framework to support long-term implementation that advances economic inclusion and creates new pathways to prosperity in Atlanta’s underserved neighborhoods.