Groundwork Atlanta was established in 2015 as a local Trust in the Groundwork USA network. Groundwork Trusts create and nurture productive community partnerships that engage local residents, youth and other stakeholders in all aspects of the work to improve quality of life on the ground in their host communities.

Mission:  To bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being.

Groundwork Atlanta works strategically and collaboratively to advance environmental projects that improve communities and quality of life in the City of Atlanta. Our initial focus area is historically under-served parts of northwest Atlanta, including the Chattahoochee River and Proctor Creek watersheds.

Our programs include

  • Urban Agriculture - In partnership with the Atlanta Mayor's Office of Resilience, we provide access to underutilized land for community gardens and farms, along with insurance and technical support.

  • Brownfield Redevelopment - We work with the U.S. EPA, the City of Atlanta, Trust for Public Land, and other partners to identify and remediate contaminated sites for community-oriented redevelopment.

  • Multi-use Path Network - In collaboration with Riverwalk Atlanta, the Path Foundation, and many others, we support planning and implementation of multi-use paths in Northwest Atlanta.

Groundwork Atlanta is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with two staff members and a Board of Directors, as well as an Advisory Council made up of local leaders, practitioners, and experts with skills and experience relevant to Groundwork Atlanta’s mission and goals.

To support the launch of the new Groundwork Trust, seed funding is provided through Groundwork USA by the National Park Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Program, as well as the City of Atlanta. As is true for any nonprofit, local and national philanthropic grant funding and private donations need to be secured on an ongoing basis to ensure long-term viability of the organization.