Mayor Andre Dickens Named Among Governing’s 2026 Public Officials of the Year

Mayor Andre Dickens Named Among Governing's 2026 Public Officials of the Year

ATLANTA-Governing has named Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens one of its 2026 Public Officials of the Year, recognizing his work to ensure Atlanta's growth and prosperity reach residents and neighborhoods that have historically been left behind.

The national recognition highlights the Dickens Administration's progress on affordable housing, youth employment and public safety, as well as its practical use of technology to improve City services and expand opportunity.
The recognition also reflects the personal experiences that shaped Mayor Dickens' approach to leadership. Growing up in an Atlanta neighborhood that lacked sustained investment, he saw families working hard but living week to week without the opportunity to build lasting stability. That experience continues to guide his focus on helping Atlantans move beyond surviving to thriving.

"This recognition belongs to the people across our Administration and throughout Atlanta who come to work every day determined to make our city better," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. "Atlanta is growing and succeeding on the national and world stage. From economic and youth development to public safety and neighborhood investment, we remain focused on building the best major city to thrive and raise every child."

During his first term Mayor Dickens established a goal of building or preserving 20,000 housing units by 2030. Since then, more than 13,700 units have now been completed or are under construction. To accelerate this progress, Mayor Dickens brought together the City's housing, planning and other partners to pursue new approaches to housing development and financing, including examining successful models from other cities and countries.

Mayor Dickens' focus on expanding opportunities extends beyond housing. His Administration has established workforce development partnerships and launched the Summer Youth Employment Program that has helped nearly 14,000 young people find jobs. At the same time, Atlanta has continued to strengthen public safety, with police recruitment increasing and homicides declining 50 percent over the past four years.

There has also been an emphasis on exploring and deploying artificial intelligence in practical applications, including assistance with 311 calls and public records access. The Department of Watershed Management is also using AI to help detect leaks and better target system improvements. Mayor Dickens has identified additional opportunities to use technology to analyze changes in the rental housing market, with the goal of informing investment and increasing the supply of affordable housing.

A major focal point of the Dickens Administration is putting an end to food insecurity that has historically plagued low-income neighborhoods. Leveraging the innovative work of Invest Atlanta -the economic development arm of the City of which the Mayor serves as Board Chair-and building unique public-private partnerships, the Administration has been able to expand access to fresh, healthy food options by:

• Celebrate the opening of the City's SECOND publicly owned and privately-operated municipal grocery store in the coming months. The first Azalea Fresh Market, opened in September of 2025 in a food desert in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, is thriving and in July celebrated serving more than 150,000 customers.
• Awarded $50,000 grants to 15 innovative grocery store owners and operator grantees to increase fresh food access in underserved neighborhoods across Atlanta.
• Invested millions of dollars in local small businesses to increase food accessibility in disinvested areas of the city. One example includes IA and the City awarding a grant to Goodr to finance the design and buildout of a community grocery store at iVillage @ MLK. The store provides groceries, including fresh produce, eggs, milk, meat and other shelf-stable items conveniently located adjacent to the H.E. Holmes MARTA station.

Throughout his Administration, Mayor Dickens has focused on building relationships across sectors and political boundaries, guided by a simple principle: if a partnership can improve the lives of Atlantans, there is common ground worth pursuing. That approach continues to shape how the City tackles its biggest challenges and expands opportunity for residents.

You can read or listen to Governing's profile of Mayor Dickens here.

Governing's annual Public Officials of the Year program celebrates state and local leaders who have delivered lasting results for the people they serve. Representing both parties, this year's honorees show how effective public leadership can strengthen communities and inspire similarly bold approaches from their peers across the country.

You can also learn more about the Dickens' Administration's policies and initiatives by visiting ATL.Direct.