Four historic churches in Southwest Atlanta are coming together with Groundswell, Georgia Power, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), and the City of Atlanta to launch the Westside Resilience Corridor — a groundbreaking collaboration to strengthen community resilience, expand access to clean energy, and lower energy costs for local families.
The Corridor, led by West Hunter Street Baptist, Providence Missionary Baptist, Community Church Atlanta’s Vicars Community Center, and Atlanta Good Shepherd Community Church, builds on each congregation’s longstanding ministry while aligning around a shared vision for resilience. That vision is rooted in four pillars: housing affordability and quality, workforce and economic development, food systems and security, and comprehensive health and wellness.
The need is urgent. According to Georgia Tech research, residents of Southwest Atlanta spend a greater share of their income on energy than anywhere else in the city — often due to aging housing in need of weatherization and repairs. The Corridor will address these challenges head-on. By the end of this year, partners will:
- Complete energy efficiency upgrades and critical repairs for 50 income-qualified homes, reducing bills and preserving affordable housing.
- Implement energy efficiency improvements at all four Corridor churches, lowering costs and freeing more funds for ministry.
- Complete the design for a second community resilience hub, powered by solar + storage, at West Hunter Street Baptist.
- Launch an energy workforce training program at the Vicars Community Center, preparing local residents for careers in the energy industry.
Pastoral leaders see this as ministry in action. “This is what real ministry looks like,” said Rev. Dr. Kenneth Hill of Atlanta Good Shepherd Community Church. “Together, we are focusing on the comprehensive well-being of our communities.”
Groundswell SVP for Community Development, Matthew Wesley Williams, added, “Access to critical resources and infrastructure, connection to community, and participatory local decision-making are central to how Groundswell approaches resilience — and the Westside Resilience Corridor embodies this joyful work.”
The Corridor’s work builds on the Vicars Community Center resilience hub, completed in 2024, which was Atlanta’s first community-owned hub with solar and battery storage to keep the lights on during outages. That project inspired a broader vision — and now, a coalition of churches is carrying it forward.
Partners are aligning resources to maximize impact. GEFA will connect residents with up to $16,000 in energy efficiency incentives through its Home Energy Rebates program, while Georgia Power will integrate its EASE program to deliver free upgrades to income-qualified households. Additional support from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and a Google donation through Georgia Power will cover critical home repairs, making efficiency upgrades possible for more families.
“This groundbreaking partnership strengthens community assets, reduces high energy burdens, and honors the history and culture of Atlanta’s Westside,” said Chandra Farley, City of Atlanta Chief Sustainability Officer.
To learn more or sign up for pre-screening, Westside residents can visit Groundswell.org/westside-resilience-corridor/.