A CID, or Community Improvement District, is a self-taxing district that uses voluntary property tax dollars to improve its district such as accelerating transportation, beautification and infrastructure projects. CIDs are comprised of private commercial properties zoned as office/industrial and retail properties. Residential and multi-family properties are not taxable by a CID.

Similar to Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) but more autonomous, CIDs are unique to the state of Georgia and an increasingly popular method of promoting economic growth. There are currently 30 active CIDs in the state.

The CID’s mission is to work continuously to improve the economic viability of its district. This includes the development of efficient transportation services, with an emphasis on access, mobility, diversification and modernization.

Commercial property owners agree to assess themselves additional ad-valorem real estate taxes to address critical issues such as traffic and safety. That money is collected by the Tax Commissioner of the local government and returned to the district by its respective county. The board of directors then seeks to leverage that money and garner infrastructure improvements for the area. Some examples of how this money might be spent include environmental and engineering feasibility studies, funding new construction or landscaping projects, upgrades to already funded projects, maintaining existing transportation features, and direct spending (traffic control officers).

Yes. The model of a CID is to help accelerate plans for improvements from the design phase to implementation. CIDs participate in the bidding and selection process for contractors and engineers and also manage some of the projects under agreements with the local government.

Blueprint North Fulton is a land-use and development vision created by the CID in collaboration with local businesses, cities and neighbors. Crafted to sustain and enhance the exceptional quality of life in North Fulton and maintain its robust business environment, Blueprint North Fulton creates a cohesive plan for growth and development along the Georgia 400 commercial corridor. True North 400, formerly North Fulton Community Improvement District, sponsored the plan with cooperation from the cities of Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell to help fund and accelerate infrastructure improvements. The CID funded Blueprint North Fulton at a cost of $500,000.

Since the original Blueprint North Fulton, True North 400 has completed two updates to this master plan: Blueprint 2.0 in 2014 and Blueprint III in 2021.