How to become certified retirement town

[lindabird]

I am writing to find out how we could apply on behalf of my local county as a certified retirement community. I see that such towns exist in a few states and am wondering how get that distinction here in Georgia. thanks

[topretirementseditor]

Good question. You are going to have a harder time with this in Georgia than you would in the 6 other southern states that do have a certified retirement community program - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia (TN and WV call them slightly different names, but the idea is the same).

These programs promote towns that can meet certain criteria to make them good retirement towns - availability of housing, medical care, recreation, willingness to welcome retirees to these towns. It's good business for the communities and also for the retirees - who are assured of minimum standards.

My suggestion is to lobby the State of Georgia to develop such a program. A good investment in these times.
Find out more about certified retirement communities here:
http://www.topretirements.com/communities/certified_retirement_communities.html