In This Edition of Econ. Info:

Local Connection
Did you know: Metro Atlanta is developing a Regional Economic Development Strategy?

Idea Corner
College Park Embarks Upon Campaign to Attract Dunkin' Donuts to Main Street

Community Highlights
Project updates provided by Economic Development representatives at the February Networking Meeting.

Local Connection

Did you know: Metro Atlanta is developing a Regional Economic Development Strategy?

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Market Street Services are facilitating the development of a Regional Economic Development Strategy for Metro Atlanta. This strategy is built on extensive input from stakeholders across the region, and supported by the leadership of Work Group and Steering Committee members. This strategy will serve as a roadmap for Metro Atlanta, and reflect the economic development objectives and initiatives of local governments throughout the region.

Development of the strategy will continue through summer 2012. Visit our website for more information and opportunities to provide input into the strategy. View the list of Work Group members to contact your county's representative.

Idea Corner

College Park Embarks Upon Campaign to Attract Dunkin' Donuts to Main Street

The city of College Park utilized a new marketing strategy to reach out to Dunkin' Donuts' corporate offices. Barbra Coffee, the Director of Economic Development, organized a flash mob at the old Mrs. Winners location, and embedded the following video in her communications to the Canton, Massachussetts-based company known for its coffee and donuts.

http://www.collegeparkga.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=237

Community Highlights

The following news and notes are highlights from discussion at the February quarterly Economic Development Networking Lunch. Thanks to our attendees for sharing your innovative approaches to the economic development opportunities and challenges our communities face.

City of Lilburn – Contact: Doug Stacks

• Recently completed an update to zoning ordinance. The update focuses on redevelopment of ageing commercial, and includes new architectural elements.
• The City is also undertaking a major project to connect Lilburn's Main Street w/ Hwy 29, the major commercial corridor – "Bringing downtown uptown". Includes a reroute of Main St to a new intersection with Hwy 29, and development of a new City Hall and Library complex.

City of Norcross – Contact: Rusty Warner

• Norcross reports great business growth in the past year. The City has retained POND to coordinate their LCI update and execute the next phase. The City is also looking into the possibility of purchasing property for future developments/public projects while market is low.
• Norcross is in the process of revising Tax Allocation Districts that were established before the recession.

City of Marietta – Contact: Beth Sessoms

• City was awarded an LCI in most recent round: located on Cobb Pkwy/41 in conjunction with Life University and Southern Poly Tech.
• Redeveloping property along Franklin Rd, is looking to turn over to industrial use and is looking for a renewable energy company to locate there. Will be a big improvement in that corridor and boost to the City.
• Developing a new overlay district around the Kennestone Wellstar Hospital – looking to enable growth/expansion of hospital and protect surrounding residential areas.
• City also has long term project to address the housing mix within city limits: was more than 64% rental in recent years – hold over from war-era workforce housing around air base. City working to redevelop with focus on owner occupied housing.

City of Snellville – Contact: Eric Van Otteren

• Recently established an Urban Redevelopment Authority. Working to build up the members – looking for contacts at other established URAs or other City Development Authorities in the area.
• Snellville is starting an Economic Development Strategy with Market Street – piggy backing on recent efforts by Partnership Gwinnett.
• Those in attendance discussed challenges of high proportion of rental housing – Mr. Van Otteren recently worked with the City of Brunswick, where two-thirds of the housing stock is public housing. The challenge of extended-stay hotels serving as low-income housing surfaced – the City of Lawrenceville cited as example for putting stay limits on extended-stay hotels.

Development Authority of Fulton County – Contact: Marva Bryan

• Fulton Industrial Park – and preservation/redevelopment of remaining industrial zones a central issue. FIP is active, but underutilized and obsolete – with limited industrial space remaining in greater metro area, redevelopment is important, but closing projects difficult in recession. Have established a CID and Opportunity Zone in FIP – also applied for New Market Tax Credits – objective to bring equity to redevelopment projects to help bring them to closing.
• Many calls from developers interested in this industrial space, but for conversion to low income or veterans supportive housing – not uses suitable for an industrial zone, nor communities that would be well served in such an area.
• Those in attendance shared concerns about losing industrial areas to residential development pressures – need to preserve and redevelop land into industrial uses to maintain economic base and tax diversity. Need for industrial/commercial parks increasing with logistics developments at Hartsfield airport and Port of Savannah.

City of College Park – Contact: Barbra Coffee

• College Park is completing a buy-back of noise abatement properties that were purchased by City of Atlanta over 20 yrs ago. Former residential area, City looking to redevelop through public private partnership into commercial/industrial to address lack of airport-adjacent industrial/build-to-suit space.
• Also seen a resurgence in downtown/small business activity since first of the year – College Park playing up their day-time demographic as employment center with activity in main street/downtown area. A hotel is opening in March that is walkable to downtown and MARTA station
• College Park's "Club –E" is opening an entrepreneurial development center in downtown. Will have low cost office space for lease ($10-$50 monthly) and a café on the street level.

City of East Point – Contact: Kenwin Hayes (404)-270-7058

• Going through LCI update with POND; have also retained a consultant to do a comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
• Hearing a lot from people looking for Industrial space – logistics related to airport and Port of Savannah are hot topics
• The Economic Development office in East Point has started a Small Business class series – working to be more proactive with small business support. Doing one class a month: recent class, Feb 29th – Art of Networking

City of Alpharetta – Contact: Diane Wheeler

• The City recently completed an Economic Development Strategy, with Market Street consulting firm
• Part of efforts to reenvision what it means to be successful – Alpharetta enjoyed commercial and residential growth for many years. As the recession has leveled the playing field, the City wants to proactively position itself for future growth.
• Developing a downtown center, with a new city hall, library and greenspace – the redevelopment also includes a residential component