News / WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA - JULY 2005

...a glance at what's making the news...
(To sign up for this newsletter, simply email us at agrubbs@gwcc.com )

Bernie Marcus Speaks at the Metro Atlanta Chamber

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce hosted Bernie Marcus, co-founder and former chairman and CEO of The Home Depot and founder of the Georgia Aquarium, at a breakfast on June 30. He discussed the start up stages of The Home Depot and how he and Arthur Blank, owner and CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, mainstreamed home improvement and developed the concept of lowering price margins and offering a large variety of products to customers. He reiterated the impact of The Home Depot's success in hiring friendly professionals willing to teach the average homeowner how to accomplish projects on one's own. Mr. Marcus advised small business owners to "be aware of their weaknesses and understand their strengths." He went on to explain that his partnership with Arthur Blank was successful due to their ability to balance one another's strengths and weaknesses.

Mr. Marcus donated $200 million to the Georgia Aquarium project. When asked why he chose to build an aquarium in Atlanta, Mr. Marcus responded, "to pay back the city and state for all they have done to help" with The Home Depot. The Georgia Aquarium opens on Nov. 23, 2005. This will be the second-largest aquarium in the world with more than 55,000 animals. www.georgiaaquarium.org

Atlanta Ranked 2nd Hottest City in America for New Business

Despite labor force news that Atlanta has lost its luster in regards to booming job growth, the area continues to attract about 100,000 new residents annually and continues to be recognized by consultants as a top five place to do business. At the beginning of the year, Expansion Management Magazine polled its database of leading national site consultants in order to discover the hottest places for business expansion and relocation, and Atlanta came in second behind Nashville. A 2004 UHAUL National Migration Trend Report, released April 2005, substantiated Atlanta's popularity to newcomers as Atlanta ranked first as a "top destination for movers 50 miles or more" for the fourth consecutive year.

Metro Atlanta is also being recognized as a top ten place in attracting new business and investment - reaping a notable share of national business activity, according to Conway Data. Site Selection magazine ranked metro Atlanta sixth in terms of receiving the most expanded and new facilities last year. In terms of facility investment for 2004, the area ranked eighth with $1.7 billion in new facility investments.

Arby's Returns to Atlanta

Arby's will relocate their corporate headquarters from Ft. Lauderdale to Atlanta creating up to 90 high quality jobs in Atlanta. The relocation marks a return to Atlanta for Arby's, which was headquartered in the city from 1979 until 1991, before moving to Florida. "We are thrilled to be back in Atlanta, a city that offers us tremendous opportunities for continued growth and success," said Doug Benham, president and CEO, Arby's, LLC.

Georgia Appropriates More than $200,000 for Feasibility Study

The Georgia General Assembly appropriated $203,500 in landmark funding for high-speed rail. Eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match by federal funding, the money will be used to undertake an extensive government-backed analysis of the Alliance business model, examining city pairs in the Southeast High-Speed Rail corridor.

High Musuem Expansion

The High Museum of Art's expansion will open Nov. 12, 2005. Two new galleries, an open-air piazza and Table 1280 restaurant (opening September 2005) are included. www.high.org

IKEA at Atlantic Station Opens

The much anticipated Swedish home furnishing store, IKEA, opened on Wednesday June 29. The first portion of Atlantic Station to come to life, people had been waiting in line for as long as a week for the store to finally open its doors. Roger Penguino had the distinction of being the first in line, a profitable status as it earned him a $4,000 gift certificate from the store. Once the doors opened, it took almost an hour for the first several thousand customers who were waiting to make it through the door.

The remainder of Atlantic Station will open in October with 12 million square feet of retail, office and residential space. www.atlanticstation.com. Atlantic Station will also include a hotel and condo property named TWELVE with 101 suites. The 6,000-square-foot ballroom opens December 2005 and rooms will be available February 2006. www.twelveatlanticstation.com

Salute to service...Atlanta police officers honored by Georgia Power

To commemorate the Fourth of July, on June 29th, Georgia Power hosted a patriotic themed luncheon and awards ceremony honoring local law enforcement officials.

Summer Fun at Georgia Tech's Technology Square

Georgia Tech's Technology Square concludes their summer film series, Flicks on 5th, with a final showing on July 27. The movies begin at sunset. 15th at Centergy Plaza on 5th Street in Midtown. Also featured this summer is Martinis & Jazz with David Rowland, every Thursday through August with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drink specials. Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center, 800 Spring Street NW. www.flickson5th.com

Turner First Thursdays

The granddaddy of all art walks, Turner First Thursdays takes place - you guessed it - on the first Thursday of the month from 5-8 p.m. The arts venues (including galleries, museums and sometimes restaurants, bars and shops) time their new exhibits for unveiling on Turner First Thursdays, so there's always something new to see. www.atlantadowntown.com

National Black Arts Festival

The 2005 National Black Arts Festival celebrates the creative continuum -- Generation to Generation: Master -- Mentor -- Muse through Dance, Film, Music, Literature, Theater, and the Visual Arts, July 15-24. www.nbaf.org

Great Atlanta Music Fest

The 7th Annual Great Atlanta Music Fest, held in Woodruff Park, features a special tribute to Blues & Hip Hop on July 22-24. Performers include Harvey Scales, Willie Hill and The Laura Simeon Band. www.dr-love.com

Atlanta Restaurant Week

There is still time to make reservations for Restaurant Week, August 15-21. Enjoy fabulous 3 -course dinners for $20.05 per person and special lodging deals at some of Downtown's finest restaurants and hotels. www.atlantadowntown.com

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Celebrates 80 Years of Service

The Atlanta community, notable business executives and civic leaders joined together to commemorate Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's multi-decade history and birthday celebration.

The Airport began in 1925 as Candler Field, a crudely developed plot of 287 acres with two landing strips for small aircrafts. Since then, the Airport has been re-named three times and expanded to 4,700 acres which includes four runways--with a fifth due to open in May 2006.

Today, 80 years later, Hartsfield-Jackson has been designated as the world's busiest airport for passengers, as well as flight operations. According to 2005 mid-year flight statistics, the airport has serviced some 29 million passengers.

"If we continue at this rate we are on track to serve approximately 88 million passengers this year," according to Ben Decosta, Aviation General Manager. "The Airport's continued goal is to exceed customers expectations".

Thanks to the forward thinking Aviation team and its many partners, the airport has established the city as a major business hub with a regional business impact at close to 19-million annually.

NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum

Be among the first to see images of Atlanta's proposed NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum. In the coming weeks, details of Atlanta's bid will be released at www.halloffameatlanta.com. Visit often for additional information about the museum location, building design and exhibit space.

Become a member of the pit crew and you'll receive Hall of Fame details in advance of the general public. While exploring the site, don't forget to cast your vote for Atlanta on www.thatsracin.com

Peachtree Road Race

People of all ages participated in the 36th Annual Peachtree Road Race on Monday, July 4, 2005. The Peachtree Road Race, the world's largest 10k race, began at 7 am at Lenox Square in Buckhead and finished at Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta. An estimated 55,000 people participated in this year's race.

Centennial Olympic Park 4th of July

Centennial Olympic Park welcomed tens of thousands to Atlanta for the Park's 4th of July Celebration, downtown's biggest Independence Day party. The festivities included live music provided by The Classic Rock All-Stars and Shimmer, and a fireworks finale that launched over 3,000 fireworks into the downtown night sky. The 20-minute fireworks show used shells weighing an estimated 2.5 tons, and was set against the beautiful downtown Atlanta skyline.

The annual 4th of July Celebration attracted families and friends to the 21-acre Park, which has been the site of downtown's biggest Independence Day celebrations since 1998.

Centennial Olympic Park continues with its two summer music series. Music at Noon takes place every Tuesday and Thursday at noon and Wednesday WindDown is every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Come join in on the fun! www.centennialpark.com.


News compiled from: City Newsbytes At-A-Glance (Mayor's Office of Communications), Underground Happenings (Underground Atlanta), Membership Communique (Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau), Downtown Live (Central Atlanta Progress), Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, www.downtownATL.com and the Georgia World Congress Center newsletter.

If you know someone who should receive this email please forward this to them.

If you would like to be added to this distribution list, please email agrubbs@gwcc.com.

If you want to be unsubscribed, please email cpetterson@gwcc.com.