...a
glance at what's making the news...
Atlanta Reaches Out to Katrina Evacuees
At the request of Mayor Shirley Franklin, the
Atlanta City Council passed a resolution to allocate
one million dollars from various City of Atlanta
accounts to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina
in Atlanta seeking support.
The Council also agreed to start a Hurricane Katrina
Relief Fund. Anyone can donate to the fund and
all proceeds will go to assist Hurricane Katrina
evacuees.
The City of Atlanta has worked tirelessly to accommodate
the thousands of evacuees from the Gulf Coast
who are living in Atlanta. The City of Atlanta
Adamsville Recreation Center is being used as
a service center for evacuees and has assisted
up to 600 individuals and families with housing,
jobs, student services, food stamps, Medicare
and Medicaid and other medical services.
The Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA)
has provided 2,000 individuals and families with
food and clothes and served 500 families in the
newly created general store. Over 1,000 volunteers
have donated their time at AWDA to help sort thousands
of pounds of food and clothes. The Adamsville
Recreation Center will continue to serve as a
site for those seeking assistance. To volunteer
or contribute to Atlanta's Hurricane Katrina Relief
Effort, please call 1.800.HELPNOW or 404-870-4440
or visit www.atlantaredcross.org.
City Council Passes Commercial Solicitation
Ordinance
The Atlanta City Council voted in favor of passing
a commercial solicitation ordinance, with a final
vote of 12-3 at the end of August. The ordinance
was then signed by Mayor Shirley Franklin.
'We have reviewed and examined successful models
of this ordinance in other cities, like Fort Lauderdale
and Jacksonville, and are confident that Atlanta
will find the ordinance benefits not just residents
and visitors but it also supports the chronically
homeless who are seeking help,' said Mayor Franklin.
The legislation will impact the 'tourist triangle,'
which includes Centennial Park in the west, the
hotel district in the north, Underground in the
south and the Martin Luther King National Historic
Site in the east.
FIRST to Return to Atlanta
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology (FIRST) has announced it will return
to Atlanta for the 2007 Robotics Championships.
With the 2006 Championship already committed to
Atlanta, 2007 will mark the fourth consecutive
year the event will take place in the city and
the agreement includes options to continue in
Atlanta in 2008 and 2009.
The FIRST Championship is the premier student
robotics competition and celebration of science
and technology. Students work alongside professional
engineers to design, build and then compete with
robots in three simultaneous competitions
Driving FIRST's decision to return to the city
was Atlanta's unmatched combination of facilities,
accommodations, restaurants, transportation and
attractions. The Championships will once again
be based in the Georgia Dome, with the adjacent
Georgia World Congress Center serving as the pit
area for the competition. The nearby Centennial
Olympic Park will provide open space for outdoor
activities involved with the event.
City Officials Honored
Congratulations to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin
for being named one of "America's Best Leaders"
by national weekly magazine, US News and World
Report.
On August 11, Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington
was honored by the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF)
and the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney
for his election as incoming national president
of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives (NOBLE).
Brand Atlanta Campaign
The Brand Atlanta Campaign is a team of volunteers
and professionals working together to create a
new, compelling brand identity and integrated
marketing program for Atlanta. The campaign will
help attract visitors, businesses and new residents
to the City of Atlanta. Mayor Shirley Franklin
and the Atlanta Development Authority's New Century
Economic Development Plan were the inspiration
for this public/private initiative to help drive
business growth in the City of Atlanta, especially
in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Producer Dallas Austin was recently chosen to
write a song for the city as part of the Brand
Atlanta Campaign. The song will debut during halftime
of the Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Jets game
on "Monday Night Football" on Oct. 24.
NASCAR Visits Atlanta
On Tuesday, August 16, NASCAR officials visited
Atlanta as one of five prospective cities for
the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. This effort was led
by A.J. Robinson of Central Atlanta Progress and
a decision should be reached by the end of the
year.
2010 Super Bowl Bid
Meetings are currently underway for the 2010 Super
Bowl bid. Those involved are excited about the
potential opportunity to market Atlanta for another
event of this magnitude.
Atlanta Ranks High for Relocation
In a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive,
U.S. adults ranked Atlanta the No. 9 city they
would choose to live in or near.
From April 2004 to April 2005, nearly 100,000
people moved to the 10-county metro region, according
to population estimates released this month from
the Atlanta Regional Commission. Some of Atlanta's
most noted attractions include temperate weather
and a lower cost of living compared to other major
cities.
Atlanta a Top 25 Art City
Atlanta is named among the Top 25 Art Cities in
the United States in AmericanStyle Magazine's
8th annual poll. The City of Atlanta ranked sixth
among mid-size cities in the country. Atlanta
was honored in the magazine's June 2005 issue.
AmericanStyle is a bi-monthly arts and lifestyle
magazine.
Atlanta Football Classic Returns to Georgia
Dome
The Atlanta Football Classic returns to the Georgia
Dome with the Florida A&M Rattlers facing
the Tennessee State Tigers on September 24. www.atlantafootballclassic.com.
Crime Rate at 34 Year Low
The City of Atlanta has seen its crime rate drop
over the past eight years, beginning in 1997 through
2004. Just last year, the reported crime total
was the lowest since 1971. Recent success is attributed
to the leadership of Mayor Shirley Franklin and
Police Chief Richard J. Pennington. What makes
the current success all the more impressive is
that officer strength is virtually unchanged from
three decades earlier. (1,586 officers sworn in
October 1974 versus the 1,581 sworn in July 2005).
Sports Council Turning 20
This October marks the 20th Anniversary of the
Atlanta Sports Council. In 1985, a group of prestigious
Atlanta business and sports leaders created an
athletic development group, a division of the
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Its mission
was to develop, grow and enhance the quality of
life for Atlantans by uniting the community around
sports. By supporting local amateur and professional
sports teams and bidding on sporting events such
as Super Bowls, All-Star Games and the Olympics,
the organization's goal was to make Atlanta the
worldwide destination for major sporting events.
The Work Truck Show Returns to Atlanta
in 2006 and 2008
The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA)
recently announced it will return to Atlanta in
2006 and 2008. The Association produces The Work
Truck Show™ and Annual NTEA Convention --
bringing together manufacturers, distributors,
fleet managers, leasing companies, dealers, buyers
and users of commercial truck and transportation
equipment from all industries.
The event, which rotates locations, was held in
Atlanta in 2003. The Work Truck Show 2006 will
be held at the Georgia World Congress Center February
28 - March 3, 2006.
Del Monte Foods Building Atlanta Distribution
Hub
One of the country's largest manufacturers and
distributors of canned fruit and vegetables, Del
Monte, chose south Atlanta for its $25 million,
800,000 square-feet southeast distribution hub.
Having a rail-served site this large was a key
advantage for Atlanta.
Mayor Shirley Franklin on Short List for
2005 World Mayor Award
Hundreds of mayors from around the world were
nominated for the 2005 World Mayor Award, and
our very own Mayor Shirley Franklin is one of
65 on the short list for the award. The final
decision is based on the number of votes received
as well as statements made in support of each
mayor's accomplishments in making their city a
more livable place.
Vote for Mayor Shirley Franklin at www.worldmayor.com
.
Lunch on Broad
September is the last month to enjoy SunTrust
Lunch on Broad. Soak up the sounds of local musicians
and enjoy the company of friends and coworkers
on your lunch break. Come early and stay late
in Atlanta's only weekday street party in the
heart of Downtown Atlanta's Historic Fairlie-Poplar
District. www.atlantadowntown.com.
Samsung Locates RFIC Design Center in
Atlanta
In mid-August, Samsung Electro-Mechanics Company,
Ltd. (SEM) opened its new Atlanta-based North
American research design center - the principal
North American research location for the company
aimed at developing next-generation radio frequency
integrated circuit (RFIC) technology.
The design center will be located in Georgia Tech's
Technology Square within the Georgia Electronic
Design Center (GEDC). Center researchers are expected
to collaborate with Georgia Tech faculty and staff
on a broad range of RFIC technologies. Dr. Joy
Lasker, a Georgia Tech professor and scientist,
is one of the world's leading academicians in
the field of high-speed, mixed-signal technology.
Don't Miss the 2005 Business Growth Exposition!
On Thursday, November 10, the Atlanta Business
Chronicle and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
will host the 2005 Business Growth Exposition.
For decision-makers from Atlanta's fastest growing
companies, this full-day event will showcase the
best ideas formulated for growth and success.
The Business Growth Exposition will be held on
Thursday, November 10 at Cobb Galleria Centre.
For more information visit www.atlantabusinessgrowthexpo.com.
Atlanta, a Best Place to Live
Atlanta was ranked seventh on the list of Best
Places to Live in the book, "Cities Ranked and
Rated" by Bert Sperling and Peter Sander.
Field Day at COP
Creative Loafing hosts the first annual Field
Day in Centennial Olympic Park from 2-6 pm on
Saturday, September 17. Field Day is a true celebration
including a four-hour festival of competition
and interaction, an art exhibit, demonstrations
& mouth-watering vendors, and an after party
at SIDEBAR. Proceeds will go to benefit Gateway
24/7 Homeless Services Center, offering a path
to ending homelessness in Atlanta. www.clpromotions.com/fieldday
6th Annual Bike Atlanta Ride
Join Grand Marshal and Atlanta Mayor, Shirley
Franklin for the 6th annual Bike Atlanta ride
on Saturday, September 17. Bike Atlanta is a 13-mile
fun ride on Peachtree Street, Auburn Avenue and
throughout historic Atlanta sites. The ride benefits
the Bike Ride Across Georgia Dream Team, Sisters...By
Choice, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. www.brag.org
GSU Business Career EXPO
Georgia State University's 2005 Business Career
EXPO is bigger and better than ever. Employers
will have the opportunity to focus their recruiting
efforts by attending one or more of the four career
fairs offered September 21-23. www.robinson.gsu.edu/career/expo
News compiled from: City Newsbytes At-A-Glance
(Mayor's Office of Communications), Membership
Communique (Atlanta Convention and Visitors
Bureau), Downtown Live (Central
Atlanta Progress), Metro Atlanta Chamber
of Commerce Newsletter, www.downtownATL.com,
The Pulse of Progress (Atlanta
Development Authority) and the Georgia World Congress
Center newsletter.
|
