Atlanta Takes The Stage

It is, first, a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Atlanta is a city of diverse neighborhoods and diverse people, a southern city that is also worldly, shaped by its immigrant communities and its status as a globaltravel hub.

It is also a great place to work. Atlanta’s fast-growing economy is fueled by a highly educated workforce, the city’s affordability, the presence of many of America’s foremost companies and political and business communities that work together to promote a positive business climate.

And Atlanta is an exciting place to visit, with a range of cultural offerings that is hard to surpass—from world-class museums, such as the High Museum of Art, to new and innovative institutions like Georgia Aquarium, preservationist classics like the Fox Theatre and the engineering brilliance of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz Stadium, an architectural wonder that will host some of sports’ biggest events, like Super Bowl LIII. Not to mention, Atlanta has one of the hottest food, film and music scenes in the country.

There’s a lot going on in Atlanta right now, some of which you can read about here. But to really appreciate all that is exciting about Atlanta, you really just need to see it for yourself. For more information, visit atlanta.net.

Bolstered by savvy economic policy and a culture of inclusivity, Atlanta is enjoying a creative surge.

No question, Atlanta is hot. Created by native son Donald Glover, the FX show about two cousins making their way in the city’s rap scene won a Golden Globe award for best television series/musical or comedy. But Atlanta is only one example of the incredible creative moment that the city of Atlanta is now enjoying—one centered in its identity as a crucible of African American life. As the New York Times put it, “the Atlanta area is now home tosuch a critical mass of successful actors, rappers and entertainment executives that few would argue its position as the center of black culture.”

Thanks to tax credits and an affordable cost of living, Georgia has the nation’s third-largest film industry, behind LA and New York. In the 2015–2016 fiscal year, the industry generated some $7 billion in economic impact in the state. Institutions such as the Georgia Film Academy help provide skilled technicians, while production houses like Tyler Perry Studios, Eagle Rock and Pinewood have built facilities for film and television productions. TV shows filmed in Atlanta include The Walking Dead, 24: Legacy and Sleepy Hollow, while the feature films shot here in 2017 include Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther and Pitch Perfect 3.

Even as Atlanta—ATL, as it’s known—is earning fame in film, it’s always been a capital of music, especially hip-hop. Local artists include Ciara, Gucci Mane, India.Arie, Migos, Janelle Monáe, OutKast, 21 Savage, Usher and Young Jeezy. Atlanta is to hip-hop what Nashville is to roots music and New Orleans is to jazz. The reasons? A reputation for cultural inclusiveness, a supportive and diverse artistic community and affordability.

As if all that weren’t enough, there’s also a thriving food scene. Atlanta is home to amazing southern cooking, but also food inspired by immigrant communities, such as Latinos, Vietnamese, Koreans and others. Atlanta chefshave earned 56 James Beard Award nominations in the last five years.

All these trends further enhance Atlanta’s status as a remarkable place to visit, live, work and create.

From Fortune 500 firms to fin-tech startups, Atlanta has one of the country’s fastest-growing economies.

If you asked many Americans who live in California or New York what the country’s most vibrant economies are, they’d probably say San Francisco and New York. It’s time to add Atlanta to that short list.

The city is headquarters to 13 Fortune 500 companies, including Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, the Home Depot, Southern Company, SunTrust Banks and UPS. More are coming: Since 2010, 16 companies have moved their headquarters to Atlanta or expanded operations, ranging from Porsche USA to Prince, the sports-equipment maker, and software and electronics company NCR. In 2015, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Metro Atlanta had the country’s highest percentage of year-to-year growth compared to the country’s other 12 largest metropolitan areas.

Atlanta benefits from a mild climate; a highly educated labor pool, thanks to local universities including Emory, Georgia Tech, Spelman and Morehouse; a superb airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; low taxes and a low cost of living; abundant and relatively inexpensive real estate; and a resurgent downtown.

Then there are the intangibles. One has been, since 2010, the political leadership of Mayor Kasim Reed, a pro-business Democrat. Another is the success of Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development authority, which has worked diligently to attract and foster business, whether it’s supporting female entrepreneurship or helping to sponsor a job training center. There’s also the strength that comes from Atlanta’s welcoming culture. Long a center of the civil rights movement, Atlanta now has the second-fastest-growing immigrant population in the country. It’s a potent mix that helps to foster a strong, unified and productive community.

An increasingly global city is blessed with a wealth of cultural options.

Atlanta embraces diversity, and its cultural offerings—which run the gamut from the High Museum of Art to Tyler Perry Studios and the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience—reflect that inclusive attitude. This is a city that is constantly innovating, but is also dedicated to honoring its traditions and history.

Georgia Aquarium is a leading nonprofit dedicated to aquatic research, exceptional animal care and education to engage and cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for our ocean. As the number-one rated aquarium in the U.S. and the second in the world, with over two million visitors per year, Georgia Aquarium has become a must-visit staple in the evolving downtown district. Guests will be inspired by a multitude of species, rescued animals and programs that allow for engaging and memorable interactions.

Running through the city, the new Atlanta BeltLine connects neighborhoods in a way that the city has never experienced. A sustainable redevelopment project, the BeltLine will ultimately link 45 neighborhoods via multiuse trails, modern streetcars and parks. It now boasts seven parks and four trails, plus a linear arboretum and an urban farm—and you can see Atlantans walking, running and biking on the BeltLine across town.

Those are two of the cultural innovations creating bridges between Atlanta’s rich history and its youthful energy. There are plenty of others, like Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market, both of which transformed industrial warehouse and factory spaces into vibrant and distinctive food halls and retail centers. The common thread: A city that welcomes new people and new ideas with an abundance of cultural riches.