Mayor Kasim Reed Announces Launch of ‘Invest Atlanta’ at 2012 State of City Address
New look and direction for city’s economic development agency and job creation plans stand as major themes of speech at annual breakfast.
Responding to changing economic dynamics and untapped business opportunities, the City of Atlanta today launched “Invest Atlanta,” a modernized version of the city’s economic development agency formerly known as the Atlanta Development Authority, Mayor Kasim Reed said.
Mayor Reed unveiled Invest Atlanta during his annual State of the City business breakfast address before more than 900 business and community leaders at the Georgia World Congress Center. During his speech, Reed stressed the necessity for a focus on economic development and job creation through 2012.
“I have made economic development one of my Administration’s top priorities, and this change represents an effort to modernize our approach to economic growth,” said Mayor Reed, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Invest Atlanta. “We must get our economy moving again because our unemployment level is too high and families are hurting. Focusing on business creation, attraction, retention and expansion not only creates jobs but also brings in new tax revenues for the city.”
Posted in Economy, Jobs
Tagged 2012, economy, Invest Atlanta, jobs, State of the City
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Mayor Reed Discusses Jobs With President Obama
Mayor Reed is back in Washington, DC this week meeting with President Obama as part of the president’s “Insourcing American Jobs” Forum. Top on the Mayor’s agenda is discussing with President Obama the $600 million that the state needs to deepen the Savannah port, bringing more business and more jobs to Atlanta.
Scott Henry has a great post up at Creative Loafing about what the Mayor’s efforts will mean for Atlanta’s future.
I can’t meaningfully predict whether we’ll get that money, but it would certainly make Atlanta a more exciting place over the next several years if we did, seeing as it would transform the city into even more of a freight and logistics hub than it is now.
But consider that Obama has, according to what I’m hearing, already tapped Reed for a major public role in his re-election campaign this year. I don’t how much leverage that gives the mayor to wrangle the port-deepening money, but it sure can’t hurt.
Mayor Reed’s tireless efforts have grown the cities reserves from $7.4 million two years ago to $94.4 million today. And his ability to take Atlanta’s priorities straight to President Obama give us an opportunity to grow our economy and our workforce as successfully we’ve grown our reserves.
Reed Administration Grows City of Atlanta’s Reserves to $94.4 Million
City’s reserve fund was $7.4 million when Mayor Kasim Reed was inaugurated in January 2010.
ATLANTA – The City of Atlanta has $94.4 million in its general fund reserves, an increase of $87 million since January 2010 when Mayor Kasim Reed was inaugurated. The audited data was released as part of the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.
28th Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball Raises $1.2 million for United Negro College Fund
Event breaks last year’s record of $1.1 million; funds will provide scholarships for students who attend the four schools in the Atlanta University Center
ATLANTA – Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and a host of celebrities, dignitaries, civic and business leaders raised more than $1.2 million on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the 28th Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball, breaking last year’s record of $1.1 million. The money raised will benefit the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and educational support to minority and low-income students, and its 38 member colleges and universities. The Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball is one of metro Atlanta’s signature fundraising galas and premier social events of the holiday season.
Mayor Kasim Reed Delivers Open Hand’s 20 Millionth Atlanta-Area Meal
Mayor presents city’s highest honor to volunteers and then delivers a meal to a City of Atlanta resident in the Summer Hill neighborhood
Mayor Kasim Reed joined Atlanta-based Open Hand today to celebrate a new milestone for the community-based, non-profit organization: The delivery its 20 millionth meal to a chronically ill metropolitan Atlanta resident. Open Hand is the largest provider of home-delivered, medically appropriate meals and nutrition education in the U.S., delivering more than 5,500 meals daily to those challenged by or looking to prevent chronic disease or disability.
Mayor Reed presented a Phoenix Award, the city’s highest honor, to the volunteers at Open Hand’s kitchen, 176 Ottley Drive, and thanked them for their years of dedication and service to the community. Then, Mayor Reed delivered a ceremonial meal to an Open Hand client, Ms. Carolyn Barber, who lives in the Summer Hill neighborhood in the City of Atlanta.
“Metropolitan Atlanta now has 20 million reasons to thank Open Hand and its thousands of volunteers for their many contributions to our city,” said Mayor Reed. “For more than 23 years, Open Hand has provided warm, nutritious meals to residents in need of care and assistance. Open Hand and its volunteers reflect the best of Atlanta. I deeply appreciate the vital work they do in the community every day.”
“Celebrating the delivery of Open Hand’s 20 millionth meal is a remarkable milestone made possible by volunteers, community partners and donors who have supported us since our early days in Atlanta,” said Jacqueline Yeaney, co-president of Open Hand’s board of directors.
By the numbers, Open Hand is powered by more than 25,000 volunteers, 100 to 125 of which are needed on a daily basis. Meal deliveries account for nearly 650,000 miles driven each year while providing about 1.7 million meals annually across 17 Georgia counties. The organization is closing in on its $4.2 million capital campaign goals which will fund a much-needed expansion which will result in a completely renovated 17,000 square-foot facility in 2012, more than tripling Open Hand’s current workspace.
“Open Hand continues to operate with the same core values and guiding principles in place when we opened in 1988,” said Yeaney. “We greatly appreciate the opportunity to help each of our clients become active managers of their health while regaining a sense of independence taken away by a chronic condition.”
Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta Commemorate World AIDS Day
In observance of World AIDS Day, Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta hosted the National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities (NAESM), AID Atlanta and other HIV/AIDS community-based organizations in the atrium of Atlanta City Hall today. NAESM provided free, anonymous HIV testing. In addition, for the second consecutive year, Mayor Reed and the City of Atlanta partnered with (RED) ™ to illuminate City Hall red and raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Atlanta City Hall will remain red for the entire month of December.
“The AIDS epidemic has an immense impact that is felt throughout our city, state, nation and across the globe,” said Mayor Reed. “We must continue to collaborate with our civic and community partners to make further advances in HIV/AIDS research and bring an end to the AIDS epidemic. In honor of those affected by AIDS, I am pleased to show Atlanta’s unified support by illuminating our building in red and joining NAESM, AID Atlanta and many other civic and community partners for World AIDS Day.”
The theme of today’s program was “Getting to Zero – Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths.” Speakers included Candace Byrd, Mayor Reed’s Chief of Staff; Tracy Elliott, Executive Director for AID Atlanta; Rudolph Carn, Founder and CEO, NAESM, Inc.; Kenneth Lee Samuel, Senior Pastor, Victory for the World Church; Leisha McKinley-Beach, Southern Regional Coordinator, Black Aids Institute; and Dr. Patrick O’Neal with the Georgia Department of Public Health.
“This special day serves as the catalyst as to why organizations such as ours and other organizations worldwide provide much needed services, education and at times now ‐‐ advocacy to continue the work that has to be done in order to conquer the alarming increase in numbers of this disease,” said Rudolph Carn, CEO and Founder of NAESM.
In addition to the free, anonymous HIV testing at today’s event, there were nearly a dozen organizations on hand to answer questions about HIV/AIDS, STDs and other related health concerns.
Participating organizations included Aniz Inc., Atlanta Harm Reduction Center Inc., Citywide Projects Inc., Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, Georgia Department of Public Health, Hope Clinic of the Emory Vaccine Center, My Brother’s Keeper Inc., Vitamen, Southeast AIDS Training and Education Center and Traxx Atlanta.
Atlanta joined more than 30 cities around the world to illuminate landmarks in red with the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015.
Mayor Kasim Reed Salutes the Service Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces on Veterans Day
“Today, I am proud to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have served and protected our great nation. As Mayor of the City of Atlanta, I salute the extraordinary individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom, as well as the hundreds of thousands of active duty personnel who continue to provide the blanket of protection for our nation here and abroad.
I know that the entire city and state stand with me in sincere appreciation and gratitude on this special day. Whatever we do today is not enough to honor our military men and women who have given so much. We offer thanks on Veterans Day, but it is my hope that we will strive to give more to our veterans and their families every day, from adequate health insurance coverage to employment opportunities in cities across America.
For those on active duty, we wish you Godspeed on your missions and pray for your safe return home. For our retired veterans, we offer our sincere appreciation for your selfless service. And for our fallen brethren, we shall never forget you.”
You’re Invited: 11th Annual Rev. Joseph E. Lowery Lecture Series on Civic Engagement
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Should the Beltline get T-SPLOST money? Yes
For more than a year, the leadership of the 10-county metropolitan Atlanta region has met to develop a project list for next summer’s critical vote on a 1-cent sales tax for transportation. The five members of the Atlanta Regional Roundtable’s Executive Committee unanimously voted on the preliminary list after carefully vetting the projects on technical performance and deliverability, value and public support.
One project that gained approval is a $602 million allocation for a light rail transit system that will connect several key regional destinations and downtown and Midtown to the Atlanta Beltline and MARTA at the North Avenue and Peachtree Center stations. It also includes a new MARTA station at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. This project performs as well or better than any others on the project list based on the roundtable’s criteria. In fact, three studies by the Atlanta Regional Commission in the past six years have ranked the Atlanta Beltline alone as a top-tier transit priority for the region.
Yet, mayors Eva Galambos of Sandy Springs, Jere Wood of Roswell and Mike Bodker of Johns Creek argue that the Atlanta Beltline is not a regional project. It is worth noting that on Sept. 15, 2010, they stood on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol and publicly opposed the Transportation Investment Act. That is their right, and I respect their position.
However, rather than simply oppose the TIA, they have chosen to create a false debate about whether the Atlanta Beltline is a regional project.
They are running the same tired play of pitting the suburbs against the city. The Atlanta Beltline is popular among the city’s residents, a large population likely to vote in favor of the sales tax, and plays a critical role in whether the measure passes. Accordingly, reducing funding for the Atlanta Beltline and other projects may mean losing the support of these constituents for the TIA.
The north Fulton mayors are aware of this likelihood. I believe they seek to reduce funding for public transit, specifically the Beltline, to create enough discord to guarantee the failure of the referendum. It’s fine to oppose the tax, but these elected officials want it both ways. They oppose the TIA but also advocate for projects that benefit their cities. North Fulton has more than $450 million in transportation projects on the list. I support them because I am a partner with the entire region and want everyone to succeed.
The Atlanta Beltline, with its direct routes into the heart of the city, provides critical last-mile connectivity to major activity and employment destinations in the downtown and Midtown business districts such as Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, CNN, the Georgia World Congress Center and Piedmont Park. There are more than 100,000 jobs within a quarter mile of these transit routes. In combination with other critical investments on the list, Atlanta’s transit project will strengthen the region’s core.
Regions from Dallas to Denver are investing in transit connections. The TIA referendum is our best chance at building transportation infrastructure to restore the economy’s health. If approved, this 1 percent sales tax will provide more than $7 billion over the next 10 years on critical road, transit, pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the 10-county region.
We must rise to the challenge and not let the metropolitan Atlanta region fall behind. If we succumb to old political tactics that attempt to divide Atlanta and the rest of the region, we will all fail.
Let’s not be small. Let’s not fall for this.
This op-ed by Mayor Reed originally appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on September 27, 2011.
