Record attendance at South Metro conference
The 18th annual South Metro Development Outlook (SMDO) Conference was held recently at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in College Park, drawing participation by more than 700 business, government, education and civic leaders. The record number of attendees took part in a day filled with presentations and panel discussions reaffirming that the region is poised for strong economic growth. Among the topics were the aerotropolis and community improvement districts (CIDs), smart cities and communities, transportation and an update on the region’s economic health.
Economic development activities highlighted were:
- Amazon’s new Coweta County fulfillment center that will employ 500
- College Park’s preparations for Airport City, a 375-acre mixed use development
- The new AC Hotel, which is connected by SkyTrain to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- MARTA’s plans for a maintenance and multipurpose facility in Clayton County that is expected to add jobs and renovations to the airport train station
At the SMDO Conference, which aims to foster economic growth and innovation in Atlanta’s South Metro region, a number of leadership awards were also presented. These included:
- Catalytic Economic Development Award: Coweta County and the Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company
- Trail Blazer Award: City of Forest Park and the Gillem Logistics Center
- Public Service Leadership Award: Union City Mayor Vince Williams
- Livable Centers Initiative Development Award: City of Hapeville
- Economic Development Excellence Awards: Douglas County and Switch Inc., and Henry County and Sangsin Technology America
- Corporate Leadership Award: Georgia Power
- Women in Sports Leadership Award: Mercedes Miller, executive director, GICC; Mary Brock, co-owner, Atlanta Dream; Kelly Loeffler, co-owner, Atlanta Dream and U.S. senator; Janice Koon, project director, College Park Skyhawks
- Women in Public Service Recognition: South Metro Women Mayors Bianca Motley Broom, College Park; Deana Holiday Ingraham, East Point; Elizabeth Carr-Hurst, Fairburn; Angelyne Butler, Forest Park; Joy B. Day, Jonesboro; Evelyn Wynn-Dixon, Riverdale; Rochelle Robinson, Douglasville; Vanessa Fleisch, Peachtree City
Photo by Averi Washington. Forest Park Mayor Angelyne Butler, right, presented the Trail Blazer Award to David Welch, CEO of Robinson Weeks Partners, developer of the city’s Gillem Logistics Center
Learn more about Douglasville and Douglas County in this month’s feature, “Welcoming Disrupter.”
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