ATLANTA (Nov. 7, 2011) - Atlanta gets its chance this week to show corporate real estate executives, economic development officials and site selection consultants why the city is a great place for business and businesses.
More than 1,700 people are here today and tomorrow for CoreNet Global's Fall Summit at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The conference has a large economic development component as officials from cities, counties and states get an audience with sought-after decision-makers at America's top companies.
(In his post from the conference, Duke Long provides a nice primer on CoreNet.)
Atlanta last hosted the Fall Summit about 10 years ago - before the Georgia Aquarium, Allen Plaza, New World of Coca-Cola and several other downtown destintions existed. This time around, downtown Atlanta offered some "there," and erased previous concerns about Atlanta as a city with "no 'there" there." (Plus, as seen above, someone took the time to create Atlanta in ice, so the city's obviously still the cool choice of corporations.)
The mood this year has proven surprisingly upbeat at the Summit, themed "Social Dynamics: Connectivity: Creativity: Realtionships." Several attendees said they expect market fundamentals to improve next year.
Before the official Opening Reception at the Georgia Aquarium, local and state economic development officials hosted an Atlanta VIP reception in the aquarium's Arctic Ballroom.
Top real estate execs from companies such as Equifax and Lockheed Martin mingled with economic development officials and commercial real estate brokers who represent large companies and new requirements. (In photo above, Jones Lang LaSalle tenant rep Gregg Metcalf, left, talks economic development with Atlanta Development Authority's Amanda Shailendra and Bill Cronin, new vice president of ADA.)
So, it's Atlanta's time to shine. The sun's out, the right people are here, and there's plenty of prime office space, warehouses and raw land available.
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