AERO INSIDER: October 2024

Headliner

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the 4th Annual Aerotropolis Honors on Wednesday! Here's a quick glimpse of the incredible evening we shared.

We are deeply grateful to our amazing sponsors, the outstanding Dr. Kim McNair, and all our attendees for their continued support.

It was indeed an honor to recognize retired Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport former General Manager Balram "B" Bheodari, A.A.E, IAP, for his outstanding contributions and leadership— and the City of Union City Mayor Vince Williams with the first-annual Jack P. Longino Leadership Award. We can't wait for next year! Stay tuned for more highlights from this memorable evening.

Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance and Georgia Power Company collaborated for the 4th Annual “Aerotropolis Networking Mixer” during the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) Conference in Savannah, GA. Several GA EcDev project managers, brokers, and site selectors joined us in building relationships. We enjoyed dedicated space at Vic’s River Grill while highlighting our region surrounding Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in South Fulton and Clayton County. Thank you to all of our attendees, Georgia Power, for your continued partnership, and GEDA for supporting our efforts

Another successful Aero Clayton County Catalytic Site bus tour is in the books! A huge thank you to our amazing partners and all the participants who joined us today.

Check out these highlights! Stay tuned for more details on our next adventure.

Clayton County Office of Economic Development

City of Jonesboro, Georgia

City of Forest Park

City of Lovejoy

City of Lake City

City of Riverdale

Moving Clayton Forward

We had an amazing time at Moving Clayton Forward, where vibrant discussions took place about Clayton County's anticipated growth and development.

Thank you to The Collaborative Firm, LLC for sponsoring breakfast and Clayton County Public Schools for hosting us at the beautiful Clayton County Performing Arts Center. A special shoutout to the talented students of the Clayton County Public Schools Culinary Arts program for their delicious contributions and Anna Roach with Atlanta Regional Commission for serving as our keynote speaker!

Great content was shared as the county now moves towards zoning rewrites to support current plans and studies to be adopted.

Our Workforce Development Collective met this week, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the presenter. The meeting led to working together towards co-hosting a community hiring fair with local industry, colleges and universities, and key resource partners. This event will be hosted at Tri-Cities High School in March 2025 and available for all working-age residents and those seeking to advance their careers.

STRIVE Atlanta Cohort

Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance recently took part in the Smart City Workshop at Georgia Tech, where experimental projects were outlined to positively impact the surrounding community. These projects focused on:

• Resilient Airport Systems
• Sustainable Technology Master Planning
• Urban Air Mobility (UAM)
• Airport-Oriented Development (AOD) through Urban Design

It was a pleasure to collaborate, and we look forward to exploring future opportunities together.

The Atlanta Regional Commission has approved an amendment to the regional Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), which allocates $265.4 million in federal and state funds for transportation projects throughout metro Atlanta.

This amendment includes $38.2 million in congressionally directed spending grants, $219.6 million in federal discretionary grants, and $7.5 million from Georgia DOT formula fund sources. It supports 33 new projects and enhances 12 existing ones, including:

Flint River Gateway Trails

A total of $65 million has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the development of a 31-mile multi-use trail network. This trail will link the Atlanta BeltLine in Southwest Atlanta with Clayton County and the Tri-Cities area of College Park, East Point, and Hapeville, encompassing the headwaters of the Flint River. The funds, provided through the federal Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods program, will be used to construct three trail segments and plan nine additional sections.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hosted its 11th sister airport agreement signing with the distinguished group from Airports Company South Africa. The signing marks the beginning of collaboration and sharing of knowledge and best practices.

The first installation of the College Park Gateway Pedestrian Bridge has begun! Stay tuned for more updates.

The Clayton County Office of Economic Development invites you to its new office location! (Near Spivey Splash Water Park)

Three Georgia-based organizations have been awarded nearly $4.5 million in grants from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to enhance financial security for residents in Atlanta’s Historic Westside neighborhoods of English Avenue and Vine City. These grants will deliver essential workforce development support, equipping residents with the education, training, and job placement opportunities necessary for economic advancement.

Of this total, $2.5 million will be allocated to Atlanta Technical College’s (ATC) Westside High Growth Industry Pathways program. This program aims to provide career training to 400 residents in high-demand sectors such as electrical linework and transportation, distribution, and logistics (TDL). Graduates will earn industry-recognized credentials and gain direct job placement opportunities with partner employers.

Our President & CEO, Shannon James, recently contributed to the Sustainable Airports Area International Conference, held from September 25-27th in Beijing-Daxing, China. Shannon delivered a short video presentation highlighting the innovative work being done in Atlanta, GA, to build a thriving and sustainable Aerotropolis.



This global platform allowed us to share key developments and our vision for sustainable growth in the airport area, contributing to the international dialogue on creating future-forward, eco-friendly airport communities.

Stay tuned as we continue to engage with global leaders and drive impact right here in Atlanta!

Last Month, Forest Park residents hopped aboard the trolley for a unique "off the rails" experience as the city launched its first-ever guided tour. The ride showed the community’s rich history and highlighted exciting current developments.

Executive Director, Gerald McDowell, highlighted the importance of this initiative in creating a vibrant, economically robust environment around the world’s busiest airport.

Shift tackles the mobility challenges faced by thousands of workers, especially those in hourly or shift-based roles. Long commutes and inconsistent transportation options can often hinder both personal and business growth. This program seeks to bridge those gaps by connecting people to available transportation options and offering incentives to make commuting easier. Stay tuned for more updates!