Sign Up for
Invest Atlanta News

Making an Impact on Atlanta

Scroll down to see the impact and stories of people and places supported through Invest Atlanta programs.

 

2024 At A Glance

4,250

New Jobs Created (Business Attraction and Expansion)

$1.57B

Total Capital Investment

$1.85B

Total Economic Impact

2,475

Affordable Housing Units Financed (Multifamily)

409

Homeownership Incentives (Downpayment Assistance, Owner-Occupied Rehab and Tax Relief)

1,845

Small Businesses Supported (Grants, Loans and Technical Assistance)

 

See What We’ve Been Up To

{"result":[{"id":515,"title":"Wadada: Serving Up Healthy Living and Hospitality in Atlanta ","promo_title":"Wadada: Serving Up Healthy Living and Hospitality in Atlanta ","published_date":"2024-03-13","featured_image":{"id":2604,"parent_id":5,"resource_file_name":"headshot_wadada_backdrop.png","resource_content_type":"image/png","resource_file_size":4662043,"resource_updated_at":"2024-03-13T12:04:18.143-04:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":1,"created_at":"2024-03-13T12:04:18.954-04:00","updated_at":"2024-04-02T14:52:25.006-04:00","filename_hash":"headshot_wadada_backdrop_g3Dqaoe.png","width":1522,"height":1908},"filename":"wadada-serving-up-healthy-living-and-hospitality-in-atlanta","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"Pw91HQ","created_at":"2024-03-13T12:04:51.316-04:00","updated_at":"2024-04-02T14:52:24.924-04:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n Jeanette Sellers is the proud owner of Wadada Healthy Market \u0026amp; Juice Bar, Atlanta\u0026#39;s first black-owned and woman-owned vegan grocery store and juice bar.\u0026nbsp;\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2024","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eJeanette Sellers is the proud owner of Wadada Healthy Market \u0026amp; Juice Bar, Atlanta\u0026#39;s first Black-owned and woman-owned vegan grocery store and juice bar.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOpened in March of 2019, Wadada is located in Atlanta\u0026rsquo;s historic West End. Alongside fresh produce and herbs, Wadada provides superfood sea moss smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, organic teas and sea moss gel. More than 90 percent of the store\u0026rsquo;s products and vendors are other local Black-owned businesses. Wadada\u0026rsquo;s mission: to serve and support the local community while being a partner in your health journey.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHaving heard about the \u003ca href=\"/businesses/small-businesses/openforbusiness\"\u003eAtlanta Open for Business Fund\u003c/a\u003e from various sources, Jeanette contacted Invest Atlanta\u0026nbsp;regarding a Commercial Property Improvement Grant. \u0026ldquo;Thanks to the grant I received, I was able to enhance my business with new flooring, lighting, mural/artwork and painting,\u0026rdquo; says Jeanette.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe grant, made possible from a $20 million donation from Wells Fargo and in collaboration with United Way of Greater Atlanta, helps Atlanta small business owners own more of their businesses\u0026rsquo; assets, including property and equipment, and enables physical upgrades to their facilities.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhat started out as foundational support expanded quickly into the Atlanta Open for Business Fund team offering additional guidance, including accounting and financial advice through consulting services with \u003ca href=\"http://www.atlinbusiness.com/\"\u003eATLinBusiness\u003c/a\u003e. \u0026ldquo;The team went beyond the scope of the project,\u0026quot; says Jeanette, \u0026quot;They were happy to help in any way they could.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen asked if she would advise others to consider a grant opportunity with Atlanta Open for Business Fund, Jeanette enthusiastically replied: GO FOR IT.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAs a result, Jeanette is able to deliver an enhanced experience to Wadada\u0026rsquo;s target audience of health conscious consumers, fitness community members, and students. \u0026ldquo;Engaging the Atlanta Open for Business Fund helped my business tremendously,\u0026rdquo; said Jeanette. \u0026ldquo;I walked away with information and resources that I really needed. Everyone was super helpful and professional. You can\u0026rsquo;t take it for granted!\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eLearn more about Wadada at \u003ca href=\"https://www.wadadaatl.com/\"\u003ewww.wadadaatl.com/\u003c/a\u003e. Follow along on Instagram @wadada_atl.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003chr /\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https://www.investatlanta.com/businesses/small-businesses/openforbusiness\"\u003eAtlanta Open for Business Fund\u003c/a\u003e is designed to help small business owners in Atlanta build wealth by investing in assets such as commercial space, equipment and technology. It is supported by a generous donation of $20 million from Wells Fargo in partnership with United Way of Greater Atlanta to help Atlanta businesses impacted by the pandemic recover.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Businesses\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":492,"title":"Resilience and Innovation: How Buenos Dias Cafe Thrived with ATLinBusiness Support","promo_title":"Resilience and Innovation: How Buenos Dias Cafe Thrived with ATLinBusiness Support","published_date":"2023-09-26","featured_image":{"id":2507,"parent_id":5,"resource_file_name":"k_j_headshot.jpg","resource_content_type":"image/jpeg","resource_file_size":10532711,"resource_updated_at":"2023-09-26T10:36:16.006-04:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":1,"created_at":"2023-09-26T10:36:17.512-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-26T10:36:35.735-04:00","filename_hash":"k_j_headshot_Oz8BazP.jpg","width":4724,"height":3151},"filename":"resilience-and-innovation-how-buenos-dias-cafe-thrived-with-atlinbusiness-support","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"vFza_A","created_at":"2023-09-26T10:36:35.647-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-26T10:36:35.647-04:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n \n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2023","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eJeannette Flores-Katz and her husband, Ken Katz, had a determined attitude of \u0026ldquo;failure is not an option\u0026rdquo; when they came up with the idea for Buenos Dias Cafe and Pupuseria in 2011. However, they recognized the need for financial support to kickstart their idea, which led them to seek help from Invest Atlanta.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFast forward to 2020, the restaurant faced challenges, particularly due to the restrictions on indoor dining brought about by the pandemic. To ensure the survival of Buenos Dias Cafe, the couple turned to Invest Atlanta once again, this time through the ATLinBusiness program. They were specifically looking for marketing help.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u0026ldquo;We needed to figure out a new way to do business due to the changing landscape,\u0026rdquo; Katz explains.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eRecognizing a need for a stronger online presence to drive traffic to their website and build online delivery services, the restaurant owners were connected with a consultant through ATLinBuinsess. This consultant played a big role in educating them about website development, keywords and search engine optimization (SEO). Their goal was to make sure the restaurant would appear in search results when people looked for Latin food in Atlanta. The collaboration between an ATLinBusiness consultant and Flores-Katz spanned approximately 10 weeks, ultimately enabling them to transition to running their business 100% online.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eATLinBusiness offers no-cost services to small businesses in Atlanta. A key feature of the program is pairing the business with a consultant who has expertise in the area the business requires assistance. Katz says the help was so valuable and encourages other Atlanta businesses entrepreneurs to use these services. He goes on to say that, while it is no-cost to the business, you have to be able to put in the work and actively participate.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eATLinBusiness helped the Katz\u0026rsquo; business survive the pandemic and today, they have been able to rebrand as La Bodega. The restaurant has moved to The MET ATL and has expanded to offer inside seating and a market. As the couple looks back over the past three years they say it was worth the work because it meant staying afloat during a tough economic time.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u0026ldquo;It\u0026rsquo;s not just a case of submitting your issue and letting someone else solve it. It is a collaborative effort. Really a partnership with the consultant,\u0026rdquo; Katz says.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIf you are a small business in the City of Atlanta and interested in learning more about ATLinBusiness, you can \u003ca href=\"https://atlinbusiness.com/\"\u003evisit the website\u003c/a\u003e and begin the process of being partnered with a consultant at no-cost to you.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Businesses\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":448,"title":"Preserving Black Atlanta","promo_title":"Preserving Black Atlanta ","published_date":"2022-07-27","featured_image":{"id":2007,"parent_id":124,"resource_file_name":"1658781525427.jpg","resource_content_type":"image/jpeg","resource_file_size":634467,"resource_updated_at":"2022-07-27T13:53:18.405-04:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":1,"created_at":"2022-07-27T13:53:18.474-04:00","updated_at":"2022-07-27T13:53:26.094-04:00","filename_hash":"1658781525427_aWXykpE.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080},"filename":"preserving-black-atlanta","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"-HQqVw","created_at":"2022-07-27T13:53:26.063-04:00","updated_at":"2022-07-27T13:53:26.063-04:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n Two historic homes in Vine City, owned by notable Black Atlantans, will soon be restored and preserved with help from a $1 million grant from the National Park Service (NPS) to Preserve Black Atlanta (PBA).\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2022","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTwo historic homes in Vine City, owned by notable Black Atlantans, will soon be restored and preserved with help from a $1 million grant from the National Park Service (NPS) to Preserve Black Atlanta (PBA).\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003ePBA is a nonprofit that identifies and advocates for the preservation of buildings and landmarks that document the historical narrative of Black Atlantans. The grant will assist in the restoration of historic homes once owned by George Alexander Towns and Grace Towns Hamilton\u0026ndash;both of whom are tied to the long organizational history of the Civil Rights Movement.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Towns built his own home in 1910. As a co-founder of the Niagara Movement and the Atlanta branch of the NAACP, he often held meetings at his home with James W. Johnson, W.E.B. Du Bois and Walter White.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eGrace Towns Hamilton completed her home in 1956. She was the executive director of the Atlanta Urban League, and in 1966, became the first African-American woman elected to serve in the Georgia House of Representatives.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe homes, which are now owned by Invest Atlanta, have been vacant and subject to vandalism and vagrancy for several years. Invest Atlanta and PBA applied for the grant with the goal of restoring their historic integrity and leveraging them as a community resource and educational space in the future.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Atlanta has a proud legacy of leadership in civil and human rights, and we are truly fortunate to live in a city where we are surrounded by tangible history of movements and their leaders,\u0026rdquo; said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. \u0026ldquo;Thank you to the National Park Service, Preserve Black Atlanta and Invest Atlanta for helping us preserve that legacy for future generations.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, historic preservation is a proven catalyst for economic development. \u0026ldquo;Not only does the historic preservation of buildings help to give people a sense of place and connection to the past,\u0026rdquo; she said, \u0026ldquo;it also drives significant growth in that it helps enhance real estate values and attracts investment and tourism to a community.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe PBA grant is part of $16,247,500 in African American Civil Rights grants awarded by the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Development\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":390,"title":"Affordable Townhomes Coming to Tucker Avenue","promo_title":"Affordable Townhomes Coming to Tucker Avenue","published_date":"2021-02-23","featured_image":{"id":1486,"parent_id":5,"resource_file_name":"screen_shot_2021-02-23_at_4.59.11_pm.png","resource_content_type":"image/png","resource_file_size":2465412,"resource_updated_at":"2021-02-23T16:59:48.003-05:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":1,"created_at":"2021-02-23T16:59:48.109-05:00","updated_at":"2021-02-23T17:00:18.033-05:00","filename_hash":"screen_shot_2021-02-23_at_4.59.11_pm_5EZqwbq.png","width":1828,"height":1004},"filename":"affordable-townhomes-coming-to-tucker-avenue","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"q4eLnQ","created_at":"2021-02-23T17:00:18.004-05:00","updated_at":"2021-02-23T17:00:18.004-05:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n The Invest Atlanta Board has seized on another opportunity to create and support permanently affordable homeownership by approving a $1.17 million grant from the BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD) Increment Fund to the Atlanta Land Trust. This grant will allow for the development of 36 townhomes on Tucker Avenue \u0026ndash; 29 of which will be permanently affordable.\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2021","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Invest Atlanta Board has seized on another opportunity to create and support permanently affordable homeownership by approving a $1.17 million grant from the BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD) Increment Fund to the Atlanta Land Trust. This grant will allow for the development of 36 townhomes on Tucker Avenue \u0026ndash; 29 of which will be permanently affordable.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe project originally was approved in July 2019 for the creation of 23 townhome units, but according to Anita Allgood, director of Single Family \u0026amp; Homeownership Services for Invest Atlanta,\u003c/span\u003e the project team went back to the drawing board, secured a new development partner and created a new site plan that includes additional affordable units.In the first phase of the project, seven units will be offered at market rate to assist in moving the project forward.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe $1.17 million funding request is in line with Atlanta BeltLine funding guidelines at $40,000 per affordable unit and nets an additional six permanently affordable units for a total of 29 permanently affordable units \u0026ndash; 18 will be available at 80% Area Median Income (AMI), 11 will be at 100% AMI and seven will be at market rate.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePotential homebuyers who fall within these income ranges also will be eligible for down payment assistance programs from Invest Atlanta, Atlanta Housing and the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Homebuying/ Homeownership\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":294,"title":"Urban Land Institute Atlanta Recognizes John H. Harland Boys \u0026 Girls Club","promo_title":"Urban Land Institute Atlanta Recognizes John H. Harland Boys \u0026 Girls Club","published_date":"2019-09-16","featured_image":{"id":996,"parent_id":5,"resource_file_name":"hardland_insights.png","resource_content_type":"image/png","resource_file_size":1084465,"resource_updated_at":"2019-09-16T10:21:30.713-04:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":2,"created_at":"2019-09-16T10:21:30.787-04:00","updated_at":"2019-09-17T14:35:16.891-04:00","filename_hash":"hardland_insights_6aee82v.png","width":1200,"height":570},"filename":"urban-land-institute-atlanta-recognizes-john-h-harland-boys-girls-club","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"YbDbng","created_at":"2019-09-16T10:22:56.563-04:00","updated_at":"2019-09-17T14:35:16.846-04:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n As part of its 25th-anniversary celebration, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Atlanta honored the John H. Harland Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club: The Innovation \u0026amp; Expression Studio with its Excellence in Civic/Institutional Development Award.\u0026nbsp;\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2019","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAs part of its 25th-anniversary celebration, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Atlanta honored the John H. Harland Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club: The Innovation \u0026amp; Expression Studio with its Excellence in Civic/Institutional Development Award. Atlanta Emerging Markets, Inc. (AEMI) supported the project, a two-story 25,143-square-foot art- and innovation-focused Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club, with a New Markets Tax Credit allocation.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe ULI Atlanta Awards recognize\u0026nbsp;outstanding Atlanta area projects that exemplify the ULI\u0026rsquo;s mission to provide \u0026ldquo;leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe John H. Harland Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club: The Innovation \u0026amp; Expression Studio\u0026nbsp;replaced an underutilized and outdated Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club on the same land. The Harland T.I.E.S Club includes an art studio, maker space, teen loft, and spoken word caf\u0026eacute;, teaching kitchen and gym. The project is located in the West End, and serves the Washington cluster of Atlanta Public Schools, along with multiple public charter schools, with after-school programming.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eConstruction began in 2018 on the first-ever Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club focused on the arts in the nation. This club is part of a national study supported by the Wallace Foundation focused on exploring how high-quality arts programs can drive positive developmental outcomes for youth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe children and teens at TIES will have access to programming in the visual, performing, and culinary arts. Stephanie Blank, the outgoing Corporate Board chair for the Boys \u0026amp; Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta announced that they had established partnerships with creative arts groups to provide training and educational support. The organizations include the Woodruff Arts Center, the High Museum of Art, Alliance Theater, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Georgia State University, Moving in the Spirit, Museum of Design Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts, and re:imagine/ATL.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAtlanta Emerging Markets, Inc. (AEMI) supported the new center through a $7 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation. AEMI is a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Entity (CDE) created by Invest Atlanta in 2006 that specializes in providing gap financing for projects that create jobs and revitalize Atlanta\u0026rsquo;s distressed neighborhoods.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eOther funding partners included The Harland Foundation, Chick-fil-A Foundation, Georgia-Pacific Foundation, LUBO Fund, Piedmont Charitable Foundation, SunTrust Bank Foundation, Toll Charitable Foundation, Wish Foundation, Fidelity Foundation, and the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA)\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Development\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":248,"title":"Third Street Goods Opens Doors in Grant Park","promo_title":"Third Street Goods Opens Doors in Grant Park","published_date":"2019-02-16","featured_image":{"id":823,"parent_id":5,"resource_file_name":"third_street_goods.png","resource_content_type":"image/png","resource_file_size":972960,"resource_updated_at":"2019-02-21T15:26:19.822-05:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":2,"created_at":"2019-02-21T15:26:19.881-05:00","updated_at":"2019-02-21T15:26:50.862-05:00","filename_hash":"third_street_goods_vlEM2Xx.png","width":1200,"height":582},"filename":"third-street-goods-opens-doors-in-grant-park","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"iRYnPA","created_at":"2019-02-21T15:26:50.830-05:00","updated_at":"2019-02-21T15:26:50.830-05:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n Third Street Goods is a neighborhood market that combines the freshness of a farmer\u0026rsquo;s market and the convenience of a big-name grocery.\u0026nbsp;\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2019","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThird Street Goods is a neighborhood market that combines the freshness of a farmer\u0026rsquo;s market and the convenience of a big-name grocery. Plus, there\u0026rsquo;s a coffee counter and a speak-easy style bar in the back.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eCo-owners Holli Medley and Kathryn DiMenichi are part of a local movement to keep clean, sustainably sourced food approachable and affordable. And, they passionately support like-minded businesses by stocking the shelves with their products.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn fact, Holli and Kathryn honed a list of 65,000 line items to 650, filtering everything from a product\u0026rsquo;s relative distance from its producer and employee care, to the whole ingredients used, environmental stewardship, quality, value, cost, beauty \u0026hellip; and of course, flavor.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;We work with co-ops, farmer\u0026rsquo;s markets and female-, minority- and employee-owned businesses who are committed to doing the right thing,\u0026rdquo; says Kathryn. \u0026ldquo;It may not be possible to always stock a perfect selection of unadulterated foods within this bottom-line driven FDA-approved food production system, but we might be able to help turn the ship around, starting with our approved list of 650 items.\u0026rdquo; Located 420 feet off the Beltline at the Beacon in Grant Park, Third Street Goods offers cured and raw meats, cheeses, canned goods, snacks, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and bulk items, as well as limited convenience food and ready-made family meals.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHolli and Kathryn launched the idea of Third Street Goods through a Kickstarter campaign, but a $67,000 loan from Invest Atlanta via Atlanta Emerging Markets Inc. (AEMI) pulled them through the final stretch to opening their doors. \u0026ldquo;Out of all our experiences to get here, Invest Atlanta was by far the most helpful,\u0026rdquo; says Holli. \u0026ldquo;We presented them with our 9-pound business plan (literally), and they were straight-forward, easy to work with and prompt in every way. It\u0026rsquo;s in their name \u0026ndash; they want small businesses in Atlanta to succeed.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe market\u0026rsquo;s name is a nod to Kathryn\u0026rsquo;s paternal great-grandparents, who lived on Third Street.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Whenever something is really delicious, my dad always says, \u0026lsquo;That\u0026rsquo;s Third Street good,\u0026rsquo;\u0026rdquo; explains Kathryn. \u0026ldquo;Food memories are so strong and so important. They take you to another place and time.\u0026rdquo; Cardinal, the bar nestled in the back of Third Street Goods, is meant to be a magical surprise for market patrons. \u0026ldquo;Cardinals represent our ancestors,\u0026rdquo; says Holli, who originally met Kathryn when they both worked as bartenders. \u0026ldquo;If you\u0026rsquo;re ever in a moment of stress or need to slow things down and a cardinal appears, you know someone is looking out for you and everything will be ok.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eRead more stories about how Invest Atlanta has helped local small businesses in our \u003ca href=\"https://www.investatlanta.com/assets/investatlanta-annualreport-2018_ZOBqxv8.pdf\"\u003e2018 Annual Report\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Businesses\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":247,"title":"Hop City Expanding to 5th Location With Help From Invest Atlanta","promo_title":"Hop City Expanding to 5th Location With Help From Invest Atlanta","published_date":"2019-02-12","featured_image":{"id":822,"parent_id":5,"resource_file_name":"hop_city.png","resource_content_type":"image/png","resource_file_size":1137258,"resource_updated_at":"2019-02-21T15:20:52.125-05:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":2,"created_at":"2019-02-21T15:20:52.243-05:00","updated_at":"2019-02-21T15:21:26.817-05:00","filename_hash":"hop_city_DNaqk7v.png","width":1200,"height":563},"filename":"hop-city-expanding-to-5th-location-with-help-from-invest-atlanta","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"MeyXGA","created_at":"2019-02-21T15:21:26.778-05:00","updated_at":"2019-02-21T15:21:26.778-05:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n Kraig is again working with Invest Atlanta to finance the renovations for his fifth location in Atlanta\u0026rsquo;s West End. Invest Atlanta also is helping him staff the new location through a local job bank.\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2019","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eKraig Torres likes his beer. He\u0026rsquo;s traveled the world tasting different stouts, porters, ambers and lagers \u0026ndash; you name it, he\u0026rsquo;s tried it. That love of beer led him to open Hop City Craft Beer \u0026amp; Wine in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;I\u0026rsquo;ve been passionate about beer since it was legal for me to drink,\u0026rdquo; laughs Kraig. He never dreamed it would eventually become his profession. But all in due time.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eKraig first partnered with Invest Atlanta back in 2003 \u0026ndash; not to pursue his passion for beer, but to open a collision and body shop. Invest Atlanta provided financing to help Kraig purchase the space for his business. After several years restoring mangled cars, Kraig decided the time had come to pursue his true passion. He opened the first Hop City Craft Beer \u0026amp; Wine in West Midtown with 12 taps and became the forefather of Georgia\u0026rsquo;s beer growler scene.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt that time, craft beer consumption in Georgia was at 4 percent; today it\u0026rsquo;s 20 percent and growing. \u0026ldquo;The public has decided this is what beer is supposed to taste like,\u0026rdquo; says Kraig. \u0026ldquo;I\u0026rsquo;m proud of my brewing friends and all they\u0026rsquo;ve accomplished; it\u0026rsquo;s hard to believe how much the market has grown.\u0026rdquo; Kraig and his team have grown Hop City in the process. When he first opened his doors, he had four employees. Today, he\u0026rsquo;s about to open his fifth location (three in Atlanta, one in Alpharetta and one in Birmingham, Alabama) and will have 150 employees across his platform. Home to the East Coast\u0026rsquo;s largest selection of beer, Hop City has indeed made a name for itself \u0026ndash; including being recognized as one of the country\u0026rsquo;s top 10 retailers by RateBeer and being awarded an A+ by Beer Advocate.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Atlanta is a really vibrant city,\u0026rdquo; says Kraig. \u0026ldquo;It\u0026rsquo;s a fun melting pot of personality and culture. The best part of my job is meeting new people and introducing them to all the great beer that\u0026rsquo;s being brewed today.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eKraig is again working with Invest Atlanta to finance the renovations for his fifth location in Atlanta\u0026rsquo;s West End. Invest Atlanta also is helping him staff the new location through a local job bank. \u0026ldquo;It\u0026rsquo;s an easy partnership,\u0026rdquo; says Kraig. \u0026ldquo;They\u0026rsquo;re always willing to listen. If you have a smart business plan and are willing to put in the work, Invest Atlanta can help you achieve your dream.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eRead more stories about\u0026nbsp;how Invest Atlanta has helped local small businesses in our \u003ca href=\"https://www.investatlanta.com/assets/investatlanta-annualreport-2018_ZOBqxv8.pdf\"\u003e2018 Annual Report\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Businesses\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":244,"title":"Westside Warmup Kicks Off Super Bowl Activities in Southwest Atlanta","promo_title":"Westside Warmup Kicks Off Super Bowl Activities in Southwest Atlanta","published_date":"2019-01-31","featured_image":{"id":801,"parent_id":5,"resource_file_name":"151a3166-2.jpg","resource_content_type":"image/jpeg","resource_file_size":4456465,"resource_updated_at":"2019-01-31T09:57:17.634-05:00","caption":"Westside Warmup 2","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":2,"created_at":"2019-01-31T09:57:17.911-05:00","updated_at":"2019-01-31T10:19:55.538-05:00","filename_hash":"151a3166-2_W1orMEj.jpg","width":5760,"height":3237},"filename":"westside-warmup-kicks-off-super-bowl-activities-in-southwest-atlanta","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"3B2HvQ","created_at":"2019-01-31T10:17:23.136-05:00","updated_at":"2019-01-31T10:19:55.507-05:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n Supported by Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., the City of Atlanta Planning Department, and Invest Atlanta, the Westside Warmup brought community and business leaders together to showcase Southwest Atlanta in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2019","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSupported by Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., the City of Atlanta Planning Department, and Invest Atlanta, the Westside Warmup brought community and business leaders together to showcase Southwest Atlanta in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThe purpose of the event was to highlight the unique neighborhoods, rich culture, and growing businesses in the area. \u0026ldquo;With upwards of $2 billion in tourism dollars anticipated, ABI wanted to help facilitate an event in historic southwest Atlanta for community businesses to take advantage of the Super Bowl economy,\u0026rdquo; said Clyde Higgs, interim President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nThe event took place across three locations near the Atlanta Beltline Westside Trail. Activities began at the West End MARTA Station soccer fields, StationSoccer.\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"https://www.soccerstreets.org/station-soccer-play\"\u003eStationSoccer\u003c/a\u003e, a program by Soccer in the Streets, is the world\u0026rsquo;s first transit soccer league and hosted soccer matches for both children and adults. The South Atlanta High School drumline also performed throughout the beginning of the event to get guests excited for the remainder of festivities.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\nFollowing the activities at StationSoccer, the South Atlanta High School drumline led guests down Lee Street to\u0026nbsp;\u003ca href=\"http://www.leeandwhiteatl.com/\"\u003eLee + White\u003c/a\u003e, the West End\u0026rsquo;s newest food and beverage district. In addition to local craft brewery Monday Night Garage hosting happy hour, there were jazz musical performances by the Atlanta Music Project, football skills courses, kombucha tastings from Cultured South, and various food vendors.\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003cbr /\u003e\r\n\u003ca href=\"https://www.640westatl.com/\"\u003e640 West Caf\u0026eacute;\u003c/a\u003e, a community caf\u0026eacute; and event space, was the final stop of the event and featured live music, artists performances, and a vendor market with more than 40 participants featuring local food, artists, businesses, and artisans.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;To get a truly authentic Atlanta experience, you have to come to the westside,\u0026rdquo; said Higgs.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Businesses\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"},{"id":7,"title":"Boys \u0026 Girls Club Breaks Ground on The Innovation \u0026 Expression Studio","promo_title":"Boys \u0026 Girls Club's Innovation \u0026 Expression Studio Breaks Ground","published_date":"2017-10-12","featured_image":{"id":212,"parent_id":33,"resource_file_name":"bgc_pro_v1_feature.jpg","resource_content_type":"image/jpeg","resource_file_size":86117,"resource_updated_at":"2017-12-20T13:01:21.824-05:00","caption":"","description":null,"attachable_id":null,"attachable_type":null,"assets_resource_uses_count":1,"created_at":"2017-12-20T13:01:21.978-05:00","updated_at":"2017-12-20T13:03:40.444-05:00","filename_hash":"bgc_pro_v1_feature_W1aevkj.jpg","width":570,"height":428},"filename":"boys-girls-club-breaks-ground-on-the-innovation-expression-studio","meta_data_id":null,"published":true,"token":"LJIFTQ","created_at":"2017-12-20T13:03:39.926-05:00","updated_at":"2017-12-20T13:03:39.926-05:00","video_link":"","promo_description":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg-basic promo_description\"\u003e\n The Harland Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club broke ground on their new creative arts hub: The Innovation and Expression Studio (TIES).\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","project_year":"2017","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"datatype-wysiwyg content\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOn Tuesday, October 10, the John H. Harland Boys \u0026amp; Girls Club in the West End of Atlanta broke ground on their new creative arts hub: The Innovation and Expression Studio (TIES).\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe new 27,000 square-foot space will provide arts and innovation programming to more than 200 children and teens per day. Both current members of the Harland Club, as well as youth from the surrounding area, will have access to TIES.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;The focus is going to remain the same, helping kids reach their full potential,\u0026rdquo; said SunTrust CEO Bill Rogers during the speaking portion of the program. \u0026ldquo;But we\u0026rsquo;ll use creative youth development approach driven by arts, innovation, and expression.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe children and teens at TIES will have access to programming in the visual, performing, and culinary arts. Stephanie Blank, the outgoing Corporate Board chair for the Boys \u0026amp; Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta announced that they had established partnerships with creative arts groups to provide training and educational support. The organizations include the Woodruff Arts Center, the High Museum of Art, Alliance Theater, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Georgia State University, Moving in the Spirit, Museum of Design Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts, and re:imagine/ATL.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAtlanta Emerging Markets, Inc. (AEMI) supported the new center through a $7 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation. Other funding partners included The Harland Foundation, Chick-fil-A Foundation, Georgia-Pacific Foundation, LUBO Fund, Piedmont Charitable Foundation, SunTrust Bank Foundation, Toll Charitable Foundation, Wish Foundation, Fidelity Foundation, and the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA).\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eAEMI is a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Entity (CDE) created by Invest Atlanta in 2006 that specializes in providing gap financing for projects that create jobs and revitalize Atlanta\u0026rsquo;s distressed neighborhoods.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\n\u003c/div\u003e\n","category_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field category_id\"\u003e\n Development\n\u003c/span\u003e\n","location_id":"\u003cspan class=\"datatype-select_field location_id\"\u003e\n West End\n\u003c/span\u003e\n"}]}
Back to Top