What Is Invest Atlanta? A 2025 Guide to the City’s Economic Powerhouse

• The Nuts and Bolts of Invest Atlanta
• More Than Just Dollars and Cents
• Small Business, Big Impact
• The Atlanta Local Legacy Program
• Global Vision, Local Focus
• Frequently Asked Questions

Ever wondered who's behind Atlanta's skyline transformations and neighborhood revivals? Meet Invest Atlanta – the city's economic development juggernaut that's been quietly shaping Atlanta's growth since its inception. More than just a government agency, this powerhouse combines financial savvy with community-focused initiatives to keep Atlanta competitive on the global stage while ensuring local businesses and residents aren't left behind. From million-dollar business grants to innovative anti-displacement programs, Invest Atlanta wears many hats. Let's peel back the layers of this influential organization that's helping write Atlanta's next chapter.

The Nuts and Bolts of Invest Atlanta

Invest Atlanta isn't your typical government office – it's actually three organizations rolled into one. The Urban Residential Finance Authority, Downtown Development Authority, and Atlanta Economic Renaissance Corporation all operate under this single banner. Think of them as Atlanta's economic power trio, each bringing specialized expertise to tackle the city's development challenges.

Governed by a nine-member board chaired by Atlanta's mayor (currently Andre Dickens), Invest Atlanta wields significant financial tools that shape the city's growth. Their toolkit includes:

• Bond financing for major projects
• Revolving loan funds for businesses
• Tax increment financing for neighborhood improvements
• Housing financing programs
• Various tax credit initiatives

What makes Invest Atlanta stand out? In 2015, they achieved a major milestone by becoming Georgia's first economic development agency to earn accreditation from the International Economic Development Council. This put them in an elite group of only three such accredited organizations in the entire Southeast region.

Their work extends beyond just financing. Invest Atlanta serves as a connector between businesses, educational institutions, and civic organizations. They've developed programs focused on job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and supporting entrepreneurs. One notable initiative is their Small Business Improvement Grants, which have provided $50,000 awards to legacy businesses like The Atlanta Voice newspaper and Henri's Bakery.

The organization also prioritizes equitable development through programs like the Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund, designed to help long-time residents cope with rising property taxes. This commitment to balancing growth with community preservation reflects their broader mission to create prosperity across all of Atlanta's neighborhoods.

More Than Just Dollars and Cents

Invest Atlanta's innovative approach to economic development focuses on creating measurable community impact while fostering sustainable growth. The agency's 2024 initiatives demonstrate how strategic investments can simultaneously preserve neighborhood character and stimulate local economies.

One standout program is the Legacy Business Preservation Fund, which awarded $250,000 in matching grants to five historic businesses in 2023. Recipients included:

• A 57-year-old jazz club upgrading its sound system
• Atlanta's oldest continuously operating bookstore expanding its inventory system
• A family-owned soul food restaurant modernizing its kitchen equipment

The organization's Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization Program takes a block-by-block approach, combining facade improvements with business development services. Recent projects have transformed:

Invest Atlanta's creative financing solutions include a first-of-its-kind Cultural Heritage Bond program, providing low-interest loans for preserving historically significant properties. The agency also partners with local universities to offer free business consulting services to legacy entrepreneurs, ensuring they remain competitive in changing markets.

These targeted initiatives reflect the organization's commitment to equitable development that respects Atlanta's history while building its economic future. As one community leader noted, "Invest Atlanta understands that real progress means growing without erasing what makes our neighborhoods special."

Small Business, Big Impact

Invest Atlanta's 2024 Legacy Business Grants spotlight five iconic establishments that embody the city's cultural resilience. The August awards targeted operational upgrades that blend preservation with modernization, ensuring these community pillars continue thriving.

The grant recipients showcase Atlanta's diverse entrepreneurial spirit across generations:

• Atlanta Human Performance Center will enhance accessibility features, removing physical barriers for patients in the Greenbriar area while maintaining its personalized care approach.
• Fred Martin Welding Co. plans to preserve its historic workshop's authenticity through structural restoration, safeguarding nearly a century of metalworking craftsmanship.
• RWL German Imports will expand its vintage auto facility, creating space to maintain Atlanta's automotive heritage while accommodating growing demand for classic car services.

Mayor Dickens highlighted the program's strategic value: "These investments protect the living history of our commercial corridors while future-proofing neighborhood institutions." The grants complement Invest Atlanta's $36.2 million toolkit that combines capital with business development resources.

Dr. Klementich emphasized the multiplier effect: "Every dollar preserves jobs, maintains character-defining storefronts, and keeps wealth within communities." Early projections suggest the infrastructure improvements will enable recipients to collectively serve 30% more customers while reducing operational costs.

The Atlanta Local Legacy Program

For enterprises approaching but not yet reaching the 30-year benchmark, Invest Atlanta introduces a specialized support framework—the Atlanta Local Legacy Program. This initiative serves as a springboard for maturing businesses, blending recognition with practical resources to fortify their market position.

Participants gain access to a strategic advantage package:

• Digital Footprint Expansion: Featured placement on a curated business directory with geotagged mapping capabilities for enhanced local discovery.
• Technology Advancement Funds: Competitive $5,000 modernization awards for implementing point-of-sale systems, inventory management software, or e-commerce platforms.
• Progressive Funding Access: Priority consideration for larger capital infusion opportunities upon reaching program benchmarks.

Preliminary analysis indicates these measures will catalyze operational transformations across multiple sectors. The digital inclusion component alone is projected to increase customer acquisition rates by 18-22% for enrolled businesses, while the technology grants enable measurable efficiency gains averaging 30% reduction in administrative processing times.

This transitional program reflects a nuanced approach to economic development, recognizing that business longevity requires both celebration and strategic investment during critical growth phases. By addressing the specific needs of established-but-evolving enterprises, the initiative creates a pipeline for sustained commercial vitality across Atlanta's neighborhoods.

Global Vision, Local Focus

While deeply rooted in Atlanta's neighborhoods, Invest Atlanta operates with global ambitions. As the city's economic development authority, it serves as both a local catalyst and an international connector, bridging Atlanta's businesses with regional, national, and worldwide opportunities.

The organization's powerful network includes Fortune 500 companies, leading academic institutions like Georgia Tech and Emory University, and influential civic organizations. This diverse coalition works in concert to maintain Atlanta's competitive edge in an increasingly globalized economy.

Invest Atlanta strategically leverages the city's unique assets:

• Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport - the world's busiest
• A concentration of top-ranked universities
• One of the nation's most diverse talent pools

Through innovative public-private partnerships, the authority addresses critical urban challenges while capitalizing on growth opportunities. Their initiatives span:

What makes Invest Atlanta particularly effective is its dual focus - maintaining global competitiveness while ensuring local communities benefit from economic growth. The organization's work with legacy businesses exemplifies this approach. Recent $50,000 grants to establishments like Henri's Bakery (founded 1929) and The Atlanta Voice newspaper demonstrate commitment to preserving cultural landmarks while helping them modernize.

This balance between global ambition and neighborhood impact creates a unique model for urban development. As one staff member noted, "We're planting trees whose shade we may never sit under, but we're equally focused on the gardens that need tending today."

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does Invest Atlanta do?

Invest Atlanta serves as the city's official economic development authority, using financial tools like tax incentives and bond financing to spur job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and business growth while ensuring equitable access to opportunities.

How can small businesses benefit from Invest Atlanta?

Through programs like the Small Business Improvement Grants and Local Legacy Program, businesses can receive funding for improvements, modernization, and expansion, particularly if they're established neighborhood institutions.

What's unique about Invest Atlanta's approach?

They combine traditional economic development strategies with a strong equity focus, implementing initiatives like the Anti-Displacement Tax Relief Fund to ensure growth benefits all Atlantans regardless of neighborhood or background.

How is Invest Atlanta funded?

They operate through a combination of public funds and private donations, with specific programs often funded through targeted sources like Tax Allocation Districts or private trust funds.

Who oversees Invest Atlanta?

A nine-member board chaired by Atlanta's mayor governs the organization, which comprises three component authorities: the Urban Residential Finance Authority, Downtown Development Authority, and Atlanta Economic Renaissance Corporation.