The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has adopted an update to the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The new plan aims to increase economic prosperity across metro Atlanta, with a new focus on equity, resiliency and underserved residents.
“This plan provides a roadmap to help our region build a thriving, inclusive, and resilient economy that works for all residents,” said ARC Executive Director & CEO Anna Roach. “Execution of this plan will require bold action, innovative ideas, and close collaboration. Metro Atlanta cannot truly be successful until all of us have the opportunity to find success.”
The CEDS is updated every five years, which provides the priorities for the 11-county economic development district. As an economic development entity, “fostering economic prosperity” is basically always the goal but the ARC is a largely federally funded organization and hones in on goals passed down from the national level.
The ARC highlighted four areas that this new update includes:
- Make equity the foundation for regional or local economic development initiatives;
- Support development of small and mid-sized business;
- Increase the global and national competitiveness of the metro economy; and,
- Promote economic prosperity and resiliency for all residents.
The ARC is a relatively small organization, focused mainly on community engagement and grant funding, rather than project management or development. The CEDS update was developed over the course of a year, with input from focus groups, surveys, economic forums, and local and regional leaders, among many others.
Of course there is always more that can be done but the next area relatively ripe for development is the south end of ARC’s territory, the communities around Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Aerotropolis Alliance is the economic development entity for that specific region, part Chamber of Commerce, part Development Authority – itself a creation from a previous ARC plan. ARC will be working closely with the Aerotropolis group over the next five years to implement parts of the CEDS plan in that region.
There is a little something for everyone in the plan, a natural outcome since the success of the ARC depends on buy-in from a diverse array of conservative and progressive communities. Equity will be a foundation but one of the priorities will be to find ways to streamline permitting, development and other regulatory measures that can otherwise hinder the development of business from small to large.
“This CEDS update ensures that equity is at the center of the region’s economic development efforts while also focusing on small businesses, which employ about 42% of the region’s workforce,” Stevens said.
The full CEDS report can be found HERE
