Atlanta: City of Opportunity
Origins
From its humble beginnings as a railroad terminus in the early 1800s, Metro Atlanta has grown to become one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic regions – and a major player on the global stage. The metro area continues to be a strong draw to those relocating, with a population that is rapidly diversifying.
This vibrant region is the economic capital of the Southeast and boasts world-class universities, the world’s most-traveled airport and a lively arts and culture scene. Metro Atlanta is also known for its warm hospitality, temperate climate and vast tree canopy – it’s a city in a forest.
Economy & Business
Metro Atlanta is the ninth largest metro economy in the nation with a GDP of $397.3 billion, and it is one of the 10 most economically diverse metro areas in the nation.
Home to 30 of America’s largest corporations (FORTUNE 1000), including 16 ranked in the elite Fortune 500, as well as approximately 200 of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies (Inc. 5000), metro Atlanta is a premier location for the headquarters of companies across industries. The region has also attracted 40 corporate innovation centers primarily in Midtown, where the Georgia Institute of Technology is located.
Fortune 500 Firms Headquartered in Atlanta
A business-friendly environment and low cost of doing business are key elements for why companies choose metro Atlanta. Site Selection magazine named Georgia the #1 state for business climate from 2013-2019. Area Development magazine ranked Georgia the #1 state for doing business 2014-2020. KPMG indexed Atlanta with the lowest relative cost of doing business of the nation’s ten largest metro areas (2016).
Many corporations are drawn to the city by its educated workforce; as of 2014, 45% of adults aged 25 or older residing in the city have at least 4-year college degrees, compared to the national average of 28%.
Metro Atlanta is one of the nation’s most important logistics hubs and boasts a growing technology sector. The region has also become one of the nation’s top spots for film and video production.
The Atlanta region is expected to add more than 1.2 million jobs by 2050. The top sectors will be health care, retail, education, professional, and scientific.
