Atlanta Ranked Among “Best Cities for Jobs”
Atlanta was ranked fourth nationally in Forbes.com's “Best Cities for Jobs 2008,” largely due to the city’s transportation options, cost of living, and the distribution and financial services industries.
Forbes.com weighed the following data points equally to identify the 2008 “Best” list: the state unemployment rate, job growth, income growth, median household income and 2006 cost of living. The 100 largest metropolitan areas, as identified by the U.S. Census Bureau, were measured. Data was obtained from Moody’s Economy.com.
Adding 10,000 new jobs by 2009 was one of the economic development plan (EDP) goals identified by Mayor Shirley Franklin in 2005. The City relies largely on its economic development agency, the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA), toward that end.
ADA job-generating initiatives and programs include: business incentives like direct loans, bond financing, tax incentives, permitting assistance and location advisory services; a closing fund, approved by the Atlanta City Council in 2006, which allowed the City to incentivize significant job creation projects such as Wipro (1000 jobs) and Habitat for Humanity (750 jobs); and international business development mission trips.
The Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) also provides free employer recruitment and training services to business owners. Every Tuesday AWDA hosts a job fair. For more information, visit www.atlantaworkforce.org.
“We have a vibrant entrepreneurial community, well established Fortune 500 companies and Hartsfield-Jackson Airport which puts us at the center of global commerce,” said Charles Whatley, director of ADA’s newly expanded Commerce and Entrepreneurship department. “Recent college grads and young professionals continue to choose Atlanta because it is a great place to live and there are interesting jobs available.”
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New Water Sewers, Mains Finished On Time and Under Budget
Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) joined Atlanta City Councilmembers, community members and stakeholders to celebrate the on-time, on-budget completion of the $300 million sewer separation program.
The sewer separation program is part of the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Consent Decree. A CSO is an overflow created when stormwater gets inside a combined sewer pipe and carries stormwater and sewage. Work involved construction of more than 34 miles of sanitary sewers, 1,000 manholes and 103,000 feet of water mains.
This major community improvement program – begun in 2000 – will help eliminate CSOs in the Greensferry, McDaniel and Stockade sewer basins and provide additional sewer capacity to support future development.
“We are very proud of this work,” Mayor Franklin said. “And we want to take this opportunity to thank the communities that endured traffic detours, noise and dust during the project. We appreciate their patience, and we know that they will be happy with the results.”
The City recognized the completion of the program with a barbecue lunch for residents and community representatives.
For More Information on the $3.9 billion Clean Water Atlanta Program, Visit www.cleanwateratlanta.org.
Mayor Shirley Franklin and Watershed Commissioner Rob Hunter (pictured second from left) celebrate the completion of the $300M sewer separation program with a community celebration at Southside High School. Pictured (l-r) Councilmember Carla Smith (District 1), Hunter, Mayor Franklin, Si-Man of 102.5FM, and Councilmember Mary Norwood (District 2-at-large) with Southside High Band. |
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City Provides Free Tax Prep, Helps Eligible Taxpayers Claim Unclaimed Benefits
On Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. the City of Atlanta and several public-private partners will host Super Saturday – an annual event that provides free tax preparations and e-filing services to low and moderate income residents.
Qualified families must earn less than $39,000. Super Saturday will be held at the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Center located at 818 Pollard Boulevard, Atlanta, GA, 30315.
Super Saturday is part of an Earned Income Tax Credit awareness campaign. The Earned Income Tax Credit is an under-utilized tax benefit that assists low income workers. Those eligible may receive up to a $4,716 tax credit when filing a 2007 Federal return.
In addition to free tax preparation, banking, credit counseling, and home ownership information will be available. There will also be free health screenings, a mini job and college fair, and youth activities.
Residents are encouraged to walk-in and bring all necessary tax documents. For more information, call the VITA Center at 404.880.7234.
Super Saturday Partners Include: Mayor’s Office of Weed and Seed, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, the Atlanta Prosperity Campaign, the Center for Working Families, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Vendors and Other Partners Include: Best Bank, Bond Credit Union, Regions Bank, Consumer Credit Counseling Service, Habitat for Humanity, Sullivan Center, Beehive, UCDC, Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation, Georgia Dream, GSU Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, IRS (SPEC/Tax Payer Advocate), and Get Checking.
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Camp Best Friends Registration Begins March 17
Camp Best Friends – the City’s premier summer program facilitated by the Office of Recreation – will begin registration for the 2008 summer season on Monday March 17.
“Learn and Play the Camp Best Friends Way” is available to over 2,500 youth ages 5-16 at various Atlanta recreation facilities. There are eight specialty camps and 15 day camps. Specialty camp programs include: therapeutics, golf, Camp Allatoona, tennis, track and field, and swim.
The 2008 season begins June 2 – July 25. Extended camp hours are being offered at four locations from July 28 – August 8. Fees for Atlanta residents is $30/week per child; $90/week for non-residents.
Residents and non-residents can register at the individual camp locations. For a list of locations - and extended camps – call 404.817.6765.
Campers enjoy activities with Camp Best Friends. |
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Mayor Shirley Franklin recently delivered a keynote address at the fifth annual "Women Doing Business In the City of Atlanta 2008 Conference." This annual conference and workshop is presented by the Atlanta Commission on Women (ACOW) and connects female business owners and leaders with resources, networking opportunities and information. Click here to go to the Video On Demand (VOD) webpage to hear Mayor Franklin’s address.
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Rave Reviews!
- Georgia Power recently recognized the Atlanta Police Department (APD) for its efforts to arrest subjects involved with copper thefts. Georgia Power has had 34 incidents of copper thefts, linked to seven suspects arrested by APD Zone One officers. Some of these arrests have resulted in criminal convictions. Georgia Power Corporate Security Director, Margaret Levine, presented eight APD officers from Zone One and a Zone One prosecutor with awards for their service.
Pictured (first row, l-r)): APD Officer Justin Andresen; Prosecutor Kimani King; Officer Brian Ernest; Officer Patrick Meagan; Investigator Kerry Buchanan; and Officer Barry Oliver. Pictured (second row, l-r): Georgia Power Corporate Security Director Margaret Levine; APD Officer Demitri Jacques; Officer Bernett Collins; Mr. Philip Peacock (Georgia Power); and Officer Alfred Watkins. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- Keep Atlanta Beautiful is calling for entries from students in grades K-12 for the Stepping Lightly in Atlanta Awards, an environmental initiative held in conjunction with the City’s Arms Around Atlanta – Earth Day Celebration. Stepping Lightly in Atlanta empowers students to be advocates for a sustainable environment in their own community. Students are invited to submit entries for model projects that demonstrate how they have reduced their ecological footprint in their home, class, school or community. Topics can include water conservation, organic gardens, waste reduction, energy and transportation. Participation guidelines are available at www.keepatlantabeautiful.org. Entries must be submitted by March 28, 2008.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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