The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is giving a three-year, $6.8 million grant to Atlanta-based CARE, signaling a new international partnership to foster economic development, influence policy change and provide humanitarian aid for people affected by natural and man-made disasters.
Author Archives: Maria Saporta
Maria Saporta, executive editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and urban affairs journalist with a deep knowledge of our city, our region and state. From 2008 to 2020, she wrote weekly columns and news stories for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Prior to that, she spent 27 years with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, becoming its business columnist in 1991. Maria received her Master’s degree in urban studies from Georgia State and her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Maria was born in Atlanta to European parents and has two young adult children. She launched SaportaReport in February 2009.
Posted inMaria Saporta
Fountain Hall and elementary school designed by John Portman make 2020 ‘Places in Peril’ list
The historic Fountain Hall on the Atlanta University Center campus made the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2020 “Places in Peril” list.
It was one of 10 sites that the Georgia Trust is highlighting as places in Georgia most worthy in being preserved and those that are most threatened to being demolished.
Posted inMaria's Metro
Public speaks out on behalf of Atlanta’s trees
Atlanta residents are speaking loud and clear. Trees matter.
For nearly two years, the city and its consultants have been working on a new tree ordinance. Countless community meetings have been held. And the public has been promised draft legislation of a new ordinance since June.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Olympics bombing hero Richard Jewell to be honored in Atlanta: ‘We felt like it was the right thing to do’
Richard Jewell, the hero of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic bombing incident, will be honored by the Georgia World Congress Center with a plaque at Centennial Olympic Park.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Stephanie Stuckey becomes CEO of her family’s famous roadside chain
Environmentalist Ethel “Stephanie” Stuckey is making a career switch. At the request of her father, Stuckey has agreed to become president and CEO of the iconic American roadside franchise chain – Stuckey’s.
Posted inMaria's Metro
Mourning the loss of dozens of trees along Peachtree in Midtown
It is not a good time to be a tree in Midtown Atlanta.
Trees are being cut down at three high-profile sites along Peachtree Street – and what’s most amazing is that in each of these cases, these trees have been in public hands – either the city of Atlanta or the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Posted inColumns
As we wait for high-speed rail, please bring back the AMTRAK station bus stop
Here we go again.
The Georgia Department of Transportation on Oct. 22 hosted a public presentation to present three possible corridors for high-speed rail service between Atlanta and Charlotte.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Southeast’s greenest building opens at Georgia Tech
When philanthropist Diana Blank saw the completed Kendeda Living Building on Georgia Tech’s campus earlier this month, it took her breath away.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
American Cancer Society expanding its global efforts to Africa
The Atlanta-based American Cancer Society is expanding its reach beyond the borders of the United States to fight cancer.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Coca-Cola to refresh its iconic sign at downtown’s Five Points
The Coca-Cola sign at downtown’s Five Points will shine brightly for years to come.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Atlanta SBA chief adds new role at White House office
Ashley D. Bell, the Southeastern regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, is adding a new role.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Investment from GoAtl Fund will boost affordable housing in South Atlanta
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s relatively new impact investment fund – the GoATL Fund – has closed on a $500,000 loan to Focused Community Strategies to boost affordable housing in the historic South Atlanta neighborhood.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
A rival to Hollywood: Tyler Perry unveils his new Atlanta studios for the world
By Maria Saporta As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Oct. 4, 2019 At a grand opening gala on Oct. 5, Tyler Perry will unveil to the world all he has created at Tyler Perry Studios since 2015 when he bought 330 acres of the former Fort McPherson. An A-list of national celebrities and leaders are expected to […]
Posted inColumns
Atlanta’s ‘can do’ spirit fading into ‘dysfunction junction’
Some days living in Atlanta is depressing.
Last Thursday (Oct. 17), was one of those days – marked by two events back-to-back.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Atlanta Habitat for Humanity to break ground on 30-acre community
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity will break ground on its new Browns Mill Village on Oct. 9 – a new and innovative venture in affordable home ownership.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Atlanta nonprofit acquires HQ property: ‘A really big milestone for us’
Southface, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that promotes green building and sustainability practices, had reason to celebrate at its Visionary Dinner on Sept. 19.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Atlanta woman leading campaign to end Target’s use of plastic shopping bags
An Atlanta woman is taking on Target’s use of plastic bags in a “Theresa versus Goliath” campaign.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Housing authority chair makes first comments since death of his children, ex-wife
It’s a time of healing at the Atlanta Housing Authority.
At its Sept. 10 board meeting, the authority unanimously selected Eugene Jones Jr. as its new president and CEO. Jones will begin his post on Oct. 7 after he wraps up being president and CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority on Sept. 27.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Zoo’s Savanna Hall project could be forced to halt construction
Zoo Atlanta’s transformation of Savanna Hall could come to a halt in a matter of days due to inaction on the part of the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Atlanta set to host Smart City Expo, will explore ‘inclusive economy’
When Aarti Tandon was looking for the right city to anchor an annual “Smart City Expo” in the United States, she settled on Atlanta.
“We felt Atlanta was the ideal market to hold this conference,” said Tandon, co-founder and CEO of Smart City Expo Atlanta, a spin-off of the world-renowned Smart City Expo World Congress that’s been held in Barcelona since 2011.
