Category: Columns

An Atlanta-based airport concessionaire that was awarded a major contract at Atlanta’s airport is the subject of litigation in Orlando that dates to an airport contract it won there in 2007.

The case illustrates the fierceness of battle that can be waged over government contracts to sell products to airline passengers. The Atlanta contracts are valued at about $3 billion over a lifespan of seven to 10 years. The Orlando case involves a 15-year, $300 million contract.

The situation now before U.S. District Court in Orlando has some interesting twists. The losing vendor, which is seeking to oust the Atlanta company, was founded by a man whom federal authorities charged in 2002 in relation to allegations that he had ties to Middle East terrorist organizations.

Two recent media advisories from the Atlanta Regional Commission are of note, arriving as they do at a critical moment in the campaign for a 1 percent sales tax for transportation.

Taken cumulatively, the advisories sent last week fill the void of two purported campaigns being waged by advocates: One campaign is for public awareness of the July 31 sales tax referendum and the projects it would fund; and one is to encourage voters to support the sales tax. To date, both campaigns have been mostly silent in public.

The first ARC advisory, which pertains to air quality in metro Atlanta, also underscores the import of two recent political appointees – one by President Barrack Obama, one by Gov. Nathan Deal.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s transit task force has recommended making GRTA responsible for all transit operations in the state – except MARTA, according to a report made public Wednesday.

The proposed legislation (available here) is included in the report and is more than 50 pages long. The proposal significantly rewrites Title 50 of the Georgia Code, which creates the structure for GRTA – the Georgia Regional Transporation Authority.

The draft legislation specifically says the authority will not have control over MARTA. But it does say that MARTA may sign an agreement with GRTA and would gain more flexibility over its spending if such an agreement existed.

Atlanta announced today that a contested airport concessions contract already signed by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has been revoked, following the city’s investigation into complaints filed by a losing vendor.

Atlanta’s news statement says that evidence submitted by a losing vendor was accurate, and sufficient to compel the city to halt the contract.

The contract was not among the $3 billion in food and beverage contracts the Atlanta City Council approved on Jan. 3. But the case has been closely watched by the losing food and beverage vendors because of its implications for those contracts.

For the first time, Atlanta-area business leaders will visit China with the main goal of selling goods and services rather than bringing home foreign direct investment.

China has an appetite for metro Atlanta’s products including bio-tech, health care, information technology, and some of what the region is well known for – architecture, construction and engineering services, according to Ric Hubler, director of global business growth for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

“China is a very large market with phenomenal growth and abundant business opportunities for Atlanta companies,” said Hans Gant, the chamber’s senior vice president of economic development. “International trade leads to the type of quality jobs that we want to create here in metro Atlanta, and it makes our companies stronger in the global economy.”

A senior vice president of an Atlanta development company, who serves on the state authority overseeing the redevelopment of Fort McPherson, says he won’t vote on his employer’s proposal to the authority to redevelop part of the fort.

John Akin is a senior vice president of Carter, whose specialty is multi-family investments. Carter and H.J. Russell & Co. comprise one of two teams that have submitted proposals to develop a 113-acre node of residential and commercial uses at the 488-acre Fort McPherson.

The other joint venture is led by Cleveland-based Forest City, with local partners Cousins Properties and Integral Group. In November, the consortium closed a deal with the state Department of Transportation to build the bus/rail/transit station, and environs, that is to transform Downtown into a vibrant urban core. “The gulch” is the affectionate local name for the locale.