After Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell said the city and Mayor Kasim Reed should not rush into multi-year contracts during his administration especially as a federal corruption investigation is underway, the mayor spent most of an afternoon press conference blasting Mitchell.
Category: Contributors
Posted inLatest News
Southern Co. decides to move forward on Plant Vogtle project
Atlanta-based Southern Co. has decided to push forward with completion of an over-budget, behind-schedule nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle rather than give up on what has ballooned into a $25.2 billion project.
Southern affiliate Georgia Power Co. filed a recommendation Thursday with the state Public Service Commission (PSC) to continue construction at the nuclear plant south of Augusta, Ga. The project’s co-owners, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities all supported the recommendation, Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power told Atlanta Business Chronicle in an exclusive interview minutes after the announcement.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: ‘Something transformational’ happening at Atlanta Ballet
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on August 25, 2017
As the Atlanta Ballet experiences an artistic transformation, it is launching the public phase of its “The Time is Now” campaign. The $23.5 million campaign is focused on the company’s artistic programming as well as building its endowment. So far, $15.1 million has been raised towards the campaign.
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At long last – Martin Luther King Jr. statue anchored on Georgia’s capitol grounds
A statue of Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled Monday morning on the grounds of the State Capitol – exactly 54 years after the slain Civil Rights leader delivered his “I have a dream” speech during the March on Washington.
For Georgia, it was a moment of celebration.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Unprecedented effort underway to fight low literacy
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on August 18, 2017
Low literacy — whether it’s among youth or adults — hurts the state’s economic potential and is a leading cause of poverty.
Now an unprecedented collaboration is underway in Georgia to address low literacy with a multi-generational approach.
The Georgia Literacy Commission, which held its third public meeting in Tifton on Aug. 14, reflects that collaboration. Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal is one of the commission’s co-chairs along with Wendell Dallas of Atlanta Gas Light; Phil Jacobs, a retired AT&T Georgia president; and Teya Ryan of Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: How Junior Achievement is changing education in Atlanta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on August 4,, 2017
Don’t tell anybody, but Junior Achievement of Georgia is changing high school education in metro Atlanta.
It’s called the JA Academy, and as of the beginning of this school year, there are three up-and-running in three different school districts – each with hundreds of students being immersed in a new curriculum designed by JA of Georgia.
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Brian McGowan: BeltLine a catalyst to making Atlanta more equitable
Three hours after being named as the next president and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc. Wednesday morning, Brian McGowan was having lunch at Ponce City Market with Ryan Gravel, the visionary who first proposed the BeltLine concept in his Georgia Tech Master’s thesis.
“I’m optimistic he will be able to take the BeltLine in a direction it needs to go,” Gravel said of his Wednesday meeting with McGowan. “I’m always excited about the opportunity to shift the leadership so the project can reach the potential we have been talking about all these years.”
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Paul Morris out, Brian McGowan in at Atlanta Beltline
Atlanta BeltLine Inc. (ABI) is replacing President and CEO Paul Morriswith a former top executive with Invest Atlanta and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
Following an executive session Wednesday morning, the Beltline’s Board of Directors voted to elect Brian McGowan as the agency’s new president and CEO. Morris is stepping down from the position effective Sept. 11.
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Paul Morris exiting as CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, following board meeting Wednesday morning
Paul Morris, president and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc., is on his way out.
The board of Atlanta BeltLine Inc. met in executive session Wednesday morning for less than an hour, when it decided that there would be a change in leadership.
Morris has been under fire for the past month, largely because the BeltLine has not fulfilled its goals for affordable housing along the 22-mile corridor.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
New Auburn Avenue co-working space aims to foster big ideas
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on August 4, 2017
An Atlanta developer is planning an innovative co-working space along one of Atlanta’s most historic streets — a project that’s already lured high-profile investors including top Home Depot executives.
Gene Kansas Commercial Real Estate plans to open Constellations, a $2 million project that will offer “culturally-inspired” workspace with the hope of bringing together great minds who care about making a difference in the city.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: How an Atlanta nonprofit has helped 10,000 students
By Maria Saporta As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 28,, 2017 The Truancy Intervention Project was “hatched” by Alston & Bird attorney Terry Walsh and Juvenile Court Judge Glenda Hatchett back in the early 1990s. After being named to the bench, one of the first people Hatchett heard from was Walsh, then […]
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Retired Home Depot CEO Frank Blake: ‘I really don’t like Amazon’
Frank Blake, the retired chairman and CEO of the Home Depot, is not a fan of Amazon – a company that is disrupting the retailing industry.
“Amazon is a dark star,” Blake said. “I really don’t like Amazon.”
Blake was the guest speaker Monday at the Rotary Club of Atlanta, where he was asked about the impact of e-commerce on retailing.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: TOUR Championship aims to become premier Atlanta sporting event
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 21, 2017
A concerted effort is underway to elevate the annual TOUR Championship as one of Atlanta’s premier sporting events.
As evidence, the TOUR Championship has hired Bob Williams, former president of the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena, as its executive chairman who will work on building stronger relationships between the TOUR and Atlanta’s business and hospitality community.
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Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration issues response to latest Maria’s Metro column
Note to readers: Here is a press release issued Wednesday by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration in response to a Maria’s Metro column that appeared this week. At SaportaReport, we strongly believe in being as fair as we can be, and we are publishing Reed’s response in its entirety. Naturally, there is tension between public officials and journalists. Obviously, my relationship with Mayor Reed is no exception. Despite what the mayor says, I do my best to provide accurate information in my stories and columns. When I do offer a point of view, it is based on facts, journalistic standards and my love for Atlanta. Also, please know that as a reporter, I have never endorsed any particular candidate. It was true in 2009, and it is true today. I will continue to call things as I see them. I’ve been a reporter for 37 years, and I’ve developed a tough skin and will not be bullied or intimidated. Thanks for reading SaportaReport. Maria
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Westside’s At-Promise Youth Center seeks to be a game-changer
The tagline says it all: “Our Youth are At-Promise, Not At-Risk.”
The At-Promise Youth Center in English Avenue officially opened after a warm ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 1 – the culmination of dozens of partners in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
The $2 million-plus facility will be a place to divert young people from having a possible experience in the criminal justice system. Instead, it will be a place that will seek to get to the root causes of juvenile-behavior issues and be a place to their lives around.
Posted inLatest News
New Friendship Baptist Church opens its doors – looking forward, not backwards
Friendship Baptist Church has its own home once more.
After three years of being in temporary quarters, the historic congregation of Friendship Baptist Church held its first service in its new home on Sunday.
At the first service, there were songs of rejoice and an uplifting spirit – following feelings of displacement, dissension and disorientation.
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Atlanta BeltLine CEO Paul Morris could be on his way out
During a talk at the Atlanta Commerce Club, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed implied he might be making a leadership change at Atlanta BeltLine Inc., the city’s arm in charge of development along the 22-mile corridor.
In response to an attendee’s question about affordable housing along the BeltLine, Reed said there was going to be more funds available to improve equity along the corridor.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Reed eyes ‘reactivating’ Civic Center redevelopment
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 21, 2017
The Civic Center property may soon be back in play.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is exploring “reactivating” the 18-acre Civic Center site and possibly putting it back on the market.
Posted inLatest News
Mercedes-Benz Stadium will keep its roof closed until later in the fall
Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay looked up to the partially-closed roof of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a tour on Tuesday with board members of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.
“Not one drop of water can come in,” McKay said. That is the requirement of the NCAA when a Final Four tournament is played in a facility.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Mercedes-Benz USA going strong as it marks two years in Atlanta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 14, 2017
Mercedes-Benz USA moved its headquarters to metro Atlanta exactly two years ago (in July, 2015), and the luxury car company has been going non-stop ever since.
“It feels like we’ve been here forever,” said Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA and the regional head of North America, which includes Canada and Mexico.
