Invest Atlanta

Earlier this month we joined the ribbon cutting for 3Corners LLC. Chloe Floyd and her family own commercial buildings on three corners of McDaniel Street in Atlanta's Pittsburgh neighborhood. After hearing about the Atlanta Open for Business Commercial Property Improvement Grant from one of her tenants, Chloe jumped to action to ensure her other business owners also knew of the opportunity. Through the Commercial Property Improvement Grant, four businesses on these three corners were able to renovate their businesses, revitalizing this commercial corridor in turn. Congratulations to SBM Contracting, Kilgore Music, Lavysh Stylz, and the Sports Plug! We are excited to watch your continued impact in the Pittsburgh community. #MovingAtlantaForward #BlackBusinessMonth #AtlantaOpenforBusiness

We might be biased, but we think it’s pretty great, too!

Koncept House is an entrepreneur community located in Castleberry Hill. Founder Anthony Gee recognized a need for nontraditional co-working space that provides a creative environment for entrepreneurs. As the waitlist of entrepreneurs continued to grow, Anthony realized they needed a second location. Through the Atlanta Open for Business Commercial Down Payment Assistance program, Koncept House is currently under construction for their second location in Capitol View projected to open in September. #MovingAtlantaForward #BlackBusinessMonth

Are you an Atlanta homeowner impacted by increased property taxes? You may be eligible for the Invest Atlanta Anti-Displacement Tax Relief program. Seniors 60+ in our pilot neighborhoods may be eligible to apply. Applications close Saturday, August 17. Visit https://lnkd.in/em9SVyNQ to learn more. Need application assistance? Call 855-582-3973 #MovingAtlantaForward

Affectionately known as Lillie, or Momma, Ms. Randle is well known at the Lakewood Christian Manor senior facility. At 95 years old, she stays busy exercising, dancing and even jumping rope, though, she claims, not like she used to. Most of all, Ms. Randle likes being with other people. Ms. Randle is an Atlanta native. She lived in the same house for much of her life, was brought up in the church, sang in the choir, raised seven children and worked as a receptionist for the Atlanta Lung Association for 25 years. After her husband passed and her children were grown, Ms. Randle was in search of a retirement home. At Lakewood Christian Manor, she found a sense of community. “Everyone is kind and treats me with respect,” says Ms. Randle. “I like it here. It’s real nice.” Ms. Randle has called Lakewood Christian Manor home since 1990. She lived on the ninth floor for 30 years but moved to the second floor after a recent renovation made possible by a $17.5 million tax-exempt loan from Invest Atlanta. Maintaining affordability was a key component of Lakewood's renovation, which includes 21 units at 30% area median income (AMI), 154 units at 50% AMI and 75 units at 60% AMI. This type of affordability is a strategic priority for Mayor Andre Dickens and the City of Atlanta, which has a goal to create and preserve 20,000 affordable housing units by 2030. And it’s crucial for legacy residents, ensuring they can remain in their communities amid rapid growth and rising home prices. For Ms. Randle, it allows her to continue to thrive in the place she loves and spend time with the people she loves – one of which includes her daughter, who moved to Lakewood a few years ago. “I was taught to be kind, have a strong faith in God and treat everyone right,” says Ms. Randle. “The Lakewood community treats me right, and I appreciate that.” #MovingAtlantaForward

Are you an Atlanta homeowner impacted by increased property taxes? You may be eligible for the Invest Atlanta Anti-Displacement Tax Relief program. This program aims to mitigate displacement of legacy residents and alleviate the burden of rising property taxes for Atlanta residents. Applications close Saturday, August 17. Visit https://lnkd.in/em9SVyNQ to learn more and view full eligibility requirements. #MovingAtlantaForward

For Dillon Moses, founder of Dillon Digitals, now operating as OceanViews AI, building a technology company goes hand in hand with building an inclusive community. As the leader of a Black-owned technology company leveraging data analysis and AI, Dillon embodies the belief that technology is a multiplier for good. His journey highlights the potential to transform gaps into opportunities. Dillon began his career as a technology consultant, working with organizations like US Bank, where he honed his skills identifying data patterns to solve complex problems. In 2012, he launched Dillon Digital to combat a troubling trend: technology often exacerbates income inequality. His goal is to break these barriers and provide unbiased AI data analyst insights. “Our mission is to find ways for technology to positively impact society,” said Dillon. Dillon knew he needed alternative funding sources to grow his business because underrepresented entrepreneurs receive less than 2% of Venture Capital funding. An opportunity came his way when he learned about Atlanta Open for Business through a colleague who attended an Invest Atlanta networking event. Learning about Invest Atlanta’s involvement in the start-up community excited Dillon as he viewed the organization as a bridge to help diversify Atlanta’s blossoming tech scene. Oceanviews AI was selected as the first Atlanta Start-up Growth Loan Program recipient and awarded $150,000. The funding, part of the Atlanta Open for Business Fund, provided a six-month runway to build and scale without the immediate pressure of repayment. Dillon used the funds to hire an additional software engineer and upgrade the company's servers–both critical investments to enable the development of advanced technology solutions, including AI, to expand the organization’s reach and impact. #MovingAtlantaForward #BlackBusinessMonth

Our Atlanta Open for Business team is back with another great event, connecting you to opportunities to own commercial property. Join Invest Atlanta and our partners on August 15 for information on how to take your business from renting to owning through the Commercial Down Payment Assistance program and learn more about Historic District Development Corporation's newest development, The Front Porch. Register at investatlanta.com/events.

Happy Black Business Month! In 2023, 80% of the small businesses Invest Atlanta funded were Black-owned. We are committed to creating equity and prosperity by reducing barriers Black business owners face acquiring funding. Follow along this month as we share stories of some of the entrepreneurs we've supported. #BlackBusinessMonth #MovingAtlantaForward

🚀 Calling all Atlanta Startups and Ecosystem Partners! 🚀 The 2024 Atlanta Startup Awards is now accepting applications! With 9 exciting categories, there’s a place for everyone. Apply by 11:59 pm Sunday, August 18th, 2024. Don’t miss out! 👉 https://lnkd.in/g2enZqk6