GNFCC CEO Brandon Beach [pictured below] has been recruiting companies to North Fulton -- and creating thousands of new jobs in the process -- since he first took over the burgeoning Chamber nearly a decade ago.

But with the Atlanta metro region's unemployment still hovering in double digits, Beach says that's not enough. "We have to do more to showcase our core business assets along the Georgia 400 corridor," Beach says. "So we've created a new initiative to take our message of economic prosperity, the most potent fiber-optics and energy grid in Georgia, great schools, a superior workforce and one of best lifestyles in the nation to the next level."

Beach and his GNFCC Board have created a new initiative of the Chamber that will be singularly focused on recruiting more companies -- and creating much- needed new jobs -- within their marketing footprint, defined as the area that runs along Georgia 400 from north from Sandy Springs to the southern boundary of Forsyth County.

It's called, "Progress Partners of North Fulton Atlanta: Six Distinct Cities, One Unique Opportunity."

Beach started his newest economic growth plan by recruiting top talent to run it. Progress Partners (PP) named Al Nash [pictured right], a seasoned and savvy corporate executive with strong ties to the metro area's business, economic development and political leadership, as its Executive Director.

PP seed funding, estimated at about $750,000, has come through donations and future financial pledges from some of the area's leading business leaders and companies. "Our start-up capital has come mainly via the private sector from corporate entities and entrepreneurs that share our vision of leveraging our legacy assets to tell the world our story and show everyone what we have to offer. The more companies that see what we can do for them and their associates, the more will choose to locate here," Beach maintained.

Beach's GNFCC has recruited about 10,000 new jobs to the North Fulton area – called the "Golden Corridor" – since he took over the GNFCC a decade ago.

PP is designed to position North Fulton as one of the top destinations in Atlanta for long-term economic growth and superior quality of life.

"Through this initiative we combine the best attributes of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs," explained Nash.

"Our primary aim is to develop and communicate a strong unified message that positions the North Fulton corridor as the first choice for national or international companies seeking to establish or relocate its corporate headquarters," Nash maintained. "While our Chamber has done a magnificent job in bringing a significant number of new companies to the Golden Corridor, the region as a whole has never been branded or marketed. Given the opportunity to do that, our success will be exponential," he predicted.

Nash says the region has six very distinct and unique cities in North Fulton that have done a remarkable job in branding themselves. "Our goal is take full advantage of our cities' fabulous individual assets and combine them into one seamless marketing message with a single and unified branding approach," Nash said. "This gives us the best opportunity to both retain the jobs we have and go after new jobs."

Nash says he and his new team at PP have a lot to take to market.

Mission critical power and data

North Fulton is the mission critical data center of the southeast, now home to over 30 of the biggest call, data and information centers in the country. It's also the area of choice for numerous Fortune 500 companies, such as Exide Technologies, Global Payments, and Spectrum Brands.  "The cornerstone of our attractiveness to data centers is the sophisticated network of fiber-optic cable installed under most of North Fulton," Nash shared. "This gives our data companies the fastest, most reliable and least costly power and cyber service grid available anywhere south of Washington, D.C along the eastern sphere."

Medical and healthcare

With 5,100 physicians, five nationally acclaimed hospitals, the region's only Level Two Trauma Center, and 1,500 available beds, North Fulton Atlanta's Golden Corridor has become the southeast leader in quality healthcare. "The Golden Corridor has recently transformed into one of the nation's leading health care quadrants," said Nash. "Along with some of the best hospitals in the southeast, our region is attractive to the medical community because of its research capabilities, led by Emory University School of Medicine -- a nationally ranked medical institute, Georgia Insitute of Technology and the University of Georgia's research facilities." Nash asserts that's the reason so many physicians have located to the area.

Healthcare technology

"Georgia is home to more than 13,000 technology companies employing more than 250,000 Georgians," said Governor Nathan Deal in a recent address he made on Healthcare technology in North Fulton. "From the companies developing cutting-edge technology, to the men and women who use it every day across a variety of industries, our state is on the forefront of healthcare progress.

And the Golden Corridor is leading the charge.

"The growth of our technology sector is a lynchpin of economic expansion and job creation along Ga. 400's Golden Corridor," said Nash. "Our superior fiber- optics network, abundance of affordable and accessible power from our energy grid, combined with the superior lifestyle we offer has transformed North Fulton into the undisputed Silicon Valley of the Southeast."

North Fulton is home to a number of healthcare technology industry leaders, including: Agilysys, EMS Technologies, IHG, McKesson, Siemens and many more.

Telecommunications

Both Verizon and AT&T have located some of their largest activity centers in North Fulton, making it attractive to other companies who serve the telecommunications industry.

Financial and insurance services

With over 2,000,000 square feet of financial- and insurance-dominated office space now leased, North Fulton is the new epicenter for the financial and insurance services industry. "From financial institutions to insurance companies to investment houses, North Fulton is now the leading the nation in financial and insurance services industry growth," Nash said. "This speaks not only to the area's level of education and affluence, but to its future vibrancy as well."

General Business and Logistics

With major international distribution companies relocating their headquarters to North Fulton, like UPS and Rubbermaid, the region has transformed itself into a business and logistical headquarters hub. "We have the jobs without the trucks," Nash offered. "It's the best possible scenario."

Innovation and skilled workforce

Nash is bullish on the Golden Corridor's creativity and research. "With Georgia Institute of Technology right down the road and our new emerging entrepreneurial-driven business climate, we are quickly becoming the creative nerve center of the southeast rim", Nash said. "Couple that with our new technical college coming to North Fulton, and we'll soon be on the cutting edge of delivering a highly-honed, diverse and skilled workforce to any company that locates to North Fulton."

 Education

North Fulton consistently ranks among the top academic echelon of both of public and private education in the country. With some of the highest test scores in America, great athletic programs, and state-of-the-art high schools, North Fulton's secondary educational opportunities are heralded nationally.

Lifestyle

 With a wide variety of affordable housing to meet every taste, the best combined city park systems in the southeast, 23 acclaimed golf courses, low crime rates and walking and bicycle paths that rival anything east of the Rockies, North Fulton is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live, work and play in America.

"Our objective is serve as facilitator between businesses and local governments," Progress Partner's new Executive Director said.

"It's our time to shine, and our market is the world." 

Comments? Post below...