びびなび : アトランタ : (アメリカ合衆国) Atlanta

** Note From The Mayor
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September 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FEaijOpngA

Click for Video on Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative
with COS Courtney English

Stronger Neighborhoods for All Atlantans

Atlanta has been a ‘tale of two cities’ for long enough. While some communities have thrived, some have struggled – mostly on the south and west sides of our city. Social and economic inequalities in those communities have resulted in high poverty rates, poor health outcomes, and low graduation rates. Additionally, a lack of investment in these areas has led to considerably less access to quality jobs, fresh food and manageable commutes.

This is why I proudly stood before hundreds of community leaders and residents to introduce the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative. This ambitious vision will make purposeful investments in the people and places that have been left behind for decades. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative is a cornerstone of my Moving Atlanta Forward agenda, with my North Star of making Atlanta the best place to raise a child and bringing opportunity, jobs, and business growth to these underserved areas.

We intend to bring together public agencies, community residents, and the private sector to serve as architects of our future, where we’re all working toward the same goal: building stronger neighborhoods for all Atlantans. The engine that will drive these investments are tax allocation districts (TAD) and we have already identified more than $5B worth of investments through the TADS for citywide projects.

We will expand our transit networks, invest in trails and greenspace, build affordable housing, invest in health centers, recreation and groceries. We’ll nurture small businesses and commercial development and improve our public infrastructure.

To be clear, we are already improving the quality of life throughout many communities, but this is a new chapter for Atlanta and the people will write its story.

There’s nothing wrong with Atlanta that can’t be fixed by what’s right with Atlanta.


** What’s going on in Atlanta?
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Azalea Fresh Market Opens in Downtown Atlanta

When large corporations refused to bring their grocery stores to certain communities within our city, Mayor Dickens made a commitment to provide access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. Azalea Fresh Market is a result of that commitment. Earlier this month, the City of Atlanta in partnership with Invest Atlanta and Savi Provisions opened Azalea Fresh Market, a first-of-its-kind municipal grocery store located in Downtown Atlanta. Spanning two levels, Azalea Fresh Market offers a wide range of products, including fresh produce, dairy, meats, and pantry staples with a focus on sourcing from local farmers and suppliers to support the regional economy. In addition, the store’s upstairs level will feature an array of delicious, prepared food, hand-rolled sushi from Atlanta’s High Roller Sushi, and an in-store coffee shop by locally owned Dope Coffee.

The second location of Azalea Fresh Market is expected to open on Campbellton Road to address food insecurity in that area later this year.

ATL’s Concourse D Begins its Transformation

The world’s busiest and most efficient airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport completed the second phase of the Concourse D widening project. Under the leadership of Mayor Dickens and General Manager Ricky Smith, the innovative construction and design of Concourse D marks a significant achievement for the airport. This $1.3B investment opens five new passenger gates. These gates are the first visible demonstration of the modernized concourse design that will define the future of ATL. Travelers will now experience larger, more comfortable gate areas, expanded restrooms, and improved circulation areas that reduce congestion and enhance overall passenger flow. In addition, the concourse will soon feature new concession offerings, providing more food and retail options.

By 2029, Concourse D will be fully transformed with modern, spacious and future-ready amenities for the millions of passengers who travel through our airport every year.

Legacy at East Lake Provides New Affordable Housing

Previously known as East Lake Highrise, the new Legacy at East Lake reopened in the heart of Atlanta’s historic East Lake neighborhood. This extensively renovated eight-story high-rise features 149 units and is designed for residents aged 55 and older. This $35M redevelopment led by Columbia Residential and in partnership with Atlanta Housing, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Invest Atlanta, and Truist Bank offers affordable homes to our legacy residents and seniors. These affordable homes also offer new amenities including a computer/ business center, theater room, and fitness facilities. Of the 121 residents who initially moved out during the construction, 72 have already returned – proof of their love to the East Lake neighborhood.

Mayor’s 5k on the 5th Runway Hits the Tarmac

Atlanta’s flattest and fastest 5k returned on Saturday, September 20th for the 11th Annual Mayor’s 5k on the 5th Runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Hosted by Mayor Dickens, the proceeds from the 5k went to the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program (MYSP) and United Way of Greater Atlanta, both of which help our young people to succeed and thrive in their higher education. The race kicked off at 6:30 a.m. after Mayor Dickens and General Manager Ricky Smith greeted the thousands of runners and walkers on the tarmac. As several participants received their medals for winning in their age group, the race leaders and sponsors all noted that the real winners were the future scholarship recipients.

This school year, the MYSP awarded more than 100 scholarships, totaling nearly half a million dollars. These scholarships would not be possible without the participation of those who decided to lace up their sneakers and hit the pavement.

City of Atlanta Honors Former Councilmember Ivory Lee Young Jr.

After serving four terms as an Atlanta City Councilmember, Ivory Lee Young Jr. was recognized for his legacy as a devoted public servant, visionary leader and advocate for Atlanta’s Westside. The monument, located at Rodney Cook Sr. Park, represents as a lasting tribute to his lifelong commitment to building a “Beloved Community” and improving the lives of those he served. Atlanta is better because of his service. Our neighborhoods are stronger, residents feel seen, and their voices are heard. Councilmember Young made it his mission to connect residents with resources, neighborhoods with opportunity, and voices with power. He understood that progress takes patience and persistence. This plaque is a challenge to the next generation of leaders in Atlanta to stay the course, hold the line and keep showing up for yourself and most importantly, your neighbors.


** ATL Social Conversations
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#BlueMassService

In recognition of September 11th, Mayor Dickens joined the brave men and women of the Atlanta Fire Rescue, Atlanta Police Department and City of Atlanta Corrections for this year’s Blue Mass service at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Blue Mass is an annual Catholic mass and 9/11 commemorative ceremony that honors public safety officials and first responders. It has been nearly a quarter-century since the tragic events of 9/11, but none of us will ever forget where we were that morning.

#DemocracyFest

“There is no off-season in democracy.” The Transformational Capital Growth (TCG)Impact was proud to partner with Atlanta Public Schools for the 5th year of the Democracy Fest, a celebration of civic education and leadership. This event gathered APS students from multiple high schools to empower our young people to get involved in the democratic progress and make their voices heard.

#MexicoIndependenceDay

The “Grito de Independencia” is the most prominent civic celebration in Mexico, and it takes place all around the world by Mexicans of first, second, and third generations. In Atlanta, the Consulate General of Mexico has commemorated this date for decades. This month, the City of Atlanta celebrated the 215th anniversary of the proclamation of Mexico’s Independence. This was the fifth time since 2019 “El Grito de Independencia” was hosted at Atlanta City Hall.

#BelovedCommunityInternationalExpo

For the Beloved Community International Expo, Auburn Avenue was transformed into a cultural oasis. With the partnership of the Atlanta Consular Corp, the National Park Service and the King Center, the expo celebrated diverse, international cultures with music, dance, performers, and presentations representing people around the world. The event was open to all ages and free to attend.


** Spotlight Moment
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ATL BIZ is live!

The City of Atlanta launched ATL BIZ (https://atlbiz.atlantaga.gov/_/) , a modern, user-friendly online platform that will replace ATL CORE as the city’s primary portal for business services. The updated system is designed to streamline processes and better support the needs of Atlanta’s business community.

ATL BIZ, (https://atlbiz.atlantaga.gov/_/) managed by the Department of Finance’s Office of Revenue, will serve as a one-stop hub where users can manage Occupational Tax Certificates, permits, taxes, and payments.

Key Improvements with ATL BIZ include:
* A streamlined interface that is easier to navigate
* Faster processing times for applications and payments
* Enhanced features to support business needs
* A centralized dashboard to view balances, credits, and messages
* The ability to manage multiple revenue types in one place
* Options to renew Occupational Tax Certificates, pay via ACH, and track status in real time

To ensure a smooth transition, the City is automatically transferring existing records from ATL CORE to ATL BIZ. Step-by-step login instructions on logging in to ATL BIZ are available here (https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/finance/office-of-revenue/online-portal-information) .


** Small Business Highlight
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https://mcusercontent.com/6ccac341034c98afd33b4edff/images/07a867b5-e525-13c4-b758-e7b4e5cbdf9d.jpg

Launch. Grow. Thrive.

Small businesses are the backbone of our city and Invest Atlanta is helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into income with low-cost loan and grant programs. For this month’s Small Business Highlight, we’re focusing on La Bodega.

Located in Sylvan Hills, La Bodega offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free food, ranging from Salvadoran Pupusas and a variety of Latin cuisine.

Owner Testimonial-

“Since that first loan, Invest Atlanta has continued to promote opportunities to help us be successful. They recognize the tenacity of small business owners and entrepreneurs and understand their value in local communities. We wouldn’t exist without Invest Atlanta. They gave us a chance when others wouldn’t. We are proud Invest Atlanta alumni and one of their biggest proponents.” Ken Katz

Visit La Bodega today and don’t to #SupportLocal.

Atlanta city skyline with skyscrapers and trees


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