business images clayton county, ga: 2009

New Marching OrdersMilitary base conversions

open wealth of possibilities

The Busiest Gets Bigger Atlanta airport addspeople mover, terminal

Veggie Might Farmers market reaps millions of dollars in sales

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On the Cover PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO

The National Archives Southeast Region in Morrow, Ga.

WELCOME/OVERVIEW 7

BUSINESS ALMANAC 8

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Staying Power 10Clayton County is a magnet for business.

New Marching Orders 11

EDUCATION

Knowledge Asset 12Clayton State is a community asset.

It Means Business 13

TRANSPORTATION

The Busiest Gets Bigger 14A new terminal highlights airport growth.

Connecting Flight 17

HEALTH

Booster Shot 18Southern Regional Medical Center is the pulseof Clayton County health-care delivery.

LIVABILITY

Veggie Might 20Farmers market is a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

The Simple Life 21

SPORTS & RECREATION

Parking Spaces 22Clayton County offers a bevy of outdoor fun.

Zoom With a View 24

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Living History 26The past has a home at state, national archives.

The Spirit of Spivey Hall 28

ECONOMIC PROFILE 29

10

TRANSPORTATION

The Busiest GA new terminal highlig

Connecting Fligh

HEALTH

20

BUSINESS ALMA

BUSINESS CLIMAT

Staying PoweClayton County is a m

N M hi O

12

The Simple Life

SPORTS & RECREA

Parking SpaceClayton County offers

Zoom With a View

24

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BUSINESS

contents

BUSINESS

CLAYTON COUNTY2009 EDITION, VOLUME 1

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A

MANAGING EDITOR BILL McMEEKIN

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY

ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MICHAELA JACKSON,

ROY MOORE, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO, AMY STUMPFL

DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER TRIP MILLER

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,

ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER ERICA HINES

GRAPHIC DESIGN ALISON HUNTER, JESSICA MANNER,

JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR, SARAH MILLER,

PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./SALES TODD POTTER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM

MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK,

DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

Business Images Clayton County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Clayton County Chamber of Commerce2270 Mount Zion Road • Jonesboro, GA 30236Phone: (678) 610-4021 • Fax: (678) 610-4025Email: [email protected]

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And special care is what we promise to provide.”

“As a woman, YOU deserve special care!

Honest • Caring • Professional

Call for an appointment at any of our convenient locations.Fayetteville • Spivey Station

(770) 991-2200 • www.scwhobgyn.com*We participate with all major insurance plans.

Board-Certified PhysiciansW. Darrell Martin, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Elizabeth W. Killebrew, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Sharon A. Lynch-Miller, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Benita Bonser, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Crystal Slade, M.D. F.A.C.O.G.Cynthia Nater, M.D. F.A.C.O.G.Michlene Broadney, MD, F.A.C.O.G.Edwin Bello, MD, F.A.C.O.G.

Certified Nurse MidwivesKay Flowers, CNM

Karen Morrison, CNMBrandy Jenkins, CNM

NURSE PRACTITIONERSBecky Oskey, NP

Wanda Nipper, NP

(800) 456-4000

2192 Mount Zion Parkway • Morrow, GA 30260(770) 603-3232 • www.countryinns.com/morrowga

A warm welcome is only the beginning.

What’s it like to be our guest? It’s a warm fireplace, and an even warmer welcome. It’s feeling free to borrow a book from our library or relax in the pool. It’s having a free HOT breakfast to get you going and high-speed Internet to keep you connected. But most of all, it’s feeling like you’re a guest in our home.

For information, visit www.ccwa.us

We are Clayton County’s one-stop-shop for all water, wastewater and stormwater services. We see it as our mission to provide reliable water services to our community through innovation, efficiency and the protection of our water environment. As an award-winning utility, we have earned a reputation as a leader in the water industry that sets an example for others to follow. We sit ready to handle the growth of our community over the next decade and beyond.

“Quality Water, Quality Service”

Clayton County Water Authority

The CCWA’s innovative use of constructed wetlands provides sustainability for a system that provides services to more than 275,000 residents, while maintaining room for future growth.


From cosmopolitan

sophistication and vitality

to suburban friendliness to

big-city amenities mixed

with rural charm and ease

of getting around, Clayton

County is a place with a

heart and in the heart

of it all.

Each of Clayton County’s

communities – College Park, Forest Park,

Jonesboro, Lake City, Lovejoy, Morrow

and Riverdale – has a unique style and

personality, but all are united in making

the entire region inviting, prosperous and

dynamic for its residents and businesses.

Clayton County is home to Hartsfield-

Jackson Atlanta International Airport,

the world’s busiest airport, which has an

economic impact of more than $23 billion.

The Georgia International Convention

Center is a world-class venue that will

soon be directly linked to the airport’s

people mover system, another first for

the nation from Clayton County.

Getting around Clayton County is easy and

convenient, and the area’s transportation

infrastructure includes access to Interstates

75, 85, 285 and 675.

The region boasts national companies such as

Clorox, Sherwin-Williams, Fresh Express and

Toto USA and offers world-class attractions in

its backyard, including the Beach at International

Park, site of the 1996 Olympic

beach volleyball competition and now part of

Clayton County’s tremendous parks system.

The Atlanta State Farmers Market is home to 150

acres of fresh produce, flowers and other goods

and is a distribution and wholesale hub.

Clayton State University is a major educational

asset and is home to a cultural treasure in Spivey

Hall, the Carnegie Hall of the South.

The National Archives Southeast Region and

Georgia State Archives are next-door neighbors in

Clayton County, the only place in the country where

state and national archives are co-located.

Clayton County offers a variety of local and state

programs that help businesses grow, and its low tax

rates, tax credits and incentives, and skilled, educated

and available workforce make the community the

ideal place to live, work, play and stay.

CLAYTON

Atlantaa a

Forest Park

Lake City

Morrow

College Park

Riverdale

Jonesboro

Lovejoy

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A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY AND STAYClayton County, Ga., offers the best of all worlds

ClaytonCounty

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Clayton County at imagesclaytoncounty.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.


overview

FRANKLY, MY DEARClayton County is the “Official

Home of Gone With the Wind,”

as designated by the Mitchell

Trust and the Georgia state

legislature. The Mitchell Trust

was established to honor

Margaret Mitchell, author of

the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel

made into the classic 1939 film.

Mitchell modeled the book’s

mythical Tara plantation after

homes she saw in Clayton

County. She researched much

of the history for her Civil War

novel at the old Clayton

County Courthouse in

Jonesboro. Today, the Road to

Tara Museum, in an 1867 train

depot in Jonesboro, draws

thousands each year. For more,

go to www.visitscarlett.com.

THEY KNOW THEIR HISTORYPreserving Clayton County is what Historical Jonesboro/Clayton

County Inc. is all about.

The nonprofit volunteer organization has spent the last 40 years

dedicated to the preservation of the region’s history and heritage.

The group hosts tours each week, showcasing several interesting sites.

Those sites include an 1839 Greek Revival antebellum home known

as Stately Oaks, as well as the log kitchen used on the property,

a well house and tenant house. Other points of interest in Clayton

County include Juddy’s Country Store and the region’s last

one-room schoolhouse. For more on the area’s history, go to

www.historicaljonesboro.org.

A GOOD VERDICTPound the gavel –

Jonesboro High School

is the champion again.

The mock trial team at

Jonesboro High repeated

as titleholders when it took

first-place honors at the

2008 National High School

Mock Trial Championship in

Delaware. The competition

featured 16 JHS students

acting as lawyers, witnesses

and jurors while acting out

a fictitious jury trial.

The Jonesboro team defeated

state champions from 39 states

as well as Guam, Korea and the

Commonwealth of Northern

Mariana Islands. The 16

students were honored

with a hometown parade,

with hundreds of residents

lining the streets to celebrate

the team.

IN HONOR OF HIS HONORWay to go, Augustin.

Clayton County was formed out of Fayette and Henry counties in 1858, and named for Augustin Smith Clayton. He lived from 1783-1839 and served as a judge and member of the Georgia General Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives.

The first inhabitants of the Clayton County region were believed to be Creek Indians, and Jonesboro (originally named Leaksville) was founded in 1823. Jonesboro became a key railroad stop from Macon to Terminus (later named Atlanta), thereby connecting the Southeast to the port city of Savannah.


WATER, WATER EVERYWHEREThousands of birds and animals

– and thousands of humans –

have visited the Melvin L.

Newman Wetlands.

The wetlands are a 32-acre

preserve built by the Clayton

County Water Authority in 1995.

The wildlife haven includes a

wetlands trail, exhibit/learning

lab, 50-seat auditorium, offices

and conference facility. More

than 200,000 people have

visited the site.

One of the goals for the

preserve is to provide lessons

and interpretive experiences to

the public so they can learn about wetlands ecology,

conservation and watershed protection. For more on the

wetlands, go to www.ccwa1.com/facilities/wetlands.center.aspx.

LOFTY DEVELOPMENTSHeads up – Clayton County will be the home of the National

Museum of Commercial Aviation.

The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

Airport, is in Clayton County, and the city of Morrow plans to construct

the commercial aviation museum. The $12 million complex will be

situated along Interstate 75 just eight miles from Hartsfield’s runways.

It is tentatively scheduled to open in 2011 and is expected to draw

more than 250,000 visitors during its first year. The museum’s main

goal will be to tell the story of commercial airlines that have made

Atlanta’s airport so busy through the years.

Plans for the entrance include replicas of Amelia Earhart’s plane and

the Wright brothers’ flier. More on the museum’s plans can be found

at www.nationalaviationmuseum.com.

CLASS VENUEThe Performing Arts Center was constructed in 1990

at a cost of $7.5 million by Clayton County Schools.

The Jonesboro venue includes an auditorium with

seating capacity of 1,800, along with two smaller

performance areas that can be positioned to provide

additional seating.

The center hosts about 400 events each year and

has welcomed nearly 3 million people. Performers

from Africa, China, England, India, Japan, Korea and

the former Soviet Union have played there. Go to

www.clayton.k12.ga.us/PAC/pacindex2.asp for more.

A PLACE IN HISTORYThe Civil War played

a big part in Clayton

County’s history.

Confederate troops had

occupied the area for many

months, but were forced

to evacuate following the

battles of Rough and Ready

and Jonesboro. In fact, the

Confederate defeat at the

Battle of Jonesboro was

significant to the fall of

Atlanta, helping Union Gen.

William Tecumseh Sherman

begin his March to the Sea

in late 1864.

Tourists today are welcome

to visit battlefield areas in

Jonesboro, as well as the

Confederate Cemetery,

which is adjacent to the

railroad that Southern

soldiers defended.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CL AY TON COUNT Y CONVENTION & VIS ITORS BUREAU


business almanac

Clayton County is drawing and keeping people and businesses

No one ever doubted that Clayton County was crucial to Atlanta’s meteoric growth.

As home to the world’s busiest airport, the subur-ban Georgia county has long been a gateway between the Big Peach and the rest of the world.

But this thriving cluster of seven cities is now an attractive destination for businesses and individuals in its own right.

Since 2000, the county’s population has soared 15 percent to more than 271,000. County officials have capitalized on the growth, selling the area as a hotbed of activity that offers companies unparalleled accessibility. The result has been an explosion of commercial, industrial and retail development.

Clayton County is convenient to Interstates 75, 85, 285 and 675 and a planned commuter rail line will run through several towns in the county.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which ranks as busiest in the world for passenger traffic and takeoffs and landings, employs more than 55,000 people with a total

IAN

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PowerStaying

271,240Clayton County

estimated population in 2006, up 15

percent since 2000

114,205Total number of workers, all

industries

Clayton County offers small-town vibe with big-city proximity.


business climate

A New Set of Marching OrdersMILITARY BASE CONVERSIONS OFFER CLAYTON COUNTY WEALTH OF POSSIBILITIES

When Fred Bryant surveys nearly 1,200 acres

of soon-to-be vacant property, he doesn’t see a

setback. He sees an opportunity.

Bryant, executive director of the Fort Gillem/

Forest Park Local Redevelopment Authority, is at

work on a plan to revitalize land that is now home

to Fort Gillem, one of two Clayton County Army

bases slated to close in the coming years.

Roughly 500 acres will become available when

Fort McPherson closes around the same time.

“We really believe this project and others can

help change the face, change the attitude about

the south side of Atlanta,” Bryant says.

The Army has to approve applications from

local entities before authorizing sales of the bases,

including a detailed re-use plan for the property.

The redevelopment plan for Fort Gillem includes

717 single- or multi-family homes, 435,000 square

feet of retail space, 8.2 million square feet of

commercial, industrial and manufacturing space

and about 1 million square feet of office space.

The project is expected to generate 18,000

jobs and roughly $243 million in new real estate

taxes for Forest Park, compared to the city’s

current real estate tax revenue of $236 million.

The Fort McPherson project envisions about

4,000 housing units and 4 million square feet

of office, retail and white-collar industrial space.

“There will be more reasons for (people) to

come here,” says Bryant. “There will be more job

opportunities, new job opportunities.”

– Michaela Jackson

Redevelopment plans are in the works for Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson, which are scheduled to close by 2011.

payroll of $2.4 billion. The airport is also home to Delta, Delta Connection and AirTran Airways.

The Gateway Center, a 49-acre business and retail center, is under development adjacent to the airport in College Park. The $230 million mixed-use project will create 1.1 million square feet of office, retail and hotel space, including more than 500 hotel rooms and 75,000 square feet of shopping and dining space.

“It’s a good thing,” says Kevin Kern, president of Grove Street Partners, which is developing the site. “Major cities around the country with great airports have high-density development around them. Atlanta will have the opportunity to develop a great project in the Gateway Center.”

Across the county, 25 business parks operate at full capacity, 20 of which host Fortune 500 companies. Notable companies with a presence in the county include Clorox, Sherwin-Williams, Fresh Express and Toto USA.

Larry Vincent, chairman of the Clayton County Develop-ment Authority, calls the future of the county “unlimited and challenging.” The county and its cities will continue to grow at a steady rate, he says.

“I feel our future is bright and promising,” he adds.Development officials work closely with individual towns

to make sure their needs are met. Economic development and quality of life improve in tandem to ensure that rapid growth doesn’t eliminate the advantages that drew businesses and people in the first place.

“Our leadership stays focused on what is best for the county and their communities,” Vincent says. “Since business and community leaders are committed to maintaining a fine focus on the commercial and human assets that represent the strong foundation upon which Clayton County has prospered, the community will continue to be a great location to work, live, play and stay.”


146Total land area in square miles

$39,511Median household income in Clayton

County

“Major cities around

the country with great

airports have high-density

development around them.”


With a growing slate of degree and postgraduate programs, soaring enrollment and a burgeoning

reputation as a regional economic devel-opment player, Clayton State University has become the county’s, well, big man on campus.

Clayton State now offers four master’s degree programs, including a newly launched MBA program, and 30 bachelor’s degree tracks of study.

Under the leadership of President Thomas K. Harden, enrollment and program growth have meant bricks-and-mortar growth on and around campus. A new school of business, student activity center and 451-bed dormitory – a university first – are now under way.

“The new student housing is significant because when a university begins to get into the business of having students live on campus, it changes the entire complexion of the college,” says John Shiffert Jr., director of university relations. “And then when you add to that the student activity center and the

new business school, it really is changing the university in very visible ways.”

In addition to the development within its boundaries, Clayton State is taking an active role in the area’s overall economic picture, getting involved in everything from trade missions to luring world-class archival centers.

“Back in the 1990s, our former president [Richard A. Skinner] had the idea of the ‘Gateway Village’ concept, which would be an economic development program that would eventually mean more than just fast-food places around the university,” Shiffert says. “As part of that initiative, the Clayton Place apartment complex across the street was built. That’s not university property, but it is largely dedicated to our students.”

Another major development was the local resettling of the National Archives Southeast Region facility and the Georgia Archives, which are now neighbors in close proximity to the university campus.

“The importance of these two archives just

Clayton State University’s impact felt on campus and in the community

KnowledgeAsset

CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY

WWW.CLAYTON.EDU

Campus: 163 ACRES in Morrow, Ga.

Founded: 1965. First master’s degree program students enrolled in 2006

Enrollment: 6,000

Faculty: 197 FULL-TIME faculty

Programs: 30 BACHELOR’S and FOUR MASTER’S PROGRAMS

More Insight


Thomas K. Harden is president of Clayton State University. PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

It Means BusinessENTREPRENEUR SERVICES, GRADUATE PROGRAMS AID REGIONAL ECONOMY

Clayton State University is a business asset not only on

campus, but off.

The college has been home to a Small Business Development

Center for more than a decade, a partnership with the U.S.

Small Business Administration and the University of Georgia

that has provided invaluable information and assistance to small

businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region. Now, with

new graduate business degrees and an MBA program, the

school is serving the business community at a new level,

says John Shiffert Jr., director of university relations.

“We do a lot of economic and workforce development

programming through the SBDC, everything from how to

do your own marketing through bookkeeping,” Shiffert says.

When Robert Lee lost his job at Eastern Airlines, he came

to the center took advantage of its services and founded

Southside Seafood Co., one of the area’s leading restaurants.

Clayton State’s new MBA program has grown from an initial

35 students at its launch in August 2007 to around 90 a year

later, indicative of the both the college’s and business school’s

new and enhanced opportunities for study, says Dr. Michael

Deis, professor of management and director of the program.

The 18-month program’s classes are held every other Saturday

and offered at CSU’s main and Peachtree City campuses.

“There was a definite need, and we’ve got students ranging

in age from 23 to 74 years old,” Deis says. “It’s a real

opportunity for people to move their careers to the next level

and beyond, and it’s designed for working professionals whose

time is at a premium.”

– Joe Morris

can’t be overestimated,” Shiffert says. Skinner read something about the poor

condition of the former National Archives building in East Point and began making calls, Shiffert says, which eventually led to the national facility being built on Clayton State Boulevard and Jonesboro Road.

“Then it became known that the Georgia archives facility was also in bad shape, so they relocated here,” Shiffert says.

It is the only site in the United States where federal and state archives are co-located. Clayton State was eager to run the bookstore that connects the two.

“It’s a marriage made in heaven, and has been tremendous for all parties,” Shiffert says. “It has made us a destination of choice for researchers, and has been a significant devel-opment for Clayton County. It’s indicative of the university’s concern for the county, and for its continued growth and development.”

– Joe Morris

Clayton State’s School of Business boasts new facilities and programs.


education

New terminal, expanded people mover highlight latest growth at airport

H ar tsf ield-Jackson At la nta International Airport is gearing up for a major new terminal

expansion and upgrades to its people mover and parking functions.

Construction has begun on the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, with work under way to support that facility and an extension of the airport’s people mover system.

The new international terminal is slated to begin serving passengers in 2010, says Albert Snedeker, public relations manager for the airport and City of Atlanta Department of Aviation.

In addition to the hundreds of con-struction and ancillary jobs the $1.6 billion terminal construction will create,

the Hartsfield airport expansion and related projects will boost employment num bers in Clayton County and surrounding communities.

“Most of the new jobs which will arise from the completed international terminal will be created by the new concessions, housekeeping, parking and additional airline needs,” Snedeker says.

The airport itself will be expanding its employment base, adding positions in operations, security and other areas. Hiring will start at some point in 2009, depending on the positions needed and the level of training required.

Outside the facility, Snedeker notes, “job creation has many facets. These

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will gain a new $1.6 billion international terminal. Left: The airport is a major Clayton County employer.

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89.4 millionPassenger traffic at

Atlanta’s airport in 2007

$23.5 billionEstimated regional economic

impact of the airport

$2.4 billionAnnual payroll at

Hartsfield-Jackson airport

The

BiggerBusiestGets


transportation

new vendor/contractors will also require support companies, which may include office supply companies, liquor distrib-utors, paper goods distributors, fresh produce distributors, etc. The list goes on and on.”

A direct connection to the nearby Georgia International Convention Center and Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility, or CONRAC, is the impetus behind the expanded people mover, another major construction project.

Hartsfield sees more than 2 million auto-rental transactions a year, creating need for a slightly offsite but still convenient facility.

When completed in late 2009, CONRAC will house all airport car-rental com-panies and their operations, including customer service, administration, park-ing, fueling and maintenance. The

67.5-acre facility will connect to the airport via the people mover, which can move more than 10,000 passengers an hour.

All told, the massive new projects will not only make the airport busier, but wil l positively af fect an a lready impressive bottom line.

Hartsfield-Jackson’s economic impact on the region is almost some $23.5 billion annually and is projected to reach $32 billion by 2015.

“Our most recent economic impact study estimates that the airport is respon-sible for almost 500,000 jobs within our region,” Snedeker says. “In 2007 alone, Hartsfield-Jackson accommodated more than 89 million passengers, and this is projected to increase to approximately 121 million passengers by the year 2015.”

– Joe Morris

A Rail Runs Through ItCOMMUTER LINE COULD BOOST CLAYTON COUNTY

If the Georgia Rail Passenger

Program’s plans come to

fruition, look for Clayton County

to become a major anchor on

the GRPP’s Atlanta-Macon line.

The Georgia Department

of Transportation and Georgia

Rail Passenger Authority are

working on a series of

commuter lines that would tie

Atlanta into the surrounding

counties and metro areas.

As planned, the commuter

lines would use existing railway

that can handle additional

passenger traffic, and the

routes would be spun out in

several phases. Georgia has

a network of more than 5,000

miles of rail lines, offering

capacity to handle added

passenger traffic.

The first planned leg of

the commuter rail would

connect Atlanta to Athens

in the east, and Macon in the

south. The Atlanta-Macon line

is of particular interest to

Clayton County economic

development officials, as plans

call for as many as five stops

in the county.

The planned project

would include construction

of a multimodal transportation

terminal in downtown Atlanta,

which would serve as one of

the hubs for the various lines

in the rail network.

– Joe Morris Atlanta airport’s people mover will soon link to a nearby convention center.


Connecting Flight‘Aerotropolis’ envisions aviation-related city within a city

A proposed redevelopment of Ford Motor Co.’s shuttered 122-acre plant site in Hapeville could anchor an “aerotropolis,” a city built around

aviation-related commerce – in this case, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The term “aerotropolis” was invented by Dr. John Kasarda, a business professor at the University of North Carolina, and has been brought to Atlanta by local developer Jim Jacoby, the force behind Atlantic Station, a residential, business and entertainment development in Midtown Atlanta.

Jacoby Development has the Ford site under contract and has been pitching the aerotropolis concept to Hapeville officials, as well as the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.

Jacoby envisions 6.5 million square feet of development, including 2 million square feet of office space, 1.6 million square feet of retail and hotel and conference facilities.

“An aerotropolis takes into consideration the economics of an airport,” says Shelley Lamar, planning manager for the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation.

Lamar, whose specialty is land use and community development, says the concept shows an understanding of how airports work.

“We have all these cities around the airport and we all have to work together,” she says. “The zoning has to take into consideration the proximity to the airport – you can’t put a house at the end of the runway. But if this plan establishes cargo and freight warehousing closer in, then office and industrial out from there, then retail, then residential, it could work.”

Given that Hartsfield is the world’s busiest airport and a key economic generator in the Southeast, it’s not surprising that a newfangled development concept would be pitched at it.

“They want to take advantage of their proximity to the airport and create something that takes advantage of the activity that’s already there,” she says. “That’s a good use of the synergy that’s there, and something they could really build on.” – Joe Morris

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s expanded people mover will take passengers from the airport to the new Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility and nearby Georgia International Convention Center.

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“An aerotropolis takes into

consideration the economics

of an airport.”


transportation

Southern Regional system is pulse of Clayton County health care

F aced with Clayton County’s growing population, Southern Regional Health System has adapted with

newer technology and updated facilities at its Riverdale campus and expansion into the surrounding community.

Today, the system boasts several areas of excellence, ranging from cardiovascular care to imaging to women’s health. A building spree is bringing much of this quality care to the rest of the county.

At the heart of the system is Southern Regional Medical Center, a 376-bed commu-nity hospital that has been operating since 1971. Since that time, the area’s population has exploded – 15 percent so far this decade and nearly double from 1980 – as Atlanta became one of the nation’s biggest metros.

Southern Regional began its transfor-mation into a health system in the early 1990s and now includes a 30-bed long-term, acute-care hospital, a 65-bed psychiatric center and home-health agency.

Through this, Southern Regional has emerged as the major hub for health care in the county and a large employer in its own right, with 2,261 workers.

Part of that growth stems from the leader-ship of Ed Bonn, president and CEO. After coming aboard in 2000, Bonn worked to change the hospital’s culture.

“One of the major goals has been to grow

Southern Regional Medical Center is a 376-bed hospital in Clayton County.

Booster

health care

aced with Clayton County’s growing population, Southern Regional Health System has adapted with

newer technology and updated facilities at its Riverdale campus and expansion into the surrounding community.

Today, the system boasts several areas of excellence, ranging from cardiovascular care to imaging to women’s health. A building spree is bringing much of this quality care to the rest of the county

Southern Regionalsystem is pulse of Clayton County Shot

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ScorecardSOUTHERN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM BY THE NUMBERS

376Licensed beds

574Physicians

2,261Employees

20,000+2007 admissions


With Women in MindFORMER CEO’S DREAM LEADS TO HEALTH CENTER’S ESTABLISHMENT

Southern Regional Health System’s state-of-the-

art Women’s Life Center harkens back to the dream

of a former hospital chief.

The center was the vision of Donald B. Logan,

the hospital president and CEO, who turned around

the hospital before his death in 1997. He imagined

a self-contained facility serving the women of the

Southern Crescent.

The project broke ground in 1999, ultimately

growing to 107,000 square feet, triple the size of its

previous location inside the hospital.

To make Southern Regional the leading health-care

provider south of I-20, officials wanted to fashion the

center as state of the art when it opened in May 2001.

To serve this need, the center became home to

private labor and delivery rooms, postpartum family-

care rooms and bassinets. More than 5,300 babies

were born at the hospital in 2007.

MaryKay Gardenier, senior vice president of

operations, points to the 23-bed neonatal intensive

care unit that takes care of vulnerable, high-risk,

low-birth weight and premature infants.

This work for newborns garnered the hospital’s

NICU team a designation as the best in the Southeast

by Advance for Nurses magazine.

And that care carries on long past birth. The

hospital has developed a Women’s Diagnostic

Services area, where patients can receive combined

mammography, ultrasound, bone-density tests and

stereotactic breast biopsy. – Roy Moore

The Women’s Life Center at the Southern Regional Medical Center delivered 5,300 babies in 2007.

Southern Regional from being a good hos pital to a great hospital,” said MaryKay Gardenier, the health system’s senior vice president of operations.

The hospital has won awards for delivering care and as a top employer. It has upgraded its facilities with two new operating rooms outfitted with the latest technology. Surgeons can now perform minimally invasive procedures in orthopedics, gynecology and hernia repair. A da Vinci robotic system has been introduced for surgeries, as well.

A new wound care and hyperbaric center features the most technologically advanced therapies. In addition, SRMC stands as the service area’s only hospital offering angioplasty for patients expe-riencing a heart attack. Plans are in the works for a specialty center for total

joint replacement and spine repair.By 2007, admissions surpassed 20,000

and emergency room visits hit 81,000, making it one of the busiest ERs in the state.

In southern Clayton County, the system bought 92 acres for Spivey Station, a “medical destination” that will serve southern portions of Metro Atlanta, says Jim Crissey, vice president of facilities and support services.

On 6.2 acres, the system has built a 60,000-square-foot medical office bui lding and is constructing a 57,000-square-foot surgery center.

The project is part of an effort to serve residents who don’t live near the main hospital, but need outpatient imaging and surgery as well as pri-mary care, internal care, neurology and obstetrics-gynecology.

– Roy Moore

“One of the major goals has been to

grow Southern Regional from being

a good hospital to a great hospital.”


health

A farmers’ market tends to engender thoughts of pickup trucks parked along the road-

side, growers leisurely comparing their yields and everyone packed up before primetime TV gets rolling.

This simplistic expectation is a far cry from the Atlanta State Farmers Market, where trucks and crates shuffle through at all hours of the night, thousands of people report to work every day and you might actually get lost if you aren’t careful.

This is not your father’s farmers market.

Spread across 150 acres, this machine of a market boasts annual sales of roughly $500 million. Not surprisingly, the market is one of the primary eco-nomic drivers in Forest Park, the Clayton County city in which it is located.

“I know when you have a facility doing a half-a-billion dollars worth of business a year, it has a lot of jobs and a lot of income and, hopefully, a good bit of profit,” says Tommy Irvin, Georgia agriculture commissioner. “All of that speaks really well of Clayton County.”

With 576 open stalls, 96 enclosed stalls and more than 850,000 square feet of warehouse space, the market, which calls itself “the world’s largest

roadside stand,” is constantly in motion, preparing, packaging and distributing food from the market across the country.

“It is a viable part of food distri-bution in the South,” Irvin says. “You go out to that market about 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning, and it’s like a beehive working.”

Ethnic fare, spices and a variety of food products, including a full-service restaurant, make regulars out of local customers. Christmas trees are also big business – an average of 250,000 make

The Atlanta State Farmers Market draws more than 3,500 visitors daily.

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ScorecardATLANTA STATE FARMERS MARKET

3,500Number of daily visitors

$527.7 millionSales in 2007

3,700Number of employees

Farmers market is a multimillion-dollar enterprise in Clayton County

BigA

Producer


livability

their way from the market to living rooms across Georgia each year.

“Some people think that a farmers market is traditionally strictly produce, like tomatoes and cucumbers, but we have a little bit of everything around here,” says Craig Nielsen, manager of the market. “People don’t realize very often how much product really comes through the market beyond just produce.”

In addition to f illing bellies and generating paychecks, the 49-year-old market also serves as a focal point of the community, creating a strong sense of neighborhood.

“There are a lot of people who have been here for many, many years,” Nielsen says. “There are not too many places around that I can think of right off hand where you will get such a diverse cross-section of the community that comes out.”

Irvin pointed out that the market is a source of pride for the community, even winning a Chamber of Commerce beautification award.

“It’s always been a hallmark,” Irvin says. “The farmers have their clients and their customers, and the market brings them together.”


A variety of growers sell goods at the Atlanta State Farmers Market.

The Simple LifeOPEN SPACE, PEACEFUL SETTINGS, BUT MERE MINUTES FROM THE CITY

Open space and inviting lakes create a restful,

out-of-the-way feeling in Clayton County, but all the

convenience of a big city is just a short drive away.

“The thing about Clayton County that’s different

is you can sort of escape to a location away from the

main arteries that sometimes you can’t do in certain

parts of south Atlanta,” says Hugh Morton, president

and founder of Peachtree Homes.

Permits for 3,200 single-family homes were issued

in the county in 2006 and 2007, testament to the

community’s growing popularity.

Morton, a past president of the Greater Atlanta

Builders Association, has been building in the county

since 1994. Part of the allure, he says, is that residents

can find traditional suburban living in the north and

rural surroundings in the panhandle.

“There’s not nearly the congestion or the problems

that you get in some parts of the city,” he says.

Green space is splashed through the county as well,

creating an open, inviting atmosphere. The county

has recently opened several new recreation parks

and operates a program encouraging businesses

and individuals to donate land for public enjoyment.

Enhancing the relaxing environment of Clayton

County are lakes Spivey and Jodeco, both of which

offer luxurious living along their shorelines.

“You’ve got Lake Spivey, obviously with a really

top-notch quality of life,” Morton says. “You build

your house, and your boat dock’s there, and you live

right on the lake.”


Lake Spivey in Clayton County offers waterfront living.


Clayton County offers numerous avenues to enjoy the outdoors

ParkingSpaces


sports & recreation

C layton County Parks and Rec reation maintains nearly 700 acres of parkland, including nine com-munity and nine neighborhood parks, as well as

aquatic facilities, senior centers, nature areas and greenways. “We’re finding through studies that when people have

the opportunity to enjoy natural scenery within their com-munity, it has a direct correlation to healthy lifestyles,” says Detrick Stanford, director of the Clayton County Parks and Recreation Department.

“And any time you enhance the qual ity of life, it betters the economy in the region as well.”

One of the most popular outdoor destinations in Clayton County is the 200-acre International Park in Jonesboro, home of the 1996 Olympic beach volley ball competition. International Park features picnic areas, an indoor arcade and game room, walking and biking trails, fishing, volleyball, a 6,000-seat amphitheater and The Beach water park.

“We’re looking for it to have regional appeal because it has so many amenities,” Stanford says. “The Beach has water-slides, a kiddie pool, pavilions for rent and 17 tennis courts.”

Another recreation hotspot is the Gerald Matthews Sports Complex in Hampton, which has eight soccer fields, eight tennis courts, nine athletic fields, two walking tracks and playground equipment.

Nature in its purest state can be experienced at the Reynolds Nature Preserve in Morrow, which offers 146 acres of unspoiled woodlands with gardens, spring-fed ponds, an interpretive center, picnic area and 4.5 miles of hiking trails.

“We feel like we have a jewel in the rough with our nature

preserve,” Stanford says. “We have a very diverse and knowl-edgeable staff there, and you can see programming and learn about animals and plants native to Georgia.”

The Clayton County Water Authority maintains the Smith Reservoir and the Shamrock/Blalock Reservoir for fishing and canoeing from March through October. And the author-ity oversees the 32-acre Newman Wetlands Center, which includes an interpretive center that demonstrates the importance of preserving wetlands environments and edu-cates the public about natural resource conservation. A half-mile trail winds through the center and allows visitors to walk through wetlands and rainforest areas and see wildlife, including 130 bird species.

“Visitors of all ages can experience the beauty of the natural setting while learning about wetlands and their local watershed,” says Suzanne Brown, public information officer for the water authority. – Jessica Mozo

Tennis is one of many activities available at Clayton County International Park. The VIP Complex at International Park was part of the 1996 Olympics. Left: The Beach at International Park offers fun in the sun for all ages. PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

“Any time you enhance

the quality of life, it betters

the economy in the region

as well.”


Fasten your seatbelt – Clayton County is just minutes away from the 870-acre Atlanta Motor

Speedway in Hampton. And when NASCAR comes to town, Clayton County hotels, restaurants and shopping venues are in for a wild ride.

“The Atlanta Motor Speedway really enhances Clayton County tourism because we have the largest inventory of hotel rooms closest to the track,” says Patrick Duncan, president of the Clayton County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s a huge economic stimulus for us because it brings nearly 200,000 people to our area twice a year. They fill up our hotels, come to our attractions,

Atlanta Motor Speedway attracts visitors by the thousands

The 125,000-seat Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup races each year.

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with a


sports & recreation

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

questionsanswers

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g

gas up, shop, and eat and drink in Clayton County.”

The visitors bureau works with Atlanta Motor Speedway to make sure guests feel welcome.

“Our guests don’t care about our county lines – all they want is a good experience,” Duncan says. “So we work together to sing one song, and that’s ‘Thanks for coming, and we hope you’ll come back.’ ”

The speedway hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup races annually each March and October, as well as car shows, auto auctions and other special events.

“We draw spectators from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries,” says Marcy Scott, director of marketing and pro-motion at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “We have events and private rentals over 300 days a year. From driving schools to weddings to major events such as DukesFest, Good-Guys Southern Nationals and Nopi Nationals, we do it all here. In addition, AMS hosts two of its own summer racing series – Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags.”

Year-round events at the speedway include daily tours and the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which allows racing enthusiasts to slip into a fire suit and get behind the wheel or in the passenger seat of a thundering stock car.

– Jessica Mozo

More InsightATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

870 acresin Hampton, 25 miles south of Atlanta and just south of Clayton County

1.5-milequad-oval track debuted on July 31, 1960

125,000seating capacity

Source: www.atlantamotorspeedway.com


LivingHistory

T he English poet and novelist Stephen Spender once said: “History is the ship carrying

living memories to the future.” And if this is true, land-locked Morrow in Clayton County could well be the nation’s most unique “port” city.

As the only city in the nation to house both a state and national archive, Morrow holds a treasure trove of historic records, documents, photos and genealogical research.

The National Archives Southeast

Region boasts 125,000 cubic feet of archival holdings dating to 1716 and including everything from historic records and photos to maps and architec-tural drawings, says James McSweeney, regional administrator.

“We service an eight-state area and hold only records created by the federal government. The U.S. district courts, IRS records, military records – our holdings really chronicle the social and political development of the south-eastern United States. Plus, you can see

Elvis Presley’s draft card,” McSweeney says with a laugh.

McSweeney estimates roughly 32,000 people now visit the facility annually, most of whom come to search genea-logical records.

“We have microfilm copy of the U.S. Census dating back to 1790,” he says. “We also have slave manifest records from 1808 through the Civil War – it’s a boon for family historians.”

Along with these resources, however, the National Archives holds a variety of

Elvis’ draft card – and hundreds of years of history reside in these two archives


THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES SOUTHEAST REGION5780 Jonesboro RoadMorrow, GA 30260Phone: (770) 968-2100www.archives.gov/southeast/

GEORGIA STATE ARCHIVES5800 Jonesboro RoadMorrow, GA 30260Phone: (678) 364-3700www.sos.state.ga.us/archives/

More Insight HOW TO REACH THE ARCHIVES

special events and workshops through-out the year.

“This is a beautiful space for public programs and exhibits,” McSweeney says. “Online tools are great, but there is just no substitute for looking at the actual documents. We also work with teachers, showing them how to use these documents in creating lesson plans. There’s really something for everyone.”

Next-door neighbor the Georgia Archives houses approximately 260 million documents, including state and local government records, maps, photos, and private manuscripts such as family Bibles, letters and papers.

“We have about 15,000 visitors each year, touring our building, doing research and attending workshops,” says Secretary of State Karen C. Handel. “Most ques-tions revolve around family history and research, but we offer a number of special programs and events as well.”

For example, the annual Georgia Archives Institute provides up-to-date training for beginning archivists, manu-

script curators and librarians. Taught by nationally recognized

experts, the two-week program covers everything from legal and adminis-trative issues to preservation methods. Handel also points to the monthly Lunch & Learn Lecture Series as a popular public offering.

“Visitors are invited to bring their lunch and learn about a variety of topics, such as how to digitize your family documents and the German POWs in Georgia,” she says.

But Handel is particularly proud of Virtual Georgia – “a collection of his-torical images documenting everyday life in Georgia.”

“I think it’s sometimes easier to take in pictures as opposed to documents,” she says. “And what makes Virtual Georgia so special is that the images were donated to the Archives by every-day Georgians. They’re helping us build our collection, providing a pictorial history of our state.”

– Amy Stumpfl

Arts MindedCOMMUNITY AT HEART OF CLAYTON GROUP’S WORK

Established in 1986, Arts

Clayton Inc. is a community

organization that provides

quality arts programming

for children and adults.

“Over the years, we have

built strong partnerships with

Clayton County Public Schools

and organizations such as

Head Start,” says Linda

Summerlin, executive director.

“But what makes us so unique

is the quality of our programs.”

Summerlin points to the

annual summer art camps as

an example. The two-week

program includes a variety of

activities covering visual and

performing arts that culminates

in a special performance and

exhibit for family and friends.

“We’re able to bring in top-

quality instructors,” she says.

“These children get to work

with some of the finest artists

in the area.”

Arts Clayton also operates

a retail gallery and museum

in Jonesboro, designed to

serve both local artists and

the community in which they

live. More than 800 Georgia

artists exhibit their work each

year, everything from paintings

and photography to jewelry

and pottery.

“For artists, we provide

space and the opportunity

to exhibit their work, as well

as master classes, workshops

and juried shows,” says gallery

manager Karen Powers. “It’s

wonderful because the art

reflects the diversity of our

community and the people

who live here.”

– Amy Stumpfl

The National Archives Southeast Region and Georgia State Archives are the only co-located facilities of their type in the nation. PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO


arts & entertainment

Ask a renowned classical or jazz pianist where Morrow, Ga., is located, and he may not have a

clue. Mention Spivey Hall, and there’s a good chance his eyes will light up.

Situated on the campus of Clayton State University, Spivey Hall is a gor-geous 400-seat performing arts venue known for its intimate setting and exceptional acoustics.

Built in 1991, Spivey Hall has earned an international reputation for its cele-brated concert series.

“The extraordinary beauty of our acoustics attracts world-class musicians

One woman’s dream became an international sensation

The Albert Schweitzer Memorial Pipe Organ is a centerpiece at Spivey Hallat Clayton State University.

The Spirit ofSpivey Hall

Board-certified Family Medicine physicians from Atlanta Medical Center train future Family Medicine physicians through its residency teaching program

Treating patients from newborn to elderly

Maternity carePediatrics • GeriatricsMost office procedures

Hours of operation:

Mon., Wed., Thu., Fri.: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Tue.: 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

1000 Corporate Center Dr. Ste. 200 • Morrow, GA

To find a physician near you, call (404) 265-DOCS (3627)

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to Spivey Hall,” says Sam Dixon, exec-utive director. “It can inspire great things from a musician, creating a very personal connection between the artist and the audience.”

Dixon says the annual Spivey series presents a range of programs, such as classical, jazz and world music, with Latin, Celtic and African artists.

Spivey Hall also is committed to arts education and outreach, offering a Young People’s concert series and playing host to the award-winning Spivey Hall Children’s Choir. It also offers master classes and workshops for teachers, as well as choral work-shops for school students.

Dixon says that Spivey Hall was the vision of Emilie Parmalee Spivey, a prom-inent local citizen and arts patron.

“Emilie was a distinguished organist, and she wanted to give back to the community with this concert hall,” he says. “She oversaw every detail of the development and design, and although she and her husband did not live to see that dream realized, their foundation saw that their wishes were respected.”

That includes the Albert Schweitzer Memorial Pipe Organ – a 79-rank, 3-manual, 4,413-pipe organ, built and installed by the Italian firm of Fratelli Ruffatti. Standing 50 feet high and 37 feet wide, this remarkable instrument was designed especially for Spivey Hall at the request of Emilie Spivey herself.

“Sitting out in the audience, listening to that beautiful organ is one of the most thrilling experiences you’ll ever have,” he says. “And that’s just what Emilie wanted. It’s as if her spirit still lives here.” – Amy Stumpfl


arts & entertainment

Ad Index 28 ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER

25 BONNIE PRATT — CLAYTON NEWS DAILY

1 CLAYTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

6 CLAYTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

C4 CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY

6 COUNTRY INN & SUITES

C3 GEORGIA POWER

5 SOUTHERN CRESCENT WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE

C2 SOUTHERN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM

ECONOMIC PROFILE

BUSINESS CLIMATEClayton County delivers a pro-business attitude and strong quality of

life. Offering a variety of business support services, it boasts Southern

charm and is just minutes from one of the nation’s busiest urban areas.

POPULATION

Clayton County is the fifth-most

populous county in Georgia. The

cost of living is 79 percent of the

national average.

*October 2007

2006 (estimate), 271,240

2015 (projected), 357,522

COST OF LIVING INDEX

National average, 100

Clayton County overall

cost of living, 79.28

Food, 102

Utilities, 91

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Southern Regional Medical Center

JC Penney Distribution Center

Clorox

Sherwin-Williams

Toto USA

Fresh Express

Atlanta Medical Center www.atlantamedcenter.com

Bonnie Pratt – Clayton News Daily www.news-daily.com

Clayton Chamber of Commerce www.claytonchamber.org

Clayton County Water Authority www.ccwa1.com

Clayton State University www.clayton.edu

Country Inn & Suites

www.countryinns.com/

morrowga

Georgia Power

www.southernco.com

Southern Crescent

Women’s Healthcare

www.scwhobgyn.com

Southern Regional

Health System

www.southernregional.org

Visit Our Advertisers

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

Atlanta, 13 miles

Greenville, S.C., 144 miles

Knoxville, Tenn., 167 miles

Nashville, Tenn., 226 miles

Charlotte, N.C., 231 miles

Charleston, S.C., 262 miles

TRANSPORTATION

Airports

Hartsfield-Jackson

Atlanta International Airport

(404) 530-7300

(800) 897-1910

http://www.atlanta-

airport.com/

119 Smith St. • Jonesboro, GA 30236(888) 660-5890

www.southernco.com

ANNUAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND WAGES

Industry No. of Employees Weekly Wage

Goods-producing 8,363 $854

Service-providing 89,286 $1,010

Unclassified-industrynot assigned 64 $677

Total private sector 97,713 $932

Total government 16,492 $794

All industries 114,205 $955

Sources:

http://www.claytoncountyga.us,

http://quickfacts.census.gov,

www.claytonchamber.org,

http://www.bestplaces.net/

County/Clayton-Georgia.aspx,

http://explorer.dol.state.ga.us/

mis/profiles/Counties/clayton.pdf

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Clayton County

Chamber of Commerce

2270 Mount Zion Road

Jonesboro, GA 30236

(678) 610-4021www.claytonchamber.org

PER CAPITA INCOME

2006 $22,761

2005 $22,643

2004 $21,934

2003 $21,578

2002 $21,624

Clayton County Airport –

Tara Field, (770) 946-3153


business images clayton county, ga: 2009

Documents

business images clayton

charm of clayton county

comclayton county

suburban county

clayton state

business almanac

new business opportunities

probusiness attitude