Growth Capital Growth INDUSTRY FOCUS Success Asitimplements Anewsuccess Plan Cobb County Looks Tobuild on 2011 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT •2B Section B
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
COBB COUNTY MARKET REPORT January 27-February 2, 2012 INDUSTRY FOCUS Section B SPECIAL BYRON E. SMALL MERCHANT’S WALK • 4B OSMOTICA • 10B Growth capital BYRON E. SMALL Cobb County looks to build on 2011 success as it implements a new plan WELLSTAR EXPANSION • 6B SPECIAL BYRON E. SMALL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS • 4B SPECIAL BYRON E. SMALL SPECIAL COBB COUNTY OFFICE MARKET • 8B HYATT HOUSE • 7B ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • 2B Page 2B • January 27-February 2, 2012 COBB COUNTY MARKET REPORT ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE Still striving: Cobb nabs over two dozen Demming Bass, chief operating major projects in ’11 officer of the Cobb Chamber By Doug DeLoach the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. of Commerce, CONTRIBUTING WRITER The list of wins scored by Cobb County left, and uilding on a track record of accom- last year include the announced construc- Brooks Mathis, plishments in 2011, Cobb County tion of a Home Depot call center near vice president officials, business and civic lead- Kennesaw, an estimated $24 million devel- of economic B ers are forging ahead with projects opment that will bring 700 jobs to the development, derived from a strategic economic community; the decision by Osmotica are working to development plan designed to keep Pharmaceutical Corp. to invest some generate more the momentum rolling through the first $20 million in a manufacturing and R&D opportunities quarter of 2012 and beyond. facility in Marietta, the company’s first in the county. “2011 was a busy year for us, as we such venture in North America; the choice secured more than two dozen major proj- of the Kennesaw area as home of a new ects, which included a mix of newly Novelis Inc. research and development recruited industry and expansion of center, representing a consolidated existing industry,” said Brooks Mathis, transfer of the global aluminum recycling BYRON E. SMALL vice president of economic development at company’s operations in Illinois and Canada; and the news that CCH Small Firm Services will bring 200 employees from other locations outside the state into its Kennesaw operation. In June, the Cobb County Chamber unveiled Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE), a comprehen- to work, sive, multiphase program devised by a local steering committee with consulting shopping, assistance provided by Market Street for a run, Services, the Atlanta-based firm respon- to lunch, sible for implementing similar initiatives, most notably Partnership Gwinnett. see a show, “We gathered together about 35 busi- all in Cumberland. ness leaders from across the Cobb community — from business, education, nonprofit, community government and Improved infrastructure, easy access, multi-use trails and other areas — and got into the weeds to commuter programs have increased mobility to make determine who we are and what want to do Cumberland the perfect setting to live, work and play. In our as a community,” Mathis said. Over the next several years, EDGE will third decade, the Cumberland Community Improvement serve as a guideline for the implementa- District (CID) is committed to creating an even more livable, tion of programs to generate economic pedestrian-friendly community. opportunities and attract outside invest- ment while addressing the needs and aspirations of existing stakeholders in Cobb County. In some cases, EDGE extends and expands initiatives and pro- grams already in place, a number of which are being spearheaded by area Community Improvement District (CID) organizations. Mathis said Cobb County officials are targeting specific clusters based on busi- ness sectors that already have a strong presence in the area: ■ Aerospace and advanced equipment manufacturing; ■ Business and professional services; ■ Supply-chain logistics and wholesale trade; and ■ Data software corporations, IT and technology firms. Officials also identified three high- growth sectors, already well-represented in Cobb County, but which have not yet reached the level of a target cluster: health The Cumberland CID would like to thank businesses, property care, bioscience and tourism. Lending credence to the inclusion of the owners and public officials for their continued support. Thanks health-care sector is the recent announce- to your dedication, Cumberland is realizing its vision of growth ment that Fresenius Medical Care will be adding 120 jobs by opening its new in the office, retail and residential markets. Peachtree Billing and Verification Office in Kennesaw. On the tourism front, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Six Flags Over Georgia/White Water parks, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and Cobb Galleria Centre are among the destination points around which area stakeholders including the recently www.cumberlandcid.org rebranded Cobb Travel & Tourism organization (formerly the Cobb Convention & Visitors Bureau) are building value and interest. ➤ See MAJOR PROJECTS, 14B We believe in going above and beyond. At WellStar, it begins with our vision. We believe you deserve world-class care - state-of-the-art, compassionate care - right in your community. From our expert physicians, nurses and healthcare providers to the most advanced medical technology, WellStar delivers care far above ordinary to patients at every stage of life. We also go far beyond the status quo. At WellStar, surgeons pioneered laparoscopic surgery. We brought CyberKnife® to Georgia. Our Cardiac Surgery Program was awarded “3 Stars” – the highest possible rating – from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. And we developed the revolutionary STAT Clinic for cancer treatment. In every way, we strive to provide patients with an experience that goes above and beyond. As we look to the future – to new technologies, new facilities, new treatment options – we continue to innovate. Our patient and family centered nursing care, outstanding infection-reduction outcomes and robust clinical trials are just a few examples of the ways WellStar is providing world-class care to the communities we serve. To learn more about us, please visit the new wellstar.org We believe in life well-lived. wellstar.org 770-956-STAR The vision of WellStar Health System is to deliver world-class healthcare. Our not-for-profit health system includes WellStar Cobb Hospital, WellStar Douglas Hospital, WellStar Kennestone Hospital, WellStar Paulding Hospital, WellStar Windy Hill Hospital and WellStar Medical Group. Page 4B • January 27-February 2, 2012 COBB COUNTY MARKET REPORT ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE Young demographic among Cobb’s advantages By Nicole Bradford Cochran, who lives in Smyrna, said obstacles that must be overcome to main- CONTRIBUTING WRITER he has noticed growing popularity tain the area’s enviable population asset. us t entering their 40s, Trip Baisden surrounding its community center. The demands of this demographic, the and his wife, Missy, are admittedly “A lot of younger people are moving study outlined, contained no surprises: on the older tier of Cobb County’s there because housing is still relatively options in entertainment, dining and Jlarge, hip crowd of mostly 20- and affordable and it’s close to downtown,” he nightlife, and reliable mass transit to 30-somethings. said. “Another reason is Smyrna Market relieve traffic congestion. But that didn’t stop them from settling Village provides a sense of cohesion to in Smyrna after considering just about the community — public space that’s rela- every other option in the Atlanta area. tively walkable.” Cobb County: Fresh from their move and still in the Clearly, Cobb’s large group of educated Population by age unpacking stages, the Chester, Va., trans- young professionals is among its strong plants will soon be venturing beyond their points regarding future development, a 19 and under: .......28.3 percent five-bedroom home, hoping to connect to fact that isn’t lost on the area’s leaders. 20-24: ...................6.5 percent their new community. Highly educated But while they recognize this advantage, 25-34: ...................14.7 percent and with two small children in tow, they they also fear Cobb may have encoun- believe they will find plenty of common tered a turning point. 35-44: ...................15.8 percent ground with their neighbors. The recession, housing bust and con- 45-64: ...................26 percent “Between the schools and the closeness tinuing economic hardships have all hit to the city, it was a perfect fit,” Trip the area hard — and, according to eco- 65 and up: ............8.7 percent Baisden said. “We want to get out and nomic experts, it has yet to enter a Source: Cobb’s Competitive EDGE Assessment, August 2011 meet people like us. We’ve got kids under healthy recovery. 12, and we can still boogie.” “In recent years, our young population For various reasons, Cobb County has has trailed off,” Bass said, partly due to In 2009, nearly half of Cobb County been a big draw for the young, educated the housing bust and declining values. commuters spent 30 minutes or more demographic. Nearly a third — 30.5 per- “More people can now afford a condo in commuting to work, a higher percentage cent —- of Cobb’s population is young downtown, Midtown or Buckhead.” than the state and the nation, according to professionals between the ages of 25 and BYRON E. SMALL From 2000 to 2010, Cobb experienced a the study. 44, according to the 2010 census. Young workers: Cobb Young Professionals’ population loss of 25- to -40-year-olds, Not all commuters, however, have it A map view of Cobb provides one Jason Sleeman is in the 25-to-44 age group while neighboring Gwinnett County tough. Some, like Jason Sleeman, a reason for its popularity. that’s nearly a third of Cobb’s workforce. enjoyed an increase, according to a study 32-year-old financial center manager for “We are just blessed with our location,” commissioned by the Cobb Chamber that the Atlanta office of Fifth Third Bank, said Cobb Chamber of Commerce Chief enjoy the amenities of downtown.” was completed in August. have beaten traffic woes through either Operating Officer Demming Bass.