Decide DeKalb reports jobs, new loan fund and a ‘creative district’ push focused on Southwest DeKalb

Decide DeKalb, the county’s economic development arm, reported on June 17 that it has facilitated 828 new jobs and $15,400,000 in capital investment year-to-date and is expanding programs aimed at business retention, workforce development and equitable investment in South DeKalb.

The presentation, given by Dorian DeBar, highlighted a business retention and expansion (BRE) program with 44 BRE visits so far, a new small-business revolving loan fund now live at decidedekalb.com with an initial $2,500,000 pool, and a creative-district strategy focused on the Southwestern portion of DeKalb County. DeBar described the Made in DeKalb educator fellowship — a workforce initiative pairing teachers with manufacturers and logistics firms — as part of a broader effort to align K–12 and technical education with local hiring needs.

DeBar said the loan fund is a revolving model with underwriting and review committees and a technical-assistance component. He told commissioners the fund has received about 200 applications to date but that no loans have been dispersed yet. DeBar said the county will make a case to secure additional funding beyond the initial $2.5 million.

Why it matters: Commissioners pressed for specifics on how the county will steer economic gains toward underinvested areas. Commissioners repeatedly asked about eligibility, interest rates and prioritization for the loan fund; DeBar pledged to provide full program details to the board. He also framed the creative district as a “hyper-local” strategy intended to leverage Southwest DeKalb’s existing assets and the county’s Southwest Tax Allocation District (TAD) to drive jobs and entrepreneurship.

Supporting details: DeBar highlighted TriNet’s decision to locate a large corporate center in Dunwoody — an announcement that both state and local partners publicized — and explained the county’s role as part of a multi-party recruitment effort. He said TriNet represents “Atlanta’s largest office transaction to date in 2025” and that the project aligns with the county’s office and multifamily market trends.

DeBar said the county’s next countywide strategic economic development plan (led by KB Advisors) is underway and will include one-on-one meetings with each commissioner. He described partnerships with Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Georgia Tech and DeKalb County Schools on the Made in DeKalb educator fellowship (manufacturing, automation, distribution), and named several private firms that hosted site visits, including Sugar Bowl Bakery, Schneider Trucking and PepsiCo.

Commissioner questions and follow-ups: Commissioners asked whether the TriNet office could have located in Central or South DeKalb and were told the available large-scale office square footage was in Dunwoody. Commissioners also asked when TAD advisory committees for the county’s five TADs will be formed; DeBar said he expects them within about 60 days. He also said he would provide commissioners with the loan-fund underwriting criteria, proposed interest rates and an equity analysis of prioritization for applicants.

What’s next: Decide DeKalb will share the BRE annual report when complete, provide more detail on the loan fund’s interest rates and underwriting, and engage each commissioner during the countywide economic development plan process. DeBar said the Made in DeKalb educator fellowship will continue and that staff will return to committees with budget and program details as requested.