Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Forest Park staff reports redevelopment prospects, SBDC consulting hours and film-scouting activity
Summary
Economic development staff reported developer interest in downtown redevelopment sites, free small-business consulting hours with Clayton State SBDC starting in March, and visits from film scouts including NBC and Tyler Perry Studios.
Economic development staff, speaking on behalf of Director Marcellus Williams, told the DDA on Thursday that the office continues to market redevelopment sites on Main Street and is coordinating workforce and small-business supports.
Staff said they have met with real estate developers and brokers about the Sweet Auburn Avenue redevelopment site and continue work on projects named Project Splash, Project Moonshot and Operation Unload. Staff reported they have fielded 11 business inquiries regarding redevelopment and have given tours of 850 Main Street, a DDA-owned site undergoing renovation.
Staff also said the Clayton State Small Business Development Center will host free community consulting hours starting March 7 (multiple Mondays) at a downtown location to provide small-business advising. Film scouts from NBC Studios and Tyler Perry Studios have visited the city; staff said film production interest is returning and paperwork from a film group was expected soon.
Why it matters: Developer interest and film production can drive investment, jobs and foot traffic on Main Street; small-business consulting offers direct, no-cost assistance for entrepreneurs.
Details: Staff said an Elevate workforce development program will begin working in the city and that the economic development office is preparing new marketing collateral and a website redesign. Director Marcellus Williams was not present; staff delivered the report on his behalf. No formal board action was taken on these items at the meeting.
