Business Images Clayton County, GA: 2009

BUSINESS

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CLAYTON C A O CO COUNTY, G GEORGIA O G A

New Marching Orders Military l b base c conversions open wealth of possibilities

The Busiest Gets Bigger Atlanta airport adds people mover, terminal

Veggie Might Farmers market reaps millions of dollars in sales

SPONSORED BY THE CLAYTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2009

C L AY T O N C O U N T Y C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

Chamber Benefits: Referrals • Information • Networking • Newsletters Special Events • Leadership • Business Development Legislative Meetings • Education • Ribbon Cuttings

The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce promotes the quality of life, Southern charm, quality growth and pro-business attitude of this suburban county in metropolitan Atlanta.

The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce connects your business with potential clients, customers and new business opportunities.

The Chamber also provides valuable resources, various educational forums and offers exclusive member programs and discounts. For additional information on Chamber membership, events and services, contact 678-610-4021 or www.claytonchamber.org.

The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce is the place “where business prospers” in Clayton County!

Where Business Prospers www.claytonchamber.org

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

... see it for yourself VIDEO >>

What makes Clayton County such a favorable place to do business? What is it about the quality of life in Clayton County that makes people who move there to work decide to stay for the long term?

Business Images Clayton County shows you Clayton County like you’ve never seen it before, thanks to the work of our award-winning photographers and writers.

Clayton County is just a click away.

Experience the vitality and charm of Clayton County from the comfort of your computer.

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contents BUSINESS TM

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12

WELCOME/OVERVIEW

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BUSINESS ALMANAC ALMA

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BUSINESS CLIMAT CLIMATE

Staying Power Powe

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Clayton County is a magnet m for business.

New M N Marching hi Orders O

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EDUCATION

Knowledge Asset

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Clayton State is a community asset.

It Means Business

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13

TR ANSPORTATION

The Busiest G Gets Bigger

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A new terminal highlig highlights airport growth.

Connecting Fligh Flight

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HEALTH

Booster Shot

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Southern Regional Medical Center is the pulse of Clayton County health-care delivery.

LIVABILITY

Veggie Might

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Farmers market is a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

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The Simple Life

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SPORTS & RECREA RECREATION

Parking Spaces Space

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Clayton County offers a bevy of outdoor fun.

Zoom With a View

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Living History

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The past has a home at state, national archives.

The Spirit of Spivey Hall

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ECONOMIC PROFILE

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On the Cover PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO The National Archives Southeast Region in Morrow, Ga.

This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

C L AY T O N C O U N T Y

I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M

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BUSINESS TM

LIFESTYLE | WORKSTYLE | DIGGING DEEPER | VIDEO | LINK TO US | ADVERTISE | CONTACT US | SITE MAP

CLAYTON COU N TY BUSINESS TM

ONLINE C L AY TO N CO U N T Y

CONNECTIONS

An online resource at

IMAGESCLAYTONCOUNTY.com

2009 EDITION, VOLUME 1

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED 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

VIRTUAL MAGAZINE >>

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MICHAELA JACKSON, ROY MOORE, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO, AMY STUMPFL DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON

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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

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Lifestyle A showcase for what drives Clayton Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high quality of life

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Read Business Images Clayton County on your computer, zoom in on the articles and link to advertiser Web sites.

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

NEWS AND NOTES >>

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

Get the Inside Scoop on the

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

latest developments in Clayton

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

County from our editors and

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

business insiders

V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM

Workstyle A spotlight on innovative companies that call Clayton County home

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>

MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL

Meet the people setting the pace

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS

for Clayton County business

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

DIG DEEPER >>

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD

Log into the community with links

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

to local Web sites and resources

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER

to give you the big picture of Clayton County DATA CENTRAL >>

A by-the-numbers look at doing business and living in Clayton County

See the Video Our award-winning photographers give you a virtual peek inside Clayton County

GUIDE TO SERVICES >>

Links to a cross section of goods and services in Clayton County

GO ONLINE

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 info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Clayton County Chamber of Commerce 2270 Mount Zion Road â&#x20AC;¢ Jonesboro, GA 30236 Phone: (678) 610-4021 â&#x20AC;¢ Fax: (678) 610-4025 Email: info@claytonchamber.org www.claytonchamber.org VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES CLAYTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESCLAYTONCOUNTY.COM ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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C L AY T O N C O U N T Y

“As a woman, YOU deserve special care!

And special care is what we promise to provide.”

Honest • Caring • Professional Board-Certified Physicians Certified Nurse Midwives Kay Flowers, CNM Karen Morrison, CNM Brandy Jenkins, CNM NURSE PRACTITIONERS Becky Oskey, NP Wanda Nipper, NP

W. 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.

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.

Clayton County Water Authority “Quality Water, Quality Service” We are Clayton County’s one-stopshop 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.

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.

For information, visit www.ccwa.us

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.

(800) 456-4000 2192 Mount Zion Parkway • Morrow, GA 30260 (770) 603-3232 • www.countryinns.com/morrowga

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overview

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

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.

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.

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.

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 HartsfieldJackson 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.

20 2 0

Atlanta a a

285

College Park

Forest Park

85

Lake City Morrow Riverdale 75 675

CLAYTO N Jonesboro

Lovejoy

Clayton State University is a major educational asset and is home to a cultural treasure in Spivey Hall, the Carnegie Hall of the South.

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

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A GOOD VERDICT Pound the gavel – Jonesboro High School is the champion again.

THEY KNOW THEIR HISTORY Preserving 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.

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.

FRANKLY, MY DEAR Clayton 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.

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IN HONOR OF HIS HONOR Way 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.

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business almanac

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

A PLACE IN HISTORY The Civil War played a big part in Clayton County’s history.

Thousands 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 P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F T H E C L AY TO N C O U N T Y C O N V E N T I O N & V I S I TO R S B U R E A U 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 DEVELOPMENTS

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.

Heads 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 VENUE The 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.

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business climate

Staying

Power

Clayton County is drawing and keeping people and businesses

N

IAN CURCIO

o one ever doubted that Clayton County was crucial to Atlanta’s meteoric growth.

As home to the world’s busiest airport, the suburban 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

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

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271,240

114,205

Clayton County estimated population in 2006, up 15 percent since 2000

Total number of workers, all industries

C L AY T O N C O U N T Y

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.

“Major cities around the country with great airports have high-density development around them.”

Larry Vincent, chairman of the Clayton County Development 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.”

– Michaela Jackson

146

$39,511

Total land area in square miles

Median household income in Clayton County

C L AY T O N C O U N T Y

A New Set of Marching Orders MILITARY 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.

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Knowledge

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

More Insight 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

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W

ith a growing slate of degree and postgraduate programs, soaring enrollment and a burgeoning reputation as a regional economic development 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

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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

C L AY T O N C O U N T Y

education

It Means Business ENTREPRENEUR SERVICES, GRADUATE PROGRAMS AID REGIONAL ECONOMY

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 development for Clayton County. It’s indicative of the university’s concern for the county, and for its continued growth and development.”

– Joe Morris

Thomas K. Harden is president of Clayton State University. P H OTO S B Y I A N C U R C I O

C L AY T O N C O U N T Y

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

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

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transportation

The

Busiest

Gets

Bigger New terminal, expanded people mover highlight latest growth at airport

PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

H

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

artsf ield-Jackson Atlanta 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 construction 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

89.4 million $23.5 billion $2.4 billion Passenger traffic at Atlanta’s airport in 2007

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Estimated regional economic impact of the airport

Annual payroll at Hartsfield-Jackson airport

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A Rail Runs Through It COMMUTER 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

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new vendor/contractors will also require support companies, which may include office supply companies, liquor distributors, 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 companies and their operations, including customer service, administration, parking, 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 will positively affect an already 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 responsible 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

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

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transportation

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.

“An aerotropolis takes into consideration the economics

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

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PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

of an airport.”

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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Booster

Shot

Southern Regional system is pulse of Clayton County health care

F

Scorecard SOUTHERN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM BY THE NUMBERS

376 Licensed beds

574 Physicians

2,261 20,000+ 2007 admissions

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P H OTO S B Y I A N C U R C I O

Employees

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 county.

At the heart of the system is Southern Regional Medical Center, a 376-bed community 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 transformation 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 leadership 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.

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health

Southern Regional from being a good hospital 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 experiencing a heart attack. Plans are in the works for a specialty center for total

“One of the major goals has been to grow Southern Regional from being a good hospital to a great hospital.” 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 building 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 primary care, internal care, neurology and obstetrics-gynecology.

– Roy Moore

With Women in Mind FORMER CEO’S DREAM LEADS TO HEALTH CENTER’S ESTABLISHMENT Southern Regional Health System’s state-of-theart 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 familycare 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

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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.

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livability

Big Producer A

Farmers market is a multimillion-dollar enterprise in Clayton County

PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO

A

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

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farmers’ market tends to engender thoughts of pickup trucks parked along the roadside, 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 economic 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 distribution 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

Scorecard ATLANTA STATE FARMERS MARKET

3,500 Number of daily visitors

$527.7 million Sales in 2007

3,700 Number of employees

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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 filling 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 crosssection 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.”

– Michaela Jackson

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

The Simple Life OPEN 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

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Lake Spivey in Clayton County offers waterfront living.

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.”

– Michaela Jackson

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sports & recreation

Parking

Spaces Clayton County offers numerous avenues to enjoy the outdoors

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C

layton County Parks and Rec reation maintains nearly 700 acres of parkland, including nine community 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 community, 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 quality 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 waterslides, 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

“Any time you enhance the quality of life, it betters the economy in the region as well.” preserve,” Stanford says. “We have a very diverse and knowledgeable 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 authority oversees the 32-acre Newman Wetlands Center, which includes an interpretive center that demonstrates the importance of preserving wetlands environments and educates 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. P H OTO S B Y I A N C U R C I O

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sports & recreation

Zoom F with a

View

Atlanta Motor Speedway attracts visitors by the thousands

asten 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,

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

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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 promotion 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 Insight ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

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

questions

answers

1.5-mile quad-oval track debuted on July 31, 1960

125,000

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

seating capacity Source: www.atlantamotor speedway.com

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

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Living History

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

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

Region boasts 125,000 cubic feet of archival holdings dating to 1716 and including everything from historic records and photos to maps and architectural 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 southeastern 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 genealogical 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

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arts & entertainment

Arts Minded COMMUNITY AT HEART OF CLAYTON GROUP’S WORK

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

special events and workshops throughout 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 questions 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-

More Insight THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES SOUTHEAST REGION 5780 Jonesboro Road Morrow, GA 30260 Phone: (770) 968-2100 www.archives.gov/southeast/

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script curators and librarians.

Taught by nationally recognized experts, the two-week program covers everything from legal and administrative 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 historical 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 everyday Georgians. They’re helping us build our collection, providing a pictorial history of our state.”

– Amy Stumpfl

HOW TO REACH THE ARCHIVES

GEORGIA STATE ARCHIVES 5800 Jonesboro Road Morrow, GA 30260 Phone: (678) 364-3700 www.sos.state.ga.us/archives/

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 topquality 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

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arts & entertainment

The Spirit of

Spivey Hall One woman’s dream became an international sensation

IAN CURCIO

A

sk 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 gorgeous 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 celebrated concert series.

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

Treating patients from newborn to elderly Board-certified Family Medicine physicians from Atlanta Medical Center train future Family Medicine physicians through its residency teaching program

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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Maternity care Pediatrics • Geriatrics Most office procedures

to Spivey Hall,” says Sam Dixon, executive 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 workshops for school students.

Dixon says that Spivey Hall was the vision of Emilie Parmalee Spivey, a prominent 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

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

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Ad Index 2 8 AT L A N TA M E D I C A L C E N T E R 2 5 B O N N I E P R AT T — C L AY TO N N E WS DA I LY 1 C L AY TO N C H A M B E R O F CO M M E RC E 6 C L AY TO N CO U N T Y WATER AU TH O R IT Y C 4 C L AY TO N S TAT E U N I V E R S IT Y 6 CO U NTRY I N N & S U ITE S C 3 G EO RG I A P OW E R 5 SOUTHERN CRESCENT WO M E N ’ S H E A LT H C A R E C 2 S O U T H E R N R EG I O N A L H E A LT H SYS T E M

ECONOMIC PROFILE BUSINESS CLIMATE

POPULATION Clayton County is the fifth-most populous county in Georgia. The cost of living is 79 percent of the national average.

Clayton 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.

ANNUAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND WAGES

*October 2007 2006 (estimate), 271,240 2015 (projected), 357,522

Industry

No. of Employees

Weekly Wage

Goods-producing

8,363

$854

Service-providing

89,286

$1,010

64

$677

97,713

$932

Unclassified-industry not assigned

COST OF LIVING INDEX

Total private sector National average, 100

Total government

Clayton County overall cost of living, 79.28

16,492

$794

All industries

114,205

$955

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

Clayton County Airport – Tara Field, (770) 946-3153

Food, 102 Utilities, 91

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Atlanta, 13 miles Southern Regional Medical Center JC Penney Distribution Center Clorox

Greenville, S.C., 144 miles Knoxville, Tenn., 167 miles Nashville, Tenn., 226 miles

Sherwin-Williams

Charlotte, N.C., 231 miles

Toto USA

Charleston, S.C., 262 miles

Fresh Express

FOR MORE INFORMATION Clayton County Chamber of Commerce

2270 Mount Zion Road Jonesboro, GA 30236 (678) 610-4021 www.claytonchamber.org

TRANSPORTATION PER CAPITA INCOME 2006

Sources:

$22,761

Airports

2005

$22,643

2004

$21,934

2003

$21,578

2002

$21,624

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (404) 530-7300 (800) 897-1910 http://www.atlantaairport.com/

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

Visit Our Advertisers 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

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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

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

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