ChooseATL City campaign continues to make strides

By Grace Huseth

At one of Ludacris’ recent appearances, he didn’t rap at all. Instead, the music star spoke about his career and how Atlanta helped him achieve greatness.

Ludacris was in Austin at the famed South by Southwest (SXSW) festival and conference in mid-March. He represented ChooseATL, the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s campaign to showcase the innovation, creative careers and diverse opportunities that can be found in city’s job market.

This was ChooseATL’s second year in Austin and their biggest effort to promote the city. They hosted conversations with leaders and held a job fair, panel discussions and a big dance party at the ChooseATL House on 6th Avenue. They also had the largest footprint in the job fair along with hospitality from six different Atlanta companies which came to shine a light on life in the city.

“Since SXSW has become one of the largest meetings of music, tech and film, we have to show up in a different way to break through the noise,” said Kate Atwood, executive director of ChooseATL.

Atwood said SXSW focuses on film, interactive media and music – three areas where cities are always trying to attract talent. While there are cities known for each niche – think Nashville for music and Silicon Valley for tech – Atlanta is in a unique position to include all three. “No emerging city can go toe to toe with Atlanta when you look at three of those things colliding together,” she said.

To offer a different narrative, leaders in film and innovation chatted about the job market while popular artists and DJs created a fun atmosphere. Rapper Rich Homie Quan headlined the dance party, while the Ludacris conversation was such a hit that it was trending nationally on Twitter.

The biggest message was communicating the startling statistics about the job market in Atlanta. There are currently 10,000 jobs available in the tech market, Atlanta is ranked third as a city with the most Fortune 500 headquarters and is the number three Startup Hub to Watch.

Atwood’s favorite moment during SXSW was a conversation with Frank Patterson, CEO of Pinewood Atlanta Studios, moderated by Tripp Crosby, a content creator and aspiring filmmaker. Crosby recently moved back to Atlanta from Los Angeles with the dream of making a feature length movie. Together, the duo chatted about journeys in the film industry and the extensive filming capability at Pinewood Studios.

During the conversation, Patterson offered Crosby access to the studios at Pinewood and resources to make his film a reality. “It was a magical moment when a leader met an underdog and said they would help make this dream come true,” Atwood said. “I don’t know how many other cities can make that moment happen.”

As much as ChooseATL is about attracting talent, the organization wants those who have chosen Atlanta to feel they have a part in the growth of the city. “Young people want to wave the flag for the community they live in,” Atwood said. “We are a digitally connected world now, but that makes knowing your neighbors so much more important.”

Neighborhoods came together on May 20 when ChooseATL hosted a series of seven block parties in communities around the city offering networking, food, art and music.

“There is a place here to hustle and a place to set out to achieve wildest dreams,” Atwood said. “We don’t have the cut-throat, survival of the fittest of other cities. Here it’s a hospitality and generosity that will meet you as long as you are willing to work hard and hustle.”