Invest Atlanta
Invest Atlanta is the City of Atlanta's official economic development authority, administering TAD financing, tax credits, loans, grants, and housing programs for businesses, developers, and residents at no direct charge, funded by municipal and federal sources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Invest Atlanta does
Invest Atlanta is the City of Atlanta's official economic development authority, founded in 1997 and wholly owned by the City of Atlanta with Mayor Andre Dickens serving as Board Chair and Dr. Eloisa Klementich as President and CEO. The agency administers a portfolio of financing, tax incentive, grant, and technical assistance programs targeted at site selectors, real estate developers, businesses (startups through large enterprises), homebuyers, homeowners, renters, and grocery operators. Its offering spans Small Business Loan Programs, Small Business Improvement Grants, New Markets Tax Credits, Opportunity Zone State Tax Credits, Tax Allocation District financing (8 active TADs), Transit-Oriented Development Fund, Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund, Urban Enterprise Zone, Senior Tax Relief, Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance, Owner-Occupied Rehab, and the Fresh Food Access Program, alongside the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative and DealRoom startup-investor platform.
The business model is non-commercial: services are provided at no direct charge to users, with funding sourced from municipal budget allocations, incremental property tax capture through TADs, and federal programs (including the $75 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation awarded to subsidiary Atlanta Emerging Markets, Inc. by the U.S. Department of the Treasury). Distribution is primarily direct through the investatlanta.com digital self-serve platform, monthly webinars, committee meetings, and partnerships with developers, grocers, and community intermediaries such as Resurgence Commercial Partners, Peebles Corporation, Savi Provisions, and the Independent Grocers Alliance. Technology depth is limited to a self-service website and matching platform, with the only disclosed AI initiative being a WriteSea pilot partnership delivering externally-sourced AI career-readiness tools.
In 2025, the agency reported $1.7 billion in capital investment, 3,967 jobs created or retained, and 2,384 affordable housing units created or preserved; 2026 disclosures include $718 million in total economic impact and 1,442 new jobs from business attraction and expansion. A City of Atlanta performance audit found that Invest Atlanta overstated the positive effects of TADs on surrounding property values, creating reputational and accountability headwinds despite continued programmatic expansion.
Invest Atlanta firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Invest Atlanta
- Legal name
- Invest Atlanta
- Website
- https://investatlanta.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Invest Atlanta is the City of Atlanta's official economic development authority, administering TAD financing, tax credits, loans, grants, and housing programs for businesses, developers, and residents at no direct charge, funded by municipal and federal sources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Invest Atlanta industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Development Services
- NAICS
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Finance and Insurance (52)
- SIC
- Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Investors, Nec (6799), Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Real Estate Investment Advisory (Acquisitions/Dispositions, Capital Allocation) (BPAJANAA), Real Estate Tax, Incentives & Cost Segregation Advisory (BPAJANAJ), State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM), Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF), Debt Advisory & Financing Advisory (FSAEAGAD), Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)
Keywords
Where Invest Atlanta is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Invest Atlanta business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Municipal Funding: Invest Atlanta operates as the City of Atlanta's official economic development authority, funded through municipal budgets, tax allocation district revenues, and federal grants. Revenue is not generated from commercial product/service sales.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Invest Atlanta product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Invest Atlanta is the City of Atlanta's official economic development authority, administering municipal financing tools, tax incentives, and grants to drive business attraction, real estate development, small business growth, and affordable housing within the city. Its portfolio includes Tax Allocation District financing, New Markets Tax Credits, Opportunity Zone State Tax Credits, the Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund, Small Business Loan Programs and Improvement Grants, the Business Continuity Loan Fund, residential housing incentives, homebuyer downpayment assistance, and senior tax relief. Programs and incentives are deployed at no direct charge to eligible businesses, developers, and residents operating within Atlanta city limits.
Product overview
Invest Atlanta serves as Atlanta's official economic development agency, offering a comprehensive portfolio of financial products and business development services. The organization operates as a multi-faceted platform providing financing solutions (loans, bonds, grants, tax incentives), site selection assistance, and specialized programs targeting small businesses, entrepreneurs, and community development. Key offerings include Small Business Loan Programs, Small Business Improvement Grants, New Markets Tax Credits, Opportunity Zone State Tax Credits, and the Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative. The agency also manages the DealRoom Startup-Investor Platform for startup-investor matching and operates subsidiary Atlanta Emerging Markets, Inc. (AEMI) for emerging market investments. Residential and housing programs complement economic development efforts, including Senior Tax Relief, Homebuyer Assistance, and Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation to prevent displacement. The portfolio spans from early-stage entrepreneurship support through major commercial development projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,967 jobs created or retained in 2025
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Invest Atlanta
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Invest Atlanta technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Invest Atlanta partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Resurgence Commercial PartnerscoreResurgence Commercial Partners leads redevelopment of 8-acre historic site near Morris Brown College. Development consortium includes ImpactData, Gibraltar Capital Partners, The Miles Development Group, Prestwick Companies, Mercy Housing, and Cityscape Housing.
- WriteSeacoreOne-year pilot partnership with the City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta to provide AI-powered career readiness tools and workshops to 100 Atlanta residents. WriteSea's multi-model AI approach incorporates open-source models alongside its own fine-tuned systems to deliver scalable workforce support.
- Showcase AtlantaminorPartnership with City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta to launch the Atlanta Business Readiness Loan Fund (ABRLF) - a pilot initiative providing flexible, low-interest loans ($5,000-$15,000) to small businesses ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 and other major events.
- Independent Grocers AlliancecoreProvides ongoing technical assistance and resources to grocery grant recipients including Savi Provisions, Sevananda Natural Foods, Carver Market, and Lee Street Meats, aligned with Mayor Dickens' 2030 goal for food access.
- Lalani VenturesminorLalani Ventures completed significant renovations to Upper Alabama Street at Underground Atlanta, including enhanced lighting, a custom futsal pitch, and new vendor spaces. Invest Atlanta partnered on the Global Village series of 27 events at Underground Atlanta.
- Atlanta Emerging Markets, Inc. (AEMI)coreAEMI is a subsidiary of Invest Atlanta that received $75 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation from U.S. Department of Treasury - the largest ever for AEMI and second highest in Georgia.
- City of AtlantacorePrimary governmental partner; Invest Atlanta serves as the city's official economic development agency. Coordinates with Mayor's Office, City Council, and various city departments.
- Savi ProvisionscorePartner in public-private municipal market model; received $8 million in grant funding to operate two fresh food stores in underserved areas as part of Invest Atlanta's food access initiative.
- Resurgence Commercial PartnerscoreLead developer for Five Peachtree Senior - 65-unit affordable housing project for seniors earning at or below 80% AMI, representing first phase of mixed-use project in Five Points area.
- Peebles CorporationcoreSelected by MARTA to lead joint venture for Hollowell Innovation District transit-oriented development. One of the largest minority-owned real estate developers in the U.S., partnering with Bolster Real Estate Partners and Exact Capital Group.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Invest Atlanta competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Metro Atlanta Chamber: The Metro Atlanta Chamber is the regional private-sector economic development and business attraction organization for the broader 29-county metro. It is comparable because it pursues many of the same site selection, business attraction, and workforce development outcomes as Invest Atlanta, though it operates regionally rather than within city limits.
- Georgia Department of Economic Development: Georgia's state-level economic development agency administers state tax credits, Opportunity Zones, and project financing statewide. It is comparable because it deploys overlapping incentive tools (tax credits, financing programs, business recruitment) that compete with and complement Invest Atlanta's municipal-level programs.
Direct peers
- New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC): NYCEDC is the municipal economic development corporation for New York City, administering TIF districts, affordable housing financing, small business grants, and large-scale redevelopment. It is the closest structural analogue to Invest Atlanta among U.S. municipal EDOs.
- Chicago Department of Planning and Development: Chicago's municipal planning and economic development department administers TIF districts, housing financing, and small business programs within city limits. It is comparable as a peer municipal agency deploying the same toolset (TIFs, housing credits, business assistance) at comparable scale.
- Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD): EWDD is the City of Los Angeles's municipal economic and workforce development agency, administering business assistance, loans, grants, and housing programs. It is comparable as a peer city-level EDO managing overlapping program portfolios.
- San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD): OEWD is San Francisco's municipal economic development agency, deploying small business assistance, affordable housing financing, and redevelopment incentives. It is comparable as a peer city-level EDO with overlapping program scope and similar urban-affordable-housing focus.
- Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC): PIDC is Philadelphia's public-private economic development corporation, providing financing, tax credits (including NMTC), and real estate development services. It is comparable as a peer municipal quasi-governmental EDO with a similar financing-plus-development mandate.
Regional players
- Houston Land Bank / Houston Economic Development: Houston's municipal economic development functions operate through Planning & Development and the Land Bank, with comparable TIRZ/TIF, housing, and small business programs. It is comparable as a peer large-city municipal EDO, though operating under different state-level constraints.
Others
- Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. is the affiliated implementation entity for the BeltLine TAD and trail/transit project. It is comparable as an Invest Atlanta-adjacent entity sharing TAD funding flows, redevelopment mandates, and stakeholder relationships in Atlanta's largest active project.
- Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): OFN is the national CDFI intermediary supporting New Markets Tax Credit deployment and community development finance. It is comparable as a peer ecosystem organization that channels federal NMTC and impact capital similar to what AEMI pursues at the Atlanta city level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Invest Atlanta social profiles
Digital presenceInvest Atlanta financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Invest Atlanta leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Invest Atlanta subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Invest Atlanta funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Invest Atlanta M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Invest Atlanta
What does Invest Atlanta do?
Invest Atlanta is the City of Atlanta's official economic development authority, administering municipal financing tools, tax incentives, and grants to drive business attraction, real estate development, small business growth, and affordable housing within the city. Its portfolio includes Tax Allocation District financing, New Markets Tax Credits, Opportunity Zone State Tax Credits, the Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund, Small Business Loan Programs and Improvement Grants, the Business Continuity Loan Fund, residential housing incentives, homebuyer downpayment assistance, and senior tax relief. Programs and incentives are deployed at no direct charge to eligible businesses, developers, and residents operating within Atlanta city limits.
Is Invest Atlanta a public or private company?
Invest Atlanta is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Invest Atlanta founded?
Invest Atlanta was founded in 1997. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Invest Atlanta based?
Invest Atlanta is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Invest Atlanta make money?
One revenue line is on record: municipal Funding.
Who are Invest Atlanta's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Department of Economic Development. Direct peers are New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD), San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). Houston Land Bank / Houston Economic Development is listed as a regional player. Others are Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and Opportunity Finance Network (OFN).
Does Invest Atlanta have an API?
No public API is recorded for Invest Atlanta.
What industry is Invest Atlanta in?
Invest Atlanta's product category is Economic Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAN, Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local), with a secondary code of BPAJANAA, Real Estate Investment Advisory (Acquisitions/Dispositions, Capital Allocation). Its NAICS code is 522 and its SIC code is 6111.