Invest Atlanta

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.

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

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

• Economic development services
• Municipal financing programs
• Small business grants
• Affordable housing incentives
• Tax allocation districts

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Resurgence Commercial PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Resurgence 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.
• WriteSeacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026One-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 AtlantaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Partnership 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 AlliancecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 December 2024Provides 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 VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLalani 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEMI 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 AtlantacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary 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 ProvisionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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 PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead 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 CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected 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

Broad 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=UF-PbIauS5Y&list=PLPkTF11Z3O5nlaQEx4Xgkw-yVAkPiHCZ8
• Facebookfacebook.com/InvestAtlanta
• Instagraminstagram.com/invest_atlanta
• Xx.com/InvestAtlanta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/invest-atlanta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Invest Atlanta