Atlanta, Georgia

The Atlanta BeltLine aims to create a 22-mile modern streetcar, multi-use trail, and park loop based on railroad corridors that formerly encircled Atlanta to connect 45 city neighborhoods.  As of the end 2015, the Atlanta Beltline was credited with creating more than 6,000 permanent jobs, nearly 23,000 constructions jobs, 15,400 new housing units, and 200 acres of new park space.   To ensure affordable housing, the project includes an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and has partnered with The Atlanta Land Trust Collaborative (ALTC), which is focused on developing permanently affordable CLT units within Beltline neighborhoods.  Slated for completion in 2030, the project is expected to generate $10 billion in private investments in the area.

The Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency aims to empower homeless individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency.  Since its establishment in 2010, it has helped connect 1,300 homeless people to full-time employment. A core part of its program is Café 458, which provides nutritious meals during the week to homeless men and women.  On Sundays, Café 458 serves brunch to the general public, which provides revenues to the nonprofit and training opportunities for its clients.

Founded in 1991 and certified as a CDFI in 1998, the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP) works to promote, create, and preserve mixed-income communities and the equitable distribution of affordable housing throughout the metropolitan Atlanta region.  To do so, the nonprofit engages in direct development, lending, policy research, and advocacy—activities credited with supporting the creation of more than 8,000 housing units for low-to-moderate income people.  Through its loan fund, it has provided $36 million in financing to nonprofit and for-profit housing developers, supporting nearly $270 million in housing projects.

Aiming to push Atlanta to be a smart, equitable, and engaged city, the Center for Civic Innovation supports and invests in people and organizations working to make Atlanta’s public sector more effective, innovative, and participatory.  Through its Civic Innovation Fellowship, the Center provides Atlanta social entrepreneurs with business and leadership development programs, free workspace, and mentorship.  In partnership with the Food Well Alliance, the Center also has a Food Innovation Fellows program to support entrepreneurs, educators, and community organizers working to build healthier communities by connecting food growers to consumers.  Most recently, the nonprofit launched its Westside Innovation Lab in 2016 to identify and support community-driven and community-built ideas and interventions within Atlanta’s westside neighborhoods.

Established in 1951, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta focuses on improving quality of life in the 23-county Atlanta metro area.  It holds $900 million in assets and disburses about $100 million in grants annually.  As part of its Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, the foundation is supporting the creation of BetterLife Growers, an aeroponic operation that will sell fresh lettuce and herbs to area anchor institutions and other local establishments.  The enterprise is expected to create around 25 living-wage jobs in the Mechanicsville community.

Founded in 1940 to serve Delta Air Lines employees, Delta Community Credit Union is now Georgia's largest credit union with assets in excess of $5 billion and nearly 350,000 members. Through its Philanthropic Fund, the credit union has an annual grant program focused on supporting metro Atlanta nonprofits that help families manage their finances or improve youth wellbeing.  Delta Community also awards annual scholarships to members pursing their first undergraduate degree.

Founded in 1980, HDDC promotes the preservation and revitalization of the Auburn Avenue area (Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District) in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta. Since its inception, the group has redeveloped and historically preserved over 110 single family homes, constructed nearly 500 units of multifamily housing, and added over 40,000 square feet of commercial space in the Old Fourth Ward.

As the City’s official economic development authority, Invest Atlanta works to strengthen Atlanta’s economy and global competitiveness to create increased opportunity and prosperity for city residents.  It administers a range of loan programs to support small business.  For instance, its Opportunity Loan Program provides gap financing to Atlanta small and medium-sized businesses that create at least five new jobs.  Established to catalyze job creation, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization in underserved areas of Atlanta, its New Markets Catalyst Fund is a revolving loan program that provides loans to businesses in designated low-income census tracks.  In 2015, Invest Atlanta made loans to 21 small businesses, investments credited with leveraging $2.5 million in development activity.

Founded in a small office on North Highland Avenue on Atlanta's east side in 1992, North Highland has since grown to more than 3,000 employees in over 60 offices across the globe. The consultant firm focuses on solving challenges related to customer experience, transformation, performance, and technology.  Since 2007, the employee-owned firm has been named a “Best Firm to Work For” every year by Consulting Magazine.