Developing and administering a business retention plan: a case study of Atlanta, Georgia, 1979

Business exodus from the central city has increasingly become a serious problem since World War II. Prior to the late 1960's, city governments' role in business retention was very limited. After an extended period of non-involvement in economic development matters and attracting business, local governments have become more concerned about the retention of existing business. In an effort to address the problem of business exodus from the City of Atlanta, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development undertook a major survey of industries in the City. The purpose of this survey was to create a data base by which to identify problems and needs which businesses in Atlanta perceive to be crucial to their economic well-being. The primary goals of this study are: (1) to provide information to the Mayor's Office of Economic Development which will form the basis for the development of a viable business retention plan; (2) to make City government cognizant of the priorities and needs of the business community; (3) to identify the content of a business retention plan; and (4) to identify means through which the City can establish and maintain a favorable business climate. The main sources of information were interviews with local businessmen, the Business Retention/Expansion Study of Atlanta, the City of Atlanta's Overall Economic Development Plan of 1979, and the Policy Design Coporation Report: Atlanta: Transition to the Future