business images clayton county, ga: 2009
DESCRIPTION
Clayton County delivers a pro-business attitude and strong quality of life. Offering a variety of business support services, it boasts Southern charm and is just minutes from one of the nation’s busiest urban areas.TRANSCRIPT
New Marching OrdersMilitary base conversions
open wealth of possibilities
The Busiest Gets Bigger Atlanta airport addspeople mover, terminal
Veggie Might Farmers market reaps millions of dollars in sales
BUSINESSTM
SPONSORED BY THE CLAYTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2009
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imagesclaytoncounty.com
CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA
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C A O CO G O G A
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The Clayton County
Chamber of Commerce
promotes the quality of
life, Southern charm, quality
growth and pro-business
attitude of this suburban
county in metropolitan Atlanta.
Where Business Prospers
The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce
connects your business with potential clients,
customers and new business opportunities.
The Chamber also provides valuable
resources, various educational forums
and offers exclusive member programs
and discounts. For additional information on
Chamber membership, events and services,
contact 678-610-4021 or www.claytonchamber.org.
The Clayton County Chamber of Commerce is the
place “where business prospers” in Clayton County!
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www.claytonchamber.org
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On the Cover PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO
The National Archives Southeast Region in Morrow, Ga.
WELCOME/OVERVIEW 7
BUSINESS ALMANAC 8
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Staying Power 10Clayton County is a magnet for business.
New Marching Orders 11
EDUCATION
Knowledge Asset 12Clayton State is a community asset.
It Means Business 13
TRANSPORTATION
The Busiest Gets Bigger 14A new terminal highlights airport growth.
Connecting Flight 17
HEALTH
Booster Shot 18Southern Regional Medical Center is the pulseof Clayton County health-care delivery.
LIVABILITY
Veggie Might 20Farmers market is a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
The Simple Life 21
SPORTS & RECREATION
Parking Spaces 22Clayton County offers a bevy of outdoor fun.
Zoom With a View 24
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Living History 26The past has a home at state, national archives.
The Spirit of Spivey Hall 28
ECONOMIC PROFILE 29
10
TRANSPORTATION
The Busiest GA new terminal highlig
Connecting Fligh
HEALTH
20
BUSINESS ALMA
BUSINESS CLIMAT
Staying PoweClayton County is a m
N M hi O
12
The Simple Life
SPORTS & RECREA
Parking SpaceClayton County offers
Zoom With a View
24
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PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 3
BUSINESS
contents
BUSINESS
CLAYTON COUNTY2009 EDITION, VOLUME 1
C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A
MANAGING EDITOR BILL McMEEKIN
COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS
ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY
ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW
STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MICHAELA JACKSON,
ROY MOORE, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO, AMY STUMPFL
DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH
REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON
INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER TRIP MILLER
SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,
ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW
CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS
WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN
PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER
PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS
MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,
KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS
LEAD DESIGNER ERICA HINES
GRAPHIC DESIGN ALISON HUNTER, JESSICA MANNER,
JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER
WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ
WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ
COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN
AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR, SARAH MILLER,
PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY
CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN
SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER
SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN
SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER
V.P./SALES HERB HARPER
V.P./SALES TODD POTTER
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER
V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART
V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS
MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS
MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM
MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM
MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO
CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY
ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK,
DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS
RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP
COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY
DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE
NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD
IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE
CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY
SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS
SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN
OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM
RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP
Business Images Clayton County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Clayton County Chamber of Commerce2270 Mount Zion Road • Jonesboro, GA 30236Phone: (678) 610-4021 • Fax: (678) 610-4025Email: [email protected]
VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES CLAYTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESCLAYTONCOUNTY.COM
©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.
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CONNECTIONS
LifestyleA showcase for what drives Clayton
County’s high quality of life
BUSINESS
ONLINECLAYTON COUNTY
LIFESTYLE | WORKSTYLE | DIGGING DEEPER | VIDEO | LINK TO US | ADVERTISE | CONTACT US | SITE MAP
WorkstyleA spotlight on innovative companies that
call Clayton County home
See the VideoOur award-winning photographers give
you a virtual peek inside Clayton County
NEWS AND NOTES >>
Get the Inside Scoop on the
latest developments in Clayton
County from our editors and
business insiders
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>
Meet the people setting the pace
for Clayton County business
DIG DEEPER >>
Log into the community with links
to local Web sites and resources
to give you the big picture of
Clayton County
DATA CENTRAL >>
A by-the-numbers look at
doing business and living
in Clayton County
GUIDE TO SERVICES >>
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4 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
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And special care is what we promise to provide.”
“As a woman, YOU deserve special care!
Honest • Caring • Professional
Call for an appointment at any of our convenient locations.Fayetteville • Spivey Station
(770) 991-2200 • www.scwhobgyn.com*We participate with all major insurance plans.
Board-Certified PhysiciansW. Darrell Martin, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Elizabeth W. Killebrew, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Sharon A. Lynch-Miller, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Benita Bonser, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.Crystal Slade, M.D. F.A.C.O.G.Cynthia Nater, M.D. F.A.C.O.G.Michlene Broadney, MD, F.A.C.O.G.Edwin Bello, MD, F.A.C.O.G.
Certified Nurse MidwivesKay Flowers, CNM
Karen Morrison, CNMBrandy Jenkins, CNM
NURSE PRACTITIONERSBecky Oskey, NP
Wanda Nipper, NP
(800) 456-4000
2192 Mount Zion Parkway • Morrow, GA 30260(770) 603-3232 • www.countryinns.com/morrowga
A warm welcome is only the beginning.
What’s it like to be our guest? It’s a warm fireplace, and an even warmer welcome. It’s feeling free to borrow a book from our library or relax in the pool. It’s having a free HOT breakfast to get you going and high-speed Internet to keep you connected. But most of all, it’s feeling like you’re a guest in our home.
For information, visit www.ccwa.us
We are Clayton County’s one-stop-shop for all water, wastewater and stormwater services. We see it as our mission to provide reliable water services to our community through innovation, efficiency and the protection of our water environment. As an award-winning utility, we have earned a reputation as a leader in the water industry that sets an example for others to follow. We sit ready to handle the growth of our community over the next decade and beyond.
“Quality Water, Quality Service”
Clayton County Water Authority
The CCWA’s innovative use of constructed wetlands provides sustainability for a system that provides services to more than 275,000 residents, while maintaining room for future growth.
6 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
From cosmopolitan
sophistication and vitality
to suburban friendliness to
big-city amenities mixed
with rural charm and ease
of getting around, Clayton
County is a place with a
heart and in the heart
of it all.
Each of Clayton County’s
communities – College Park, Forest Park,
Jonesboro, Lake City, Lovejoy, Morrow
and Riverdale – has a unique style and
personality, but all are united in making
the entire region inviting, prosperous and
dynamic for its residents and businesses.
Clayton County is home to Hartsfield-
Jackson Atlanta International Airport,
the world’s busiest airport, which has an
economic impact of more than $23 billion.
The Georgia International Convention
Center is a world-class venue that will
soon be directly linked to the airport’s
people mover system, another first for
the nation from Clayton County.
Getting around Clayton County is easy and
convenient, and the area’s transportation
infrastructure includes access to Interstates
75, 85, 285 and 675.
The region boasts national companies such as
Clorox, Sherwin-Williams, Fresh Express and
Toto USA and offers world-class attractions in
its backyard, including the Beach at International
Park, site of the 1996 Olympic
beach volleyball competition and now part of
Clayton County’s tremendous parks system.
The Atlanta State Farmers Market is home to 150
acres of fresh produce, flowers and other goods
and is a distribution and wholesale hub.
Clayton State University is a major educational
asset and is home to a cultural treasure in Spivey
Hall, the Carnegie Hall of the South.
The National Archives Southeast Region and
Georgia State Archives are next-door neighbors in
Clayton County, the only place in the country where
state and national archives are co-located.
Clayton County offers a variety of local and state
programs that help businesses grow, and its low tax
rates, tax credits and incentives, and skilled, educated
and available workforce make the community the
ideal place to live, work, play and stay.
CLAYTON
Atlantaa a
Forest Park
Lake City
Morrow
College Park
Riverdale
Jonesboro
Lovejoy
285285
67575
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202020022000
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A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY AND STAYClayton County, Ga., offers the best of all worlds
ClaytonCounty
SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Clayton County at imagesclaytoncounty.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 7
overview
FRANKLY, MY DEARClayton County is the “Official
Home of Gone With the Wind,”
as designated by the Mitchell
Trust and the Georgia state
legislature. The Mitchell Trust
was established to honor
Margaret Mitchell, author of
the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel
made into the classic 1939 film.
Mitchell modeled the book’s
mythical Tara plantation after
homes she saw in Clayton
County. She researched much
of the history for her Civil War
novel at the old Clayton
County Courthouse in
Jonesboro. Today, the Road to
Tara Museum, in an 1867 train
depot in Jonesboro, draws
thousands each year. For more,
go to www.visitscarlett.com.
THEY KNOW THEIR HISTORYPreserving Clayton County is what Historical Jonesboro/Clayton
County Inc. is all about.
The nonprofit volunteer organization has spent the last 40 years
dedicated to the preservation of the region’s history and heritage.
The group hosts tours each week, showcasing several interesting sites.
Those sites include an 1839 Greek Revival antebellum home known
as Stately Oaks, as well as the log kitchen used on the property,
a well house and tenant house. Other points of interest in Clayton
County include Juddy’s Country Store and the region’s last
one-room schoolhouse. For more on the area’s history, go to
www.historicaljonesboro.org.
A GOOD VERDICTPound the gavel –
Jonesboro High School
is the champion again.
The mock trial team at
Jonesboro High repeated
as titleholders when it took
first-place honors at the
2008 National High School
Mock Trial Championship in
Delaware. The competition
featured 16 JHS students
acting as lawyers, witnesses
and jurors while acting out
a fictitious jury trial.
The Jonesboro team defeated
state champions from 39 states
as well as Guam, Korea and the
Commonwealth of Northern
Mariana Islands. The 16
students were honored
with a hometown parade,
with hundreds of residents
lining the streets to celebrate
the team.
IN HONOR OF HIS HONORWay to go, Augustin.
Clayton County was formed out of Fayette and Henry counties in 1858, and named for Augustin Smith Clayton. He lived from 1783-1839 and served as a judge and member of the Georgia General Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives.
The first inhabitants of the Clayton County region were believed to be Creek Indians, and Jonesboro (originally named Leaksville) was founded in 1823. Jonesboro became a key railroad stop from Macon to Terminus (later named Atlanta), thereby connecting the Southeast to the port city of Savannah.
8 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
WATER, WATER EVERYWHEREThousands of birds and animals
– and thousands of humans –
have visited the Melvin L.
Newman Wetlands.
The wetlands are a 32-acre
preserve built by the Clayton
County Water Authority in 1995.
The wildlife haven includes a
wetlands trail, exhibit/learning
lab, 50-seat auditorium, offices
and conference facility. More
than 200,000 people have
visited the site.
One of the goals for the
preserve is to provide lessons
and interpretive experiences to
the public so they can learn about wetlands ecology,
conservation and watershed protection. For more on the
wetlands, go to www.ccwa1.com/facilities/wetlands.center.aspx.
LOFTY DEVELOPMENTSHeads up – Clayton County will be the home of the National
Museum of Commercial Aviation.
The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport, is in Clayton County, and the city of Morrow plans to construct
the commercial aviation museum. The $12 million complex will be
situated along Interstate 75 just eight miles from Hartsfield’s runways.
It is tentatively scheduled to open in 2011 and is expected to draw
more than 250,000 visitors during its first year. The museum’s main
goal will be to tell the story of commercial airlines that have made
Atlanta’s airport so busy through the years.
Plans for the entrance include replicas of Amelia Earhart’s plane and
the Wright brothers’ flier. More on the museum’s plans can be found
at www.nationalaviationmuseum.com.
CLASS VENUEThe Performing Arts Center was constructed in 1990
at a cost of $7.5 million by Clayton County Schools.
The Jonesboro venue includes an auditorium with
seating capacity of 1,800, along with two smaller
performance areas that can be positioned to provide
additional seating.
The center hosts about 400 events each year and
has welcomed nearly 3 million people. Performers
from Africa, China, England, India, Japan, Korea and
the former Soviet Union have played there. Go to
www.clayton.k12.ga.us/PAC/pacindex2.asp for more.
A PLACE IN HISTORYThe Civil War played
a big part in Clayton
County’s history.
Confederate troops had
occupied the area for many
months, but were forced
to evacuate following the
battles of Rough and Ready
and Jonesboro. In fact, the
Confederate defeat at the
Battle of Jonesboro was
significant to the fall of
Atlanta, helping Union Gen.
William Tecumseh Sherman
begin his March to the Sea
in late 1864.
Tourists today are welcome
to visit battlefield areas in
Jonesboro, as well as the
Confederate Cemetery,
which is adjacent to the
railroad that Southern
soldiers defended.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CL AY TON COUNT Y CONVENTION & VIS ITORS BUREAU
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 9
business almanac
Clayton County is drawing and keeping people and businesses
No one ever doubted that Clayton County was crucial to Atlanta’s meteoric growth.
As home to the world’s busiest airport, the subur-ban Georgia county has long been a gateway between the Big Peach and the rest of the world.
But this thriving cluster of seven cities is now an attractive destination for businesses and individuals in its own right.
Since 2000, the county’s population has soared 15 percent to more than 271,000. County officials have capitalized on the growth, selling the area as a hotbed of activity that offers companies unparalleled accessibility. The result has been an explosion of commercial, industrial and retail development.
Clayton County is convenient to Interstates 75, 85, 285 and 675 and a planned commuter rail line will run through several towns in the county.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which ranks as busiest in the world for passenger traffic and takeoffs and landings, employs more than 55,000 people with a total
IAN
CU
RC
IO
PowerStaying
271,240Clayton County
estimated population in 2006, up 15
percent since 2000
114,205Total number of workers, all
industries
Clayton County offers small-town vibe with big-city proximity.
10 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
business climate
A New Set of Marching OrdersMILITARY BASE CONVERSIONS OFFER CLAYTON COUNTY WEALTH OF POSSIBILITIES
When Fred Bryant surveys nearly 1,200 acres
of soon-to-be vacant property, he doesn’t see a
setback. He sees an opportunity.
Bryant, executive director of the Fort Gillem/
Forest Park Local Redevelopment Authority, is at
work on a plan to revitalize land that is now home
to Fort Gillem, one of two Clayton County Army
bases slated to close in the coming years.
Roughly 500 acres will become available when
Fort McPherson closes around the same time.
“We really believe this project and others can
help change the face, change the attitude about
the south side of Atlanta,” Bryant says.
The Army has to approve applications from
local entities before authorizing sales of the bases,
including a detailed re-use plan for the property.
The redevelopment plan for Fort Gillem includes
717 single- or multi-family homes, 435,000 square
feet of retail space, 8.2 million square feet of
commercial, industrial and manufacturing space
and about 1 million square feet of office space.
The project is expected to generate 18,000
jobs and roughly $243 million in new real estate
taxes for Forest Park, compared to the city’s
current real estate tax revenue of $236 million.
The Fort McPherson project envisions about
4,000 housing units and 4 million square feet
of office, retail and white-collar industrial space.
“There will be more reasons for (people) to
come here,” says Bryant. “There will be more job
opportunities, new job opportunities.”
– Michaela Jackson
Redevelopment plans are in the works for Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson, which are scheduled to close by 2011.
payroll of $2.4 billion. The airport is also home to Delta, Delta Connection and AirTran Airways.
The Gateway Center, a 49-acre business and retail center, is under development adjacent to the airport in College Park. The $230 million mixed-use project will create 1.1 million square feet of office, retail and hotel space, including more than 500 hotel rooms and 75,000 square feet of shopping and dining space.
“It’s a good thing,” says Kevin Kern, president of Grove Street Partners, which is developing the site. “Major cities around the country with great airports have high-density development around them. Atlanta will have the opportunity to develop a great project in the Gateway Center.”
Across the county, 25 business parks operate at full capacity, 20 of which host Fortune 500 companies. Notable companies with a presence in the county include Clorox, Sherwin-Williams, Fresh Express and Toto USA.
Larry Vincent, chairman of the Clayton County Develop-ment Authority, calls the future of the county “unlimited and challenging.” The county and its cities will continue to grow at a steady rate, he says.
“I feel our future is bright and promising,” he adds.Development officials work closely with individual towns
to make sure their needs are met. Economic development and quality of life improve in tandem to ensure that rapid growth doesn’t eliminate the advantages that drew businesses and people in the first place.
“Our leadership stays focused on what is best for the county and their communities,” Vincent says. “Since business and community leaders are committed to maintaining a fine focus on the commercial and human assets that represent the strong foundation upon which Clayton County has prospered, the community will continue to be a great location to work, live, play and stay.”
– Michaela Jackson
146Total land area in square miles
$39,511Median household income in Clayton
County
“Major cities around
the country with great
airports have high-density
development around them.”
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 11
With a growing slate of degree and postgraduate programs, soaring enrollment and a burgeoning
reputation as a regional economic devel-opment player, Clayton State University has become the county’s, well, big man on campus.
Clayton State now offers four master’s degree programs, including a newly launched MBA program, and 30 bachelor’s degree tracks of study.
Under the leadership of President Thomas K. Harden, enrollment and program growth have meant bricks-and-mortar growth on and around campus. A new school of business, student activity center and 451-bed dormitory – a university first – are now under way.
“The new student housing is significant because when a university begins to get into the business of having students live on campus, it changes the entire complexion of the college,” says John Shiffert Jr., director of university relations. “And then when you add to that the student activity center and the
new business school, it really is changing the university in very visible ways.”
In addition to the development within its boundaries, Clayton State is taking an active role in the area’s overall economic picture, getting involved in everything from trade missions to luring world-class archival centers.
“Back in the 1990s, our former president [Richard A. Skinner] had the idea of the ‘Gateway Village’ concept, which would be an economic development program that would eventually mean more than just fast-food places around the university,” Shiffert says. “As part of that initiative, the Clayton Place apartment complex across the street was built. That’s not university property, but it is largely dedicated to our students.”
Another major development was the local resettling of the National Archives Southeast Region facility and the Georgia Archives, which are now neighbors in close proximity to the university campus.
“The importance of these two archives just
Clayton State University’s impact felt on campus and in the community
KnowledgeAsset
CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY
WWW.CLAYTON.EDU
Campus: 163 ACRES in Morrow, Ga.
Founded: 1965. First master’s degree program students enrolled in 2006
Enrollment: 6,000
Faculty: 197 FULL-TIME faculty
Programs: 30 BACHELOR’S and FOUR MASTER’S PROGRAMS
More Insight
12 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
Thomas K. Harden is president of Clayton State University. PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO
It Means BusinessENTREPRENEUR SERVICES, GRADUATE PROGRAMS AID REGIONAL ECONOMY
Clayton State University is a business asset not only on
campus, but off.
The college has been home to a Small Business Development
Center for more than a decade, a partnership with the U.S.
Small Business Administration and the University of Georgia
that has provided invaluable information and assistance to small
businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region. Now, with
new graduate business degrees and an MBA program, the
school is serving the business community at a new level,
says John Shiffert Jr., director of university relations.
“We do a lot of economic and workforce development
programming through the SBDC, everything from how to
do your own marketing through bookkeeping,” Shiffert says.
When Robert Lee lost his job at Eastern Airlines, he came
to the center took advantage of its services and founded
Southside Seafood Co., one of the area’s leading restaurants.
Clayton State’s new MBA program has grown from an initial
35 students at its launch in August 2007 to around 90 a year
later, indicative of the both the college’s and business school’s
new and enhanced opportunities for study, says Dr. Michael
Deis, professor of management and director of the program.
The 18-month program’s classes are held every other Saturday
and offered at CSU’s main and Peachtree City campuses.
“There was a definite need, and we’ve got students ranging
in age from 23 to 74 years old,” Deis says. “It’s a real
opportunity for people to move their careers to the next level
and beyond, and it’s designed for working professionals whose
time is at a premium.”
– Joe Morris
can’t be overestimated,” Shiffert says. Skinner read something about the poor
condition of the former National Archives building in East Point and began making calls, Shiffert says, which eventually led to the national facility being built on Clayton State Boulevard and Jonesboro Road.
“Then it became known that the Georgia archives facility was also in bad shape, so they relocated here,” Shiffert says.
It is the only site in the United States where federal and state archives are co-located. Clayton State was eager to run the bookstore that connects the two.
“It’s a marriage made in heaven, and has been tremendous for all parties,” Shiffert says. “It has made us a destination of choice for researchers, and has been a significant devel-opment for Clayton County. It’s indicative of the university’s concern for the county, and for its continued growth and development.”
– Joe Morris
Clayton State’s School of Business boasts new facilities and programs.
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 13
education
New terminal, expanded people mover highlight latest growth at airport
H ar tsf ield-Jackson At la nta International Airport is gearing up for a major new terminal
expansion and upgrades to its people mover and parking functions.
Construction has begun on the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, with work under way to support that facility and an extension of the airport’s people mover system.
The new international terminal is slated to begin serving passengers in 2010, says Albert Snedeker, public relations manager for the airport and City of Atlanta Department of Aviation.
In addition to the hundreds of con-struction and ancillary jobs the $1.6 billion terminal construction will create,
the Hartsfield airport expansion and related projects will boost employment num bers in Clayton County and surrounding communities.
“Most of the new jobs which will arise from the completed international terminal will be created by the new concessions, housekeeping, parking and additional airline needs,” Snedeker says.
The airport itself will be expanding its employment base, adding positions in operations, security and other areas. Hiring will start at some point in 2009, depending on the positions needed and the level of training required.
Outside the facility, Snedeker notes, “job creation has many facets. These
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will gain a new $1.6 billion international terminal. Left: The airport is a major Clayton County employer.
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89.4 millionPassenger traffic at
Atlanta’s airport in 2007
$23.5 billionEstimated regional economic
impact of the airport
$2.4 billionAnnual payroll at
Hartsfield-Jackson airport
The
BiggerBusiestGets
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 15
transportation
new vendor/contractors will also require support companies, which may include office supply companies, liquor distrib-utors, paper goods distributors, fresh produce distributors, etc. The list goes on and on.”
A direct connection to the nearby Georgia International Convention Center and Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility, or CONRAC, is the impetus behind the expanded people mover, another major construction project.
Hartsfield sees more than 2 million auto-rental transactions a year, creating need for a slightly offsite but still convenient facility.
When completed in late 2009, CONRAC will house all airport car-rental com-panies and their operations, including customer service, administration, park-ing, fueling and maintenance. The
67.5-acre facility will connect to the airport via the people mover, which can move more than 10,000 passengers an hour.
All told, the massive new projects will not only make the airport busier, but wil l positively af fect an a lready impressive bottom line.
Hartsfield-Jackson’s economic impact on the region is almost some $23.5 billion annually and is projected to reach $32 billion by 2015.
“Our most recent economic impact study estimates that the airport is respon-sible for almost 500,000 jobs within our region,” Snedeker says. “In 2007 alone, Hartsfield-Jackson accommodated more than 89 million passengers, and this is projected to increase to approximately 121 million passengers by the year 2015.”
– Joe Morris
A Rail Runs Through ItCOMMUTER LINE COULD BOOST CLAYTON COUNTY
If the Georgia Rail Passenger
Program’s plans come to
fruition, look for Clayton County
to become a major anchor on
the GRPP’s Atlanta-Macon line.
The Georgia Department
of Transportation and Georgia
Rail Passenger Authority are
working on a series of
commuter lines that would tie
Atlanta into the surrounding
counties and metro areas.
As planned, the commuter
lines would use existing railway
that can handle additional
passenger traffic, and the
routes would be spun out in
several phases. Georgia has
a network of more than 5,000
miles of rail lines, offering
capacity to handle added
passenger traffic.
The first planned leg of
the commuter rail would
connect Atlanta to Athens
in the east, and Macon in the
south. The Atlanta-Macon line
is of particular interest to
Clayton County economic
development officials, as plans
call for as many as five stops
in the county.
The planned project
would include construction
of a multimodal transportation
terminal in downtown Atlanta,
which would serve as one of
the hubs for the various lines
in the rail network.
– Joe Morris Atlanta airport’s people mover will soon link to a nearby convention center.
16 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
Connecting Flight‘Aerotropolis’ envisions aviation-related city within a city
A proposed redevelopment of Ford Motor Co.’s shuttered 122-acre plant site in Hapeville could anchor an “aerotropolis,” a city built around
aviation-related commerce – in this case, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The term “aerotropolis” was invented by Dr. John Kasarda, a business professor at the University of North Carolina, and has been brought to Atlanta by local developer Jim Jacoby, the force behind Atlantic Station, a residential, business and entertainment development in Midtown Atlanta.
Jacoby Development has the Ford site under contract and has been pitching the aerotropolis concept to Hapeville officials, as well as the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.
Jacoby envisions 6.5 million square feet of development, including 2 million square feet of office space, 1.6 million square feet of retail and hotel and conference facilities.
“An aerotropolis takes into consideration the economics of an airport,” says Shelley Lamar, planning manager for the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation.
Lamar, whose specialty is land use and community development, says the concept shows an understanding of how airports work.
“We have all these cities around the airport and we all have to work together,” she says. “The zoning has to take into consideration the proximity to the airport – you can’t put a house at the end of the runway. But if this plan establishes cargo and freight warehousing closer in, then office and industrial out from there, then retail, then residential, it could work.”
Given that Hartsfield is the world’s busiest airport and a key economic generator in the Southeast, it’s not surprising that a newfangled development concept would be pitched at it.
“They want to take advantage of their proximity to the airport and create something that takes advantage of the activity that’s already there,” she says. “That’s a good use of the synergy that’s there, and something they could really build on.” – Joe Morris
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s expanded people mover will take passengers from the airport to the new Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility and nearby Georgia International Convention Center.
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“An aerotropolis takes into
consideration the economics
of an airport.”
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 17
transportation
Southern Regional system is pulse of Clayton County health care
F aced with Clayton County’s growing population, Southern Regional Health System has adapted with
newer technology and updated facilities at its Riverdale campus and expansion into the surrounding community.
Today, the system boasts several areas of excellence, ranging from cardiovascular care to imaging to women’s health. A building spree is bringing much of this quality care to the rest of the county.
At the heart of the system is Southern Regional Medical Center, a 376-bed commu-nity hospital that has been operating since 1971. Since that time, the area’s population has exploded – 15 percent so far this decade and nearly double from 1980 – as Atlanta became one of the nation’s biggest metros.
Southern Regional began its transfor-mation into a health system in the early 1990s and now includes a 30-bed long-term, acute-care hospital, a 65-bed psychiatric center and home-health agency.
Through this, Southern Regional has emerged as the major hub for health care in the county and a large employer in its own right, with 2,261 workers.
Part of that growth stems from the leader-ship of Ed Bonn, president and CEO. After coming aboard in 2000, Bonn worked to change the hospital’s culture.
“One of the major goals has been to grow
Southern Regional Medical Center is a 376-bed hospital in Clayton County.
Booster
health care
aced with Clayton County’s growing population, Southern Regional Health System has adapted with
newer technology and updated facilities at its Riverdale campus and expansion into the surrounding community.
Today, the system boasts several areas of excellence, ranging from cardiovascular care to imaging to women’s health. A building spree is bringing much of this quality care to the rest of the county
Southern Regionalsystem is pulse of Clayton County Shot
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ScorecardSOUTHERN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM BY THE NUMBERS
376Licensed beds
574Physicians
2,261Employees
20,000+2007 admissions
18 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
With Women in MindFORMER CEO’S DREAM LEADS TO HEALTH CENTER’S ESTABLISHMENT
Southern Regional Health System’s state-of-the-
art Women’s Life Center harkens back to the dream
of a former hospital chief.
The center was the vision of Donald B. Logan,
the hospital president and CEO, who turned around
the hospital before his death in 1997. He imagined
a self-contained facility serving the women of the
Southern Crescent.
The project broke ground in 1999, ultimately
growing to 107,000 square feet, triple the size of its
previous location inside the hospital.
To make Southern Regional the leading health-care
provider south of I-20, officials wanted to fashion the
center as state of the art when it opened in May 2001.
To serve this need, the center became home to
private labor and delivery rooms, postpartum family-
care rooms and bassinets. More than 5,300 babies
were born at the hospital in 2007.
MaryKay Gardenier, senior vice president of
operations, points to the 23-bed neonatal intensive
care unit that takes care of vulnerable, high-risk,
low-birth weight and premature infants.
This work for newborns garnered the hospital’s
NICU team a designation as the best in the Southeast
by Advance for Nurses magazine.
And that care carries on long past birth. The
hospital has developed a Women’s Diagnostic
Services area, where patients can receive combined
mammography, ultrasound, bone-density tests and
stereotactic breast biopsy. – Roy Moore
The Women’s Life Center at the Southern Regional Medical Center delivered 5,300 babies in 2007.
Southern Regional from being a good hos pital to a great hospital,” said MaryKay Gardenier, the health system’s senior vice president of operations.
The hospital has won awards for delivering care and as a top employer. It has upgraded its facilities with two new operating rooms outfitted with the latest technology. Surgeons can now perform minimally invasive procedures in orthopedics, gynecology and hernia repair. A da Vinci robotic system has been introduced for surgeries, as well.
A new wound care and hyperbaric center features the most technologically advanced therapies. In addition, SRMC stands as the service area’s only hospital offering angioplasty for patients expe-riencing a heart attack. Plans are in the works for a specialty center for total
joint replacement and spine repair.By 2007, admissions surpassed 20,000
and emergency room visits hit 81,000, making it one of the busiest ERs in the state.
In southern Clayton County, the system bought 92 acres for Spivey Station, a “medical destination” that will serve southern portions of Metro Atlanta, says Jim Crissey, vice president of facilities and support services.
On 6.2 acres, the system has built a 60,000-square-foot medical office bui lding and is constructing a 57,000-square-foot surgery center.
The project is part of an effort to serve residents who don’t live near the main hospital, but need outpatient imaging and surgery as well as pri-mary care, internal care, neurology and obstetrics-gynecology.
– Roy Moore
“One of the major goals has been to
grow Southern Regional from being
a good hospital to a great hospital.”
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 19
health
A farmers’ market tends to engender thoughts of pickup trucks parked along the road-
side, growers leisurely comparing their yields and everyone packed up before primetime TV gets rolling.
This simplistic expectation is a far cry from the Atlanta State Farmers Market, where trucks and crates shuffle through at all hours of the night, thousands of people report to work every day and you might actually get lost if you aren’t careful.
This is not your father’s farmers market.
Spread across 150 acres, this machine of a market boasts annual sales of roughly $500 million. Not surprisingly, the market is one of the primary eco-nomic drivers in Forest Park, the Clayton County city in which it is located.
“I know when you have a facility doing a half-a-billion dollars worth of business a year, it has a lot of jobs and a lot of income and, hopefully, a good bit of profit,” says Tommy Irvin, Georgia agriculture commissioner. “All of that speaks really well of Clayton County.”
With 576 open stalls, 96 enclosed stalls and more than 850,000 square feet of warehouse space, the market, which calls itself “the world’s largest
roadside stand,” is constantly in motion, preparing, packaging and distributing food from the market across the country.
“It is a viable part of food distri-bution in the South,” Irvin says. “You go out to that market about 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning, and it’s like a beehive working.”
Ethnic fare, spices and a variety of food products, including a full-service restaurant, make regulars out of local customers. Christmas trees are also big business – an average of 250,000 make
The Atlanta State Farmers Market draws more than 3,500 visitors daily.
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ScorecardATLANTA STATE FARMERS MARKET
3,500Number of daily visitors
$527.7 millionSales in 2007
3,700Number of employees
Farmers market is a multimillion-dollar enterprise in Clayton County
BigA
Producer
20 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
livability
their way from the market to living rooms across Georgia each year.
“Some people think that a farmers market is traditionally strictly produce, like tomatoes and cucumbers, but we have a little bit of everything around here,” says Craig Nielsen, manager of the market. “People don’t realize very often how much product really comes through the market beyond just produce.”
In addition to f illing bellies and generating paychecks, the 49-year-old market also serves as a focal point of the community, creating a strong sense of neighborhood.
“There are a lot of people who have been here for many, many years,” Nielsen says. “There are not too many places around that I can think of right off hand where you will get such a diverse cross-section of the community that comes out.”
Irvin pointed out that the market is a source of pride for the community, even winning a Chamber of Commerce beautification award.
“It’s always been a hallmark,” Irvin says. “The farmers have their clients and their customers, and the market brings them together.”
– Michaela Jackson
A variety of growers sell goods at the Atlanta State Farmers Market.
The Simple LifeOPEN SPACE, PEACEFUL SETTINGS, BUT MERE MINUTES FROM THE CITY
Open space and inviting lakes create a restful,
out-of-the-way feeling in Clayton County, but all the
convenience of a big city is just a short drive away.
“The thing about Clayton County that’s different
is you can sort of escape to a location away from the
main arteries that sometimes you can’t do in certain
parts of south Atlanta,” says Hugh Morton, president
and founder of Peachtree Homes.
Permits for 3,200 single-family homes were issued
in the county in 2006 and 2007, testament to the
community’s growing popularity.
Morton, a past president of the Greater Atlanta
Builders Association, has been building in the county
since 1994. Part of the allure, he says, is that residents
can find traditional suburban living in the north and
rural surroundings in the panhandle.
“There’s not nearly the congestion or the problems
that you get in some parts of the city,” he says.
Green space is splashed through the county as well,
creating an open, inviting atmosphere. The county
has recently opened several new recreation parks
and operates a program encouraging businesses
and individuals to donate land for public enjoyment.
Enhancing the relaxing environment of Clayton
County are lakes Spivey and Jodeco, both of which
offer luxurious living along their shorelines.
“You’ve got Lake Spivey, obviously with a really
top-notch quality of life,” Morton says. “You build
your house, and your boat dock’s there, and you live
right on the lake.”
– Michaela Jackson
Lake Spivey in Clayton County offers waterfront living.
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 21
Clayton County offers numerous avenues to enjoy the outdoors
ParkingSpaces
22 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
sports & recreation
C layton County Parks and Rec reation maintains nearly 700 acres of parkland, including nine com-munity and nine neighborhood parks, as well as
aquatic facilities, senior centers, nature areas and greenways. “We’re finding through studies that when people have
the opportunity to enjoy natural scenery within their com-munity, it has a direct correlation to healthy lifestyles,” says Detrick Stanford, director of the Clayton County Parks and Recreation Department.
“And any time you enhance the qual ity of life, it betters the economy in the region as well.”
One of the most popular outdoor destinations in Clayton County is the 200-acre International Park in Jonesboro, home of the 1996 Olympic beach volley ball competition. International Park features picnic areas, an indoor arcade and game room, walking and biking trails, fishing, volleyball, a 6,000-seat amphitheater and The Beach water park.
“We’re looking for it to have regional appeal because it has so many amenities,” Stanford says. “The Beach has water-slides, a kiddie pool, pavilions for rent and 17 tennis courts.”
Another recreation hotspot is the Gerald Matthews Sports Complex in Hampton, which has eight soccer fields, eight tennis courts, nine athletic fields, two walking tracks and playground equipment.
Nature in its purest state can be experienced at the Reynolds Nature Preserve in Morrow, which offers 146 acres of unspoiled woodlands with gardens, spring-fed ponds, an interpretive center, picnic area and 4.5 miles of hiking trails.
“We feel like we have a jewel in the rough with our nature
preserve,” Stanford says. “We have a very diverse and knowl-edgeable staff there, and you can see programming and learn about animals and plants native to Georgia.”
The Clayton County Water Authority maintains the Smith Reservoir and the Shamrock/Blalock Reservoir for fishing and canoeing from March through October. And the author-ity oversees the 32-acre Newman Wetlands Center, which includes an interpretive center that demonstrates the importance of preserving wetlands environments and edu-cates the public about natural resource conservation. A half-mile trail winds through the center and allows visitors to walk through wetlands and rainforest areas and see wildlife, including 130 bird species.
“Visitors of all ages can experience the beauty of the natural setting while learning about wetlands and their local watershed,” says Suzanne Brown, public information officer for the water authority. – Jessica Mozo
Tennis is one of many activities available at Clayton County International Park. The VIP Complex at International Park was part of the 1996 Olympics. Left: The Beach at International Park offers fun in the sun for all ages. PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO
“Any time you enhance
the quality of life, it betters
the economy in the region
as well.”
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 23
Fasten your seatbelt – Clayton County is just minutes away from the 870-acre Atlanta Motor
Speedway in Hampton. And when NASCAR comes to town, Clayton County hotels, restaurants and shopping venues are in for a wild ride.
“The Atlanta Motor Speedway really enhances Clayton County tourism because we have the largest inventory of hotel rooms closest to the track,” says Patrick Duncan, president of the Clayton County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s a huge economic stimulus for us because it brings nearly 200,000 people to our area twice a year. They fill up our hotels, come to our attractions,
Atlanta Motor Speedway attracts visitors by the thousands
The 125,000-seat Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup races each year.
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24 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
sports & recreation
©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.
questionsanswers
8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g
gas up, shop, and eat and drink in Clayton County.”
The visitors bureau works with Atlanta Motor Speedway to make sure guests feel welcome.
“Our guests don’t care about our county lines – all they want is a good experience,” Duncan says. “So we work together to sing one song, and that’s ‘Thanks for coming, and we hope you’ll come back.’ ”
The speedway hosts two NASCAR Sprint Cup races annually each March and October, as well as car shows, auto auctions and other special events.
“We draw spectators from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries,” says Marcy Scott, director of marketing and pro-motion at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “We have events and private rentals over 300 days a year. From driving schools to weddings to major events such as DukesFest, Good-Guys Southern Nationals and Nopi Nationals, we do it all here. In addition, AMS hosts two of its own summer racing series – Thursday Thunder and Friday Night Drags.”
Year-round events at the speedway include daily tours and the Richard Petty Driving Experience, which allows racing enthusiasts to slip into a fire suit and get behind the wheel or in the passenger seat of a thundering stock car.
– Jessica Mozo
More InsightATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
870 acresin Hampton, 25 miles south of Atlanta and just south of Clayton County
1.5-milequad-oval track debuted on July 31, 1960
125,000seating capacity
Source: www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 25
LivingHistory
T he English poet and novelist Stephen Spender once said: “History is the ship carrying
living memories to the future.” And if this is true, land-locked Morrow in Clayton County could well be the nation’s most unique “port” city.
As the only city in the nation to house both a state and national archive, Morrow holds a treasure trove of historic records, documents, photos and genealogical research.
The National Archives Southeast
Region boasts 125,000 cubic feet of archival holdings dating to 1716 and including everything from historic records and photos to maps and architec-tural drawings, says James McSweeney, regional administrator.
“We service an eight-state area and hold only records created by the federal government. The U.S. district courts, IRS records, military records – our holdings really chronicle the social and political development of the south-eastern United States. Plus, you can see
Elvis Presley’s draft card,” McSweeney says with a laugh.
McSweeney estimates roughly 32,000 people now visit the facility annually, most of whom come to search genea-logical records.
“We have microfilm copy of the U.S. Census dating back to 1790,” he says. “We also have slave manifest records from 1808 through the Civil War – it’s a boon for family historians.”
Along with these resources, however, the National Archives holds a variety of
Elvis’ draft card – and hundreds of years of history reside in these two archives
26 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES SOUTHEAST REGION5780 Jonesboro RoadMorrow, GA 30260Phone: (770) 968-2100www.archives.gov/southeast/
GEORGIA STATE ARCHIVES5800 Jonesboro RoadMorrow, GA 30260Phone: (678) 364-3700www.sos.state.ga.us/archives/
More Insight HOW TO REACH THE ARCHIVES
special events and workshops through-out the year.
“This is a beautiful space for public programs and exhibits,” McSweeney says. “Online tools are great, but there is just no substitute for looking at the actual documents. We also work with teachers, showing them how to use these documents in creating lesson plans. There’s really something for everyone.”
Next-door neighbor the Georgia Archives houses approximately 260 million documents, including state and local government records, maps, photos, and private manuscripts such as family Bibles, letters and papers.
“We have about 15,000 visitors each year, touring our building, doing research and attending workshops,” says Secretary of State Karen C. Handel. “Most ques-tions revolve around family history and research, but we offer a number of special programs and events as well.”
For example, the annual Georgia Archives Institute provides up-to-date training for beginning archivists, manu-
script curators and librarians. Taught by nationally recognized
experts, the two-week program covers everything from legal and adminis-trative issues to preservation methods. Handel also points to the monthly Lunch & Learn Lecture Series as a popular public offering.
“Visitors are invited to bring their lunch and learn about a variety of topics, such as how to digitize your family documents and the German POWs in Georgia,” she says.
But Handel is particularly proud of Virtual Georgia – “a collection of his-torical images documenting everyday life in Georgia.”
“I think it’s sometimes easier to take in pictures as opposed to documents,” she says. “And what makes Virtual Georgia so special is that the images were donated to the Archives by every-day Georgians. They’re helping us build our collection, providing a pictorial history of our state.”
– Amy Stumpfl
Arts MindedCOMMUNITY AT HEART OF CLAYTON GROUP’S WORK
Established in 1986, Arts
Clayton Inc. is a community
organization that provides
quality arts programming
for children and adults.
“Over the years, we have
built strong partnerships with
Clayton County Public Schools
and organizations such as
Head Start,” says Linda
Summerlin, executive director.
“But what makes us so unique
is the quality of our programs.”
Summerlin points to the
annual summer art camps as
an example. The two-week
program includes a variety of
activities covering visual and
performing arts that culminates
in a special performance and
exhibit for family and friends.
“We’re able to bring in top-
quality instructors,” she says.
“These children get to work
with some of the finest artists
in the area.”
Arts Clayton also operates
a retail gallery and museum
in Jonesboro, designed to
serve both local artists and
the community in which they
live. More than 800 Georgia
artists exhibit their work each
year, everything from paintings
and photography to jewelry
and pottery.
“For artists, we provide
space and the opportunity
to exhibit their work, as well
as master classes, workshops
and juried shows,” says gallery
manager Karen Powers. “It’s
wonderful because the art
reflects the diversity of our
community and the people
who live here.”
– Amy Stumpfl
The National Archives Southeast Region and Georgia State Archives are the only co-located facilities of their type in the nation. PHOTOS BY IAN CURCIO
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 27
arts & entertainment
Ask a renowned classical or jazz pianist where Morrow, Ga., is located, and he may not have a
clue. Mention Spivey Hall, and there’s a good chance his eyes will light up.
Situated on the campus of Clayton State University, Spivey Hall is a gor-geous 400-seat performing arts venue known for its intimate setting and exceptional acoustics.
Built in 1991, Spivey Hall has earned an international reputation for its cele-brated concert series.
“The extraordinary beauty of our acoustics attracts world-class musicians
One woman’s dream became an international sensation
The Albert Schweitzer Memorial Pipe Organ is a centerpiece at Spivey Hallat Clayton State University.
The Spirit ofSpivey Hall
Board-certified Family Medicine physicians from Atlanta Medical Center train future Family Medicine physicians through its residency teaching program
Treating patients from newborn to elderly
Maternity carePediatrics • GeriatricsMost office procedures
Hours of operation:
Mon., Wed., Thu., Fri.: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Tue.: 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
1000 Corporate Center Dr. Ste. 200 • Morrow, GA
To find a physician near you, call (404) 265-DOCS (3627)
IAN
CU
RC
IO
to Spivey Hall,” says Sam Dixon, exec-utive director. “It can inspire great things from a musician, creating a very personal connection between the artist and the audience.”
Dixon says the annual Spivey series presents a range of programs, such as classical, jazz and world music, with Latin, Celtic and African artists.
Spivey Hall also is committed to arts education and outreach, offering a Young People’s concert series and playing host to the award-winning Spivey Hall Children’s Choir. It also offers master classes and workshops for teachers, as well as choral work-shops for school students.
Dixon says that Spivey Hall was the vision of Emilie Parmalee Spivey, a prom-inent local citizen and arts patron.
“Emilie was a distinguished organist, and she wanted to give back to the community with this concert hall,” he says. “She oversaw every detail of the development and design, and although she and her husband did not live to see that dream realized, their foundation saw that their wishes were respected.”
That includes the Albert Schweitzer Memorial Pipe Organ – a 79-rank, 3-manual, 4,413-pipe organ, built and installed by the Italian firm of Fratelli Ruffatti. Standing 50 feet high and 37 feet wide, this remarkable instrument was designed especially for Spivey Hall at the request of Emilie Spivey herself.
“Sitting out in the audience, listening to that beautiful organ is one of the most thrilling experiences you’ll ever have,” he says. “And that’s just what Emilie wanted. It’s as if her spirit still lives here.” – Amy Stumpfl
28 I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M C L AY T O N C O U N T Y
arts & entertainment
Ad Index 28 ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER
25 BONNIE PRATT — CLAYTON NEWS DAILY
1 CLAYTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
6 CLAYTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
C4 CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY
6 COUNTRY INN & SUITES
C3 GEORGIA POWER
5 SOUTHERN CRESCENT WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE
C2 SOUTHERN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
ECONOMIC PROFILE
BUSINESS CLIMATEClayton County delivers a pro-business attitude and strong quality of
life. Offering a variety of business support services, it boasts Southern
charm and is just minutes from one of the nation’s busiest urban areas.
POPULATION
Clayton County is the fifth-most
populous county in Georgia. The
cost of living is 79 percent of the
national average.
*October 2007
2006 (estimate), 271,240
2015 (projected), 357,522
COST OF LIVING INDEX
National average, 100
Clayton County overall
cost of living, 79.28
Food, 102
Utilities, 91
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Southern Regional Medical Center
JC Penney Distribution Center
Clorox
Sherwin-Williams
Toto USA
Fresh Express
Atlanta Medical Center www.atlantamedcenter.com
Bonnie Pratt – Clayton News Daily www.news-daily.com
Clayton Chamber of Commerce www.claytonchamber.org
Clayton County Water Authority www.ccwa1.com
Clayton State University www.clayton.edu
Country Inn & Suites
www.countryinns.com/
morrowga
Georgia Power
www.southernco.com
Southern Crescent
Women’s Healthcare
www.scwhobgyn.com
Southern Regional
Health System
www.southernregional.org
Visit Our Advertisers
DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES
Atlanta, 13 miles
Greenville, S.C., 144 miles
Knoxville, Tenn., 167 miles
Nashville, Tenn., 226 miles
Charlotte, N.C., 231 miles
Charleston, S.C., 262 miles
TRANSPORTATION
Airports
Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport
(404) 530-7300
(800) 897-1910
http://www.atlanta-
airport.com/
119 Smith St. • Jonesboro, GA 30236(888) 660-5890
www.southernco.com
ANNUAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND WAGES
Industry No. of Employees Weekly Wage
Goods-producing 8,363 $854
Service-providing 89,286 $1,010
Unclassified-industrynot assigned 64 $677
Total private sector 97,713 $932
Total government 16,492 $794
All industries 114,205 $955
Sources:
http://www.claytoncountyga.us,
http://quickfacts.census.gov,
www.claytonchamber.org,
http://www.bestplaces.net/
County/Clayton-Georgia.aspx,
http://explorer.dol.state.ga.us/
mis/profiles/Counties/clayton.pdf
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Clayton County
Chamber of Commerce
2270 Mount Zion Road
Jonesboro, GA 30236
(678) 610-4021www.claytonchamber.org
PER CAPITA INCOME
2006 $22,761
2005 $22,643
2004 $21,934
2003 $21,578
2002 $21,624
Clayton County Airport –
Tara Field, (770) 946-3153
C L AY T O N C O U N T Y I M A G E S C L AY T O N C O U N T Y. C O M 29