Over the past two years, leaders in Rockdale County and the City of Conyers have taken active steps to chart a new vision and strategy for economic development in the community. This effort seeks to build on the strong economic development foundation in the community and position Rockdale-Conyers for more success in future years. Specifically, in December 2018, Rockdale County Commission Chairman Oz Nesbitt created an Economic Development Task Force. The group was charged with evaluating current economic development efforts, enhancing communication between various partners in economic development, and devising strategies to boost economic development efforts in Rockdale County. The task force is composed of leaders from the county government, the Rockdale County Development Authority, City of Conyers, and the CREDC.

In early 2020, Rockdale County, in partnership with the City of Conyers and the CREDC, launched a formal effort to develop a new economic development strategy for the community. The group engaged the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to support the project and developed a steering committee of local leaders to oversee the project. This report summarizes the findings of the steering committee and details the new strategy for advancing economic development efforts in Rockdale County.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber is tracking emerging trends around COVID-19 with a focus on those that may impact businesses, employees, the community and the economy. These trends are designed to curate helpful information for the business community. We will update you as new trends emerge. 

Overview – March 17, 2020:

Today saw major metro Atlanta nonprofits announce significant efforts to support those impacted by COVID-19, including the United Way of Greater Atlanta and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Global retail and metro Atlanta restaurant closures continue to increase in an effort to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and flatten the curve (full list of closures below). The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state of Georgia has increased to 146 as of noon today, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health (full breakdown below).
Below is a list of trends in Atlanta and nationally, and a more comprehensive list of closings. Today, we have added resources for small businesses to our website. 

New Today

• More than 60 major US retailers are temporarily closing stores in an unprecedented move to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, as reported by Business Insider.
• Gov. Kemp submitted U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration paperwork to help small businesses. Read more here.
• The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state of Georgia has increased to 146, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The latest data from the DHP shows the spike, which rose from 121 cases since Monday.
• The United Way of Greater Atlanta has partnered with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to launch the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to support those most impacted by the pandemic.
• Companies are offering webinars for best practices on working from home, keeping teams engaged, collaborating through technology and more. More info below.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has temporarily closed two domestic terminals due to declining demand.
• Major metro areas are doing their part to help neighbors during COVID-19. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durken announced the city will provide more than 6,000 families $800 in vouchers for grocery stores.
• Ride-sharing company Uber has suspended its Uber Pool option, which allows up to four people to share a ride.

Ongoing Trends:

• Global retail and metro Atlanta restaurant closures are increasing due to COVID-19, with more than 60 major US retailers temporarily closing stores in an unprecedented move to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. View the full list of metro Atlanta restaurant closures here.
• Countries around the world continue to revise their entry policies. See the full list of countries with travel restrictions here.
• Nonprofit organizations are announcing ways to help food insecure, elderly and other residents in need during the COVID-19 outbreak
• Social gatherings and events continue to cancel/postpone, with the CDC’s recommendation to postpone or cancel events with 50 people or more. The most recent event postponed is the Kentucky Derby.
• Corporate social responsibility efforts are continuing in response to COVID-19, along with local neighbors helping neighbors. See examples captured today below.
• Coworking spaces including The Gathering Spot and Switchyards are starting to close across the metro area.
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  Following are examples of current events that informed today’s trends report.

Confirmed Cases: 146
Cases are confirmed in Barrow (1), Bartow (10), Charlton (1), Cherokee (7), Clarke (3), Clayton (4), Cobb (25), Columbia (1), Coweta (3), DeKalb (15), Dougherty (6) Fayette (5), Floyd (6), Forsyth (1), Fulton (33), Gordon (2), Gwinnett (7), Hall (1), Henry (2), Lee (2), Lowndes (4), Newton (1), Paulding (1), Polk (1), Richmond (1), Rockdale (1) and Troup (2)

Company/Business Trends:

• Atlanta-based UPS will assist the White House’s Rapid-Response Taskforce for Coronavirus Testing Sites with the logistics planning and operations to support the opening and regular operation of drive-up coronavirus community-based testing sites in several cities. UPS will assist with transportation support as needed.
• Ponce City Market announced they will be closing as of 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. They will follow recommendations from local health authorities on a timeline for reopening.
• Dollar General announced plans to dedicate the first hour of every business day to senior shoppers, as well as change store operating hours beginning March 17, 2020.
• AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas announced they are closing all theatres until further notice.
• Companies are offering webinars for best practices on working from home, keeping teams engaged, collaborating through technology and more.
• Ariel Group is offering a complimentary webinar on March 19 on “Leading Remote Teams Through the Coronavirus,” where they will share their top tips for how to navigate the new virtual environment while keeping your team engaged.
• Georgia Commute Options is hosting a Telework Webinar Series to share information about managing objectives and deliverables while teleworking, collaborating through technology, supporting good working habits and more.

Corporate Social Responsibility, Community Service and Neighbors Helping Neighbors

• The United Way of Greater Atlanta has partnered with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to launch the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to support those most impacted by the pandemic.
• The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood. Sign up here.
• Atlanta-based marketing firm Trevelino/Keller created the Toilet Paper Exchange to hand out free toilet paper that is left over from their company as employees work from home and urges other organizations to do the same.
• Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan donated $100,000 to Atlanta-based organizations to help with relief during the coronavirus outbreak, including the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Giving Kitchen.

  *If your company has launched an effort that MAC should be aware, please email press@macoc.com.

Civic Updates:

• Gov. Kemp submitted U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration paperwork to help small businesses. Read more here.
• Gwinnett County has declared a local emergency in response to the coronavirus epidemic. Charlotte Nash, the chairman of the board of commissioners, signed the declaration to activate emergency powers in the county.
• National and Local Event Cancellations Tracked Today:
  • The SOAHR Conference has been postponed to August 3-4, 2020.
  • The Kentucky Derby has been postponed until September 5, 2020.

Travel Updates:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has temporarily closed two domestic terminals due to “declining demand.” All passengers still flying will travel through the airport’s main terminal instead.
• Delta has implemented a new policy that if customers don’t take their flights, the airline will issue an eCredit within 24 hours, which can be used for travel until Dec. 31, 2020.
• AirBnB will allow cancellations and refunds for reservations made by March 14 for check-ins March 14-April 14. 

School News:

• Gov. Kemp ordered the closure of all public elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools in Georgia starting Wednesday, March 18, through the end of the month.
• Clayton and Fayette communities distributed food today to families in their area for a second day, while Henry County will begin handing out meals Wednesday. Click here for times and locations.
• APS has received approval to open more sites for distribution of emergency student meals and to run some food routes using our buses. Beginning Wednesday, March 18, the District will open five additional food distribution sites that will provide service from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• The Cobb County School District will open 29 sites to the public to distribute food to families in need. MUST Ministries will operate the sites, which are housed at its existing Neighborhood Pantry locations in the school district. The sites will begin operating Wednesday.

Tracking Other Major Metros:

• Seattle Mayor Jenny Durken announced today that the city will provide more than 6,000 families with $800 in vouchers for grocery stores.
• Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced today that the April 28 Democratic presidential primary would be postponed to June 2.
• The City of Miami has issued an order today mandating all entertainment and non-essential business establishments to close until further notice due to increased cases of community transmission in Florida. The order, which goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 17, applies to all alcohol service establishments that do not serve food, including bars, nightclubs and lounges.
  o Dine-in restaurants may sell food for takeout, delivery and drive-thru on a two-hour basis.
  o Entertainment venues including movie theaters, gyms and fitness centers are also impacted by the new order.
• Dallas opened a temporary, overnight shelter at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Sunday after social distancing at other shelters caused them to not have enough beds. The shelter will stay open through the morning of Saturday, March 21.

If your organization has COVID-19 news that you would like for MAC to be aware of, please email press@macoc.com.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber is here to support you as other business needs arise. Please do not hesitate to contact our Investor Relations team by emailing MAC’s Senior Director of Investor Relations Joel Perkins at JPerkins@macoc.com.