It’s been a whirlwind of a year for metro Atlanta’s business community.
The unemployment rate fell to 5.0 percent — the lowest it's been since April of 2008. Major businesses were wooed and won (looking at you, Mercedes-Benz), a few were lost (Volvo) and several opportunities developed that could take shape in 2016 (casinos and horseracing).
Here are 2015's biggest and most intriguing moments for business in metro Atlanta:
Hawks finalizes sale with billionaire: Billionaire philanthropist Antony Ressler purchased the Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena for an amount believed to be less than $1 billion. [Read more]
Mercedes-Benz comes to metro Atlanta: Atlanta was at the top of the list of places to move the U.S. headquarters of one of the world's most prestigious brands. The move is one of the biggest business recruitments for the metro area in years. [Read more]
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to get an on-campus hotel: The hotel will sit next to the domestic terminal and is expected to be an InterContinental hotel. [Read more]
Tyler Perry acquires Fort McPherson: The fate of Fort McPherson is now in the hands of filmmaker Tyler Perry, after the agency overseeing the post's redevelopment voted to sell him the bulk of the property. [Read more]
Chick-fil-A opens New York store: The company's debut on a busy corner in the fashionable Garment District finally puts Chick-fil-A onto the biggest stage in the nation — one where its "my pleasure" southern manners will be tested. [Read more]
Georgia wonders 'why?' after Volvo snub: The automaker informed state leaders it would not build in Georgia, leaving officials on a soul-searching quest to determine what — if anything — the state could have done to secure the plant and the 4,000 jobs they hoped it would bring. [Read more]
Google, Comcast and AT&T plan super-fast residential Internet speeds: Comcast announced it will offer lightning-fast Internet connections to about 1.5 million metro Atlanta homes. The speed would be twice what rivals Google and AT&T have said they will offer locally. [Read more]
Southern Power-AGL deal creates nation's No. 2 utility: Atlanta utility giant Southern Company struck a deal to buy natural gas provider AGL Resources for $8 billion, prompting questions about the impact the agreement will have on customers' power bills. [Read more]
Mercedes-Benz buys naming rights to new Falcons stadium: Having its name on the stadium, which is being built next to the Georgia Dome and slated to open in 2017, would be a remarkable splash for a newcomer to the Atlanta area business community. [Read more]
Theme park to bring 'Hunger Games' to Bartow County: Might your kids take on the role of Katniss Everdeen in a virtual Hunger Games in Bartow County? [Read more]
