Collaboration will empower metro

In recent years, the region worked together to recover from the Great Recession. This was no easy task, but we’ve turned the corner. We’re adding jobs at the fastest rate since the financial crisis, and nearly every month brings news that a major corporation has chosen to locate in metro Atlanta.

So, we can breathe a sigh of relief. But we can’t be satisfied with the status quo. Now that the financial crisis is safely in our rear view mirror, we must turn our attention to the many challenges still facing our region.

For example, we need to improve our transportation network and build a truly comprehensive regional transit system. We must develop a highly educated and skilled workforce to meet the needs of 21st century employers. And we need to create vibrant, walkable communities that offer quality, affordable housing and opportunities for all of us, especially our seniors, to age in place.

It will take the entire region, working in concert, to address these thorny issues and ensure that Atlanta remains competitive with our peers across the country. They’re not standing still, and neither can we.

The good news is that several of our region’s collaborative efforts are already beginning to bear fruit.

The Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance, which launched last year, is working to foster robust economic and community development around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Regional Economic Competitiveness Strategy has pulled together hundreds of people from across metro Atlanta to advance the region’s economy and our quality of life.

At the Atlanta Regional Commission, we are putting the final touches on The Atlanta Region’s Plan, a comprehensive, long-range road map that incorporates all of our planning areas – transportation, land use, water resources, aging, health and workforce development.

For the first time, this plan will highlight programs and initiatives from other major community institutions, such as the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

At ARC’s recent State of the Region breakfast, we heard a similar theme of collective strength from our keynote speaker, Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO of CivicAction, a nonprofit based in Toronto. CivicAction provides a “neutral sandbox” to help that region’s civic leaders drive measurable change on key issues.

It’s always interesting to hear how outsiders view our region. After touring some of our museums, dining at Ponce City Market and taking a stroll on the Atlanta BeltLine, Sevaun was mightily impressed.

“The ingredients you have here are world-class, and in many ways second to none,” she said during her speech. “Now you just need to bring them all together.”

I second that opinion. We should be proud of what we’ve built in the Atlanta region, from our thriving cultural institutions to our growing, diverse economy.

But it’s also clear that we have much work to do to ensure our region’s future success. It will take close collaboration to truly move the needle and make meaningful change.

You may be asking what you can do to be part of this effort. As a start, you can join what ARC is calling the Civic Conversation – an effort to bring the greater Atlanta community together to spark important discussions that will lead to action.

Visit www.civicconvo.com and learn how to host or attend a Civic Dinner Party. We’ve provided the tools to get you started, including topical conversation starters and a way to provide feedback.

I’m excited to see what people have to say about the biggest issues facing our region, and what creative ideas they come up with to help move our region forward.