ATLANTA – The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has won a top international economic development award for its cluster-based economic development strategy to grow Atlanta’s logistics industry.

The Chamber’s involvement in the “Logistics Industry Development Initiative” since it began in 2003 has resulted in 32 firms relocating to Atlanta or expanding here—creating more than 4,200 jobs and acting as a catalyst for the creation of hundreds more.

This prestigious award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the nation’s leading organization of economic development professionals, strengthens Atlanta’s reputation as a world leader for logistics innovation.The Chamber was recognized for this achievement at the IEDC Annual Conference in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

"From localized community projects to large-scale endeavors, activities for the advancement of economic development have an enormous impact on the shoring up of the nation's economy," said Joseph A. Marinucci, FM, IEDC board chairman. "As our population grows exponentially, and as we continue to overcome unexpected challenges, such as those we are still grappling with in the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Gulf Coast region, these efforts take on an even greater significance. The award serves as a most respectful 'hats off' to economic development organizations like the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce."

Metro Atlanta’s logistics industry is anchored by logistics giants such as UPS and Delta Air Lines, and bolstered by other logistics powerhouses, such as Manhattan Associates, Norfolk Southern, CSX and the Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech. Atlanta has the fifth-largest concentration of logistics companies and employment in the country, with more than 103,000 jobs. And Atlanta is home to nearly 96 percent of the top 25 third-party logistics service providers.

“The transportation and logistics sectors provide Atlanta the largest opportunity for job growth,” said Lee Torrence, senior state executive of IBM Corp. and chairman of the Chamber’s Logistics Council. “We will continue to leverage our state’s tightly woven network of air, ports, rail and roads to further Atlanta’s reputation as a leader for logistics innovation -- and as one of the best places to reach global markets.”

Based on the findings of Michael Porter's Clusters of Innovation Initiative in 2001 , the Chamber identified the logistics cluster as an area for focused economic development, developed a logistics task force and created the “Logistics Industry Development Initiative” strategy to grow the logistics industry.

Chamber President Sam A. Williams said Bob Pertierra, the Chamber’s vice president of logistics industry expansion, deserved recognition for coordinating the efforts of the Chamber’s Logistics Council, along with the Chamber’s partners in logistics expansion. These include: the Atlanta Development Authority, Georgia Power Company and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“Atlanta is already one of the world’s leading logistics hubs,” Williams said. “We are fortunate to have a Logistics Council Chair like Lee Torrence and high-caliber staff like Bob Pertierra leading the Chamber’s effort to grow the logistics industry—a critical sector of job growth for the metro Atlanta economy.”

Core logistics assets in Atlanta and Georgia include:

• air – Before the opening of the $1.25 billion fifth runway, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport ranked 10th in U.S. air-cargo traffic. Atlanta expects to continue double-digit growth in international air cargo with this recent expansion.

• sea -- The fastest-growing and sixth-largest container port in the United States, the Port of Savannah opened an eighth berth in May -- a $109 million investment.

• ground – Atlanta is one of only five U.S. cities served by three major interstate highways. More than 80 percent of the nation’s commercial and consumer markets can be reached within two truckload delivery days of Atlanta. The state as a whole ranks sixth in the nation for ground freight movement.

• rail – There are 4,900 miles of rail in Georgia, ranking the state sixth in the nation in rail intermodal origin-and-destination traffic.

• intellectual capital – Atlanta is home to the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Logistics Institute and its School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Many cities can claim to be a logistics hub. Few can claim to be a center for logistics innovation. Atlanta continues to be a source for logistics talent and innovation that helps us attract and grow companies.

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The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (MACOC) -- with our 4,000 member companies that collectively employ more than 700,000 workers -- is a catalyst for a vibrant metro region. The Metro Atlanta Chamber focuses on the issues that matter most to the business community: improving quality of life, promoting economic growth and making Atlanta a brand name that means opportunity.

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