Tucker is undoubtedly one of the fastest-rising business destinations in the Metro Atlanta area. Each month, the Business Boom will seek to show different examples of how Tucker’s business scene is flourishing. This month's column is written by our Business Outreach Coordinator, Angela Brooks.
The city is hosting its first-ever small business resources expo on April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Hall. The event, themed Creating Connections, will bring together subject matter experts from local and regional agencies to aid, counsel, and refer small business owners and entrepreneurs to information and resources to maintain and strengthen their company. Registration is strongly encouraged, free and open until April 13. Entrepreneurs and small business owners can register to attend by visiting TKRSmallBiz.eventbrite.com.
Economic Development Strategic Plan Update
The city’s economic development strategic plan (commissioned by the City Council) is on track for completion and expected to be adopted by Council at its April 10 regular meeting.
This plan and its recommendations will:
- Provide the specific steps needed to guide Tucker’s economic development policies, programs, and investments over the next five years
- Empower the City to define its vision, mission, and values to guide planning, zoning, and economic development priorities
- Attract high-quality investment and redevelopment activity
- Help strategically shape the character of redevelopment within the city
Consensus-building workshops for the plan were held at City Hall for the public outreach portion of the data gathering which included two surveys (with nearly 300 responses), five public meetings, and two business lunch-and-learns. Those workshops served as an opportunity for public comment on the information gathered. Evaluation of the feedback and other research and metrics acquired will be used by the KB Advisory consultant team to form their recommendations tactics and for how the plan should be executed.
KB Advisory offered the first overarching draft recommendations based on community data and of public input at the city council’s work session February 27.
Last August KB Advisory Group’s bid won the contract to create an economic development as required by the city’s overall comprehensive plan.
Economic Development Quarterly Update
The city, in partnership with Discover DeKalb, wrapped up the third year of Tucker Restaurant Week activities in February. Twenty-three local establishments signed on to serve up special fare and special prices to entice potential diners to come out. Participation and interest in the event has grown larger each year.
As of March 13, forty applications for new Occupational Tax Certificates, often referred to as business licenses, were received by the city.
Two of those new businesses chose to have ribbon cutting ceremonies presented by the city. A ribbon cutting was also held to celebrate NETWorks Cooperative Ministries’ move to a new, larger location.
