Everyone wants a data center now. The headlines make it look easy. A company picks a site, writes a big check, and the city gets a billion dollar announcement. We have done this work from the inside, and we can tell you the announcement is the last thing that happens, not the first.
In South Fulton, the eighth largest city in Georgia with roughly 107,000 residents, our team ran the full economic development operation: a department of five people, a $1.7 million budget, and leadership of both the South Fulton Development Authority and the Downtown Development Authority at the same time. The headline result was two data center developments worth a combined $2.09 billion, positioning South Fulton as one of the Atlanta region’s premier technology investment destinations. Here is what sat underneath that number.
Running Two Authorities at Once
Big deals need entities that can actually move. We led both the development authority and the downtown development authority, kept them in statutory compliance, and aligned them around a single strategy. That dual authority experience is exactly the kind of work behind our development authority setup and training, because a deal stalls fast when the governing body is not built to carry it.
Closing $2.09 Billion in Data Center Investment
Two data centers, $2.09 billion in private investment. Landing capital at that scale is the difference between hoping a developer notices you and being ready when they call. That readiness comes from real economic development strategy and implementation, from capital improvement planning that gets power, water, and roads in place ahead of the build, and from structuring agreements between the public and private sectors that protect the tax base while still winning the deal.
A Small Business Engine That Actually Ran
The data centers got the headlines, but the department was working at every level. We launched the South Fulton Means Business Development Series, the Empower Small Business Expo, the South Fulton Impact Awards, and the Old National Grows Farmers Market. We managed ARPA funded facade grant programs along key commercial corridors and led Livable Centers Initiative studies and community placemaking. You cannot credibly chase a billion dollar project while your small business base is neglected, and we did not.
Federal Dollars and Data, Put to Work
We coordinated federal grant distribution, built commercial property data platforms to drive business recruitment, and served as liaison to a district advisory board. That same discipline of knowing the numbers before committing is what powers our real estate feasibility analysis and investment advisory.
When the Call Comes, Be Ready
The data center boom is real and it is not slowing down. The question for every Georgia community is simple. When the call comes, will you be ready to answer it. If you are not sure, that is exactly the conversation we like to have.
King City Advisors helps cities, developers, and community leaders turn big plans into real projects. Backed by 30+ years of Georgia experience, the firm closes the gap between vision and execution, where most good plans stall.