​​Atlanta’s major business, economic development and political players packed into the newly-opened Signia by Hilton hotel at the Georgia World Congress Center on Jan. 31 for the 2024 Central Atlanta Progress and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District annual meeting and awards ceremony. 

CAP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a “safe, livable, diverse, economically viable, accessible, clean, hospitable and entertaining” downtown area. Central Atlanta Progress is composed of corporations, local businesses, regional leaders and civic groups. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, created by CAP, is a public-private partnership that creates a community improvement district. 

Central Atlanta Progress President AJ Robinson said the area is the city’s future and “where Atlanta began.”

“No other area can claim it; we’ve been at it longer than anybody else,” Robinson said. 

The luncheon looked at downtown Atlanta project progress in 2023 and plans for the coming years, particularly ahead of being a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Boston Consulting Group projects will generate over $400 million in economic benefits for the city.

Robinson said it is key that people realize that “downtown is for everyone.” 

Every year, the meeting also honors several award recipients through CAP and ADID. Central Atlanta Progress awarded the Marcus Downtown Economic Impact Award, The Warner Bros. Discovery Community Leadership Award and the Dan & Tally Sweat Award. 

At the Jan. 31 luncheon, Georgia-Pacific received the economic impact award, which is given to a person, company or project that helped to revitalize downtown Atlanta. The corporation has funded restorations for the Oakland Cemetery Visitors Center and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and has worked with the local Habitat for Humanity.

CAP gave the Atlanta native and co-founder of Atlanta Influences Everything Bem Joiner…