A conversation with Katie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO Metro Atlanta Chamber

Jim Durrett, president and CEO of The Buckhead Coalition, has three questions for Katie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO Metro Atlanta Chamber & member of the Buckhead Coalition

Q: You know that I am an Atlanta United fan, but I also played soccer from junior high school until age 55. Atlanta was selected as one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to be the biggest sporting event in history.

What do metro Atlanta, and specifically Buckhead, stand to gain from hosting the event?

A:The FIFA World Cup 2026 is projected to contribute $5B in new economic activity across North America.

There is potential for Atlanta to host six to eight matches, which could generate economic activity locally greater than the Super Bowl and international attention exceeding that of the 1996 Olympics. The state and entire metro Atlanta region will directly benefit from the influx of tourists coming here for a slice of the action.

Buckhead hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers will be inundated with fans looking for a high-end experience.

Q: As an alum of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, I had an insider’s view of how our business leaders lean in to understand and solve civic problems. I see that today with the members of the Buckhead Coalition.

Why is it important for the business community to engage civically, and what role do business-led organizations play in civic engagement?

A: We cannot have a strong economy without a strong community. Metro Atlanta continues to thrive because we’re a region that rises to a challenge.

Metro Atlanta businesses feel a responsibility to engage civically to help address issues facing the community. When business organizations like the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Buckhead Coalition lean into issues, the entire community benefits, which in turn fuels the region’s growth.

We have such a rich legacy of spurring action during watershed moments – from ensuring Grady Hospital remains a critical community asset to changing the Georgia state flag by removing the confederate war emblem in 2001.

Q: What do you expect to see in terms of metro Atlanta’s economic growth?

A: Metro Atlanta’s economic growth isn’t slowing down. We’re outpacing the national average in terms of employment and job creation, and we’ve remained the best place to do business for an unprecedented nine consecutive years.

We’re also seeing tremendous growth in the “CleanTech” space, especially with electric vehicles, and we’ve made a name for ourselves as a global innovation hub. Atlanta Tech Village in Buckhead is the nation’s fourth-largest tech hub and has helped accelerate the growth of the region’s innovation ecosystem.

It’s important that we build on that momentum today and bolster our talent pipelines now.

The work we are doing to cultivate homegrown talent and attract those from outside the region will help ensure we have strong talent pipelines for in-demand jobs. We need to keep telling the story of why metro Atlanta is the best place to grow your career, find your community, and make your mark.