#AtlantaIsNow: The top 5 reasons why I love ATL (and why you should too)!

I guess you could say I'm an American relocation expert. I've lived, studied and/or worked all over the country, in over 10 states and too many cities to name. I've also had the pleasure of traveling to and working in countless countries abroad. After all of my travels, though, I decided to call Atlanta my adult home.

When my husband, Ebbie, and I decided to leave New York City and Westport, Connecticut back in 2015 and move to Atlanta, some people thought we were crazy but I can tell you it has been the BEST DECISION EVER to Choose ATL.

Disclaimer: This article isn't for those who already know and love Atlanta, it's for those who don't know. Today, I proudly sit on the Board of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and am excited to share the top five reasons why I personally love Atlanta...and why you should too.

#1. We are fostering entrepreneurship and producing and retaining the world’s best talent. ATL is…

• Home to 15 Fortune 500 companies, including The Home Depot, United Parcel Service (UPS), The Coca-Cola Company and Delta Air Lines, Inc.
• The #4 U.S. city with the greatest average number of Female-Owned businesses (Source: Paychex, 2018)  
• The #1 metro area for openings for STEM graduates per capita and the #2 metro area for quality of engineering universities (Source: WalletHub, 2017 & 2018)
• Home to the #1 and #3 Historically Black College and Universities (HCBUs), Spelman College and Morehouse College (Source: U.S. News & World Report 2019 Undergraduate Rankings)
• The #5 metro area for retaining college grads from two- and four-year institutions (Source: City Lab, The Brookings Institution, 2016)

#2. Our quality of life is second to none with a diverse, inclusive, creative environment that welcomes everyone. ATL is…

• The #1 Moving Destination in the Nation for nine consecutive years (Source: Penske, 2011-2019)
• The #1 Most Affordable Big City (Source: WalletHub, 2018)
• The #1 City Where African-Americans Are Doing the Best Economically, tied only with Washington D.C. (Source: Forbes, 2018)
• Home to the #3 Largest Arts Organization in the U.S. (Source: Woodruff Arts Center)
• LGBTQ capital of the South (Source: City of Atlanta)

#3. We are home to incredible sports and entertainment. ATL is…

• Hip hop capital of the world (Source: VisitTheUSA.com, 2019)
• Arguably the #1 filming location in the nation (Source: Film L.A., 2018)
• The #1 City for Major League Soccer Attendance (Source: SoccerStadiumDigest.com, 2018)
• Home to amazing professional sports teams, including the Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons, the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Dream, the Atlanta Hawks and many more!

#4. We are home to the world’s busiest and most efficient airport; we’re a bona fide logistics hub at the center of the world’s most important markets. ATL is…

• The #2 metro area for digital supply chain, ahead of five major U.S. metros (Source: Deloitte, 2017)
• Within a two-hour flight of 80% of the U.S. population (Source: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 2019)
• Within a short drive to the single largest and fastest-growing container port in the U.S., the Port of Savannah (Source: Savannah Economic Development Authority, 2019)

#5. We are transforming into a top tech market. ATL is…

• One of top 10 tech startup ecosystems in the nation (Source: Startup Genome, 2017)
• The #2 next big tech hub that’s still affordable (Source: Realtor.com, 2017)
• The #1 U.S. city for startups that is not New York or San Francisco (Source: FitSmallBusiness.com, 2018)