 Regional Prosperity
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 Goal 8: Maintain regional prosperity by attracting new strong businesses to all areas of the region.
Goal 9: Create more economic opportunities for people from disadvantaged groups.
Goal 10: Increase access to affordable housing near places people work across the region.
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Regional Prosperity
The Atlanta region's economic diversity, adaptable workforce and relative affordability have consistently made it one of the nation's most attractive cities for large and small businesses alike. In the past year, for example, CNN Money recently named Atlanta no. 10 of the "top ten places to buy a home in now." Atlanta was ranked no.9 by Forbes in their "Best Places for Business and Careers" rating.
When it comes to economic indicators, the 10 counties and the City of Atlanta vary greatly in terms of population, growth rate, poverty and median income. While past Platforms reports have depended upon 2000 census data, the release of the 2005 Community survey has provided the opportunity to track trends and changes from 2000 to 2005.
According to the 2000 census, Fulton County had the highest population and median housing value, but the third lowest median household income in the region. In 2005, Fulton still had the highest population in the region, but it also has the highest median housing value. While the median housing value in Fulton increased by nearly 28 percent over five years, it increased by 32 percent in Douglas County and 34 percent in the City of Atlanta. Housing values across the region increased by at least 20 percent between 2000 and 2005.
Most counties also experienced a significant increase in median household income over the five years being measured. City of Atlanta and Fulton County saw the largest increases at 14 and 11 percent, respectively. Cob and Fayette Counties were closely behind with seven percent increases in the median household income. While most counties median household income did increase, Rockdale, Clayton and DeKalb have experienced a negative impact on median household incomes falling by 6 and 4 percent from 2000 to 2005.
The most recent economic profile shows an almost across the board increase in the poverty level. The greatest increase is in DeKalb County, where the poverty rate jumped five percent from 11 to 16. 1. Clayton and Rockdale counties experienced a four percent increase. The poverty rate in Fulton County actually decreased from 2000 to 2005 by .6 percent.
As indicated some of the data included in the profile can be tracked on an annual basis, this includes population and unemployment rates.
As local and national news channels continuously report, the Atlanta region is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country and the trend continued from 2005 to 2006. Cherokee, Henry and Douglas County populations grew by five, six and seven percent, in 2006. While DeKalb County is still "in the black", it shows the least population growth in the region at one percent.
The 2005-2010 projected population growth also varies greatly across the region ranging from a low of 3.5 percent projected growth in Cobb County to 21.6 percent in Henry County.
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