Economic Development
Built for What Comes Next
What is Economic Development
Economic development is the process of intentionally building a stronger local economy. It means attracting new employers, helping existing businesses grow, guiding development to the right places, and connecting residents to the jobs that are created. Done well, it turns land, talent, and infrastructure into lasting opportunity, jobs that support families, investment that broadens the tax base, and growth that reaches every neighborhood.
Who we serve
Companies choosing a location. Developers planning a project. Investors evaluating a market. Entrepreneurs starting where they live.
Economic development is how DeKalb County turns land, talent, and infrastructure into jobs, investment, and long-term community wealth.
DeKalb County is one of Georgia's most diverse and connected economies, home to more than 780,000 residents, major film and television production, hypersonic aerospace engineering, nationally ranked healthcare systems, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and large-scale mixed-use development. It sits at the doorstep of Atlanta's international airport and the interstate and transit networks that move people and goods worldwide.
The County's economic development work is a coordinated effort to attract new business, help existing employers expand, guide site selection and development, connect projects to incentives and workforce pipelines, and ensure growth reaches every community in DeKalb. Under the leadership of the Office of the CEO and in partnership with Decide DeKalb, the County's primary economic development authority, that work is backed by historic investments in water, sewer, transportation, and public facilities designed to unlock development for decades to come.
The result is a county built for what comes next. If you are deciding where to locate your next headquarters, laboratory, production facility, or development, this page is your starting point.
Where ambition meets infrastructure
DeKalb County pairs the momentum of a rising innovation economy with the infrastructure, talent, and connectivity that let projects move fast and stay.
Innovation Ecosystem
Home to aerospace, healthcare innovation, film production, advanced manufacturing, and large-scale development.
Global Connectivity
Minutes from the world's busiest airport, with direct access to interstates, transit, and Atlanta's global business corridors.
Industry Diversity
A balanced economy spanning film, life sciences, healthcare, logistics, aerospace, and mixed-use development.
Talent Density
A deep workforce pipeline fed by universities, hospitals, research institutions, and technical training systems.
Proof of momentum
DeKalb isn't aspirational alone. World-class institutions and companies are already building, hiring, and investing here.
NBCUniversal · Assembly Atlanta
Major film and television production activity anchoring DeKalb as a fast-growing hub for media and entertainment.
Hermeus
A next-generation aerospace company developing hypersonic aircraft, with manufacturing in Doraville and test operations at PDK Airport.
Emory Healthcare Innovation Hub
A leading ecosystem translating research into real-world clinical solutions at the frontier of care.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
A nationally recognized pediatric system advancing innovation in partnership with Georgia Tech.
Lulah Hills Redevelopment
A transformative mixed-use project driven by respected national and international development partners and capital groups.
Decide DeKalb
The County's primary economic development partner supporting business attraction, expansion, and investment facilitation.
Let's reimagine DeKalb together.
Our Economic Development team is ready to assist with site
selection, development support, partnerships, incentives, and project facilitation.
Contact Economic Development Submit a Project Inquiry Schedule a Site Conversation