Research Atlanta¹
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Research Atlanta is a private, not-for-profit public policy research organization that studies public policy issues affecting the metropolitan Atlanta region. It represents a unique collaboration between the private sector, which supports the research and sets the research agenda, and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, which administers the organization and oversees the research process. For 33 years, Research Atlanta, Inc. has investigated the causes of and analyzed the alternative solutions to problems that affect the quality of life in metro Atlanta. Research Atlanta advances sound public policy, not a political agenda. Deborah McCarty is the executive director of Research Atlanta.

Research Atlanta enjoyed yet another successful year in 2004. The three studies released this year generated significant discussion among citizens and key leaders about issues as diverse as the arts, tax allocation districts, and size of city council. Research Atlanta reports explore the issues and details and offer a panoply of options to consider when crafting policy responses. Research Atlanta was contacted by various nonprofits and interest groups about conducting a record number of client studies in 2004, many of which may be forthcoming in 2005.

Sound public policy requires more than simply informed policy makers. It also demands an informed citizenry engaged in debate about the issues. To engage citizens in such debate, Research Atlanta maintains an extensive Web site, provides technical assistance and education to community groups and collaborates with other organizations to present special programs. In 2004, Research Atlanta posted information from its reports and continued to host a search engine at its Web site to enable individuals to easily educate themselves about community problems.

Research Atlanta took steps to reach out to the community, and created an Open Space Forum in March 2004 to discuss the study released in May 2003. A diverse group of people attended the event, hosted at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta. In attendance were board members, community leaders, and representatives from the entire metro Atlanta area. The panelists at this event were: Mayor Shirley Franklin, City of Atlanta; Elise Eplan, Vice President for Special Initiatives, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation; Lee Ross, Corporate Vice President, Reveal Technologies; Alycen Whiddon, Tunnell-Spangler & Associates, and co-author of the Open Space Study; and Clay Long, Chairman, Advisory Council of the Georgia Land Conservation Partnership, Partner and Co-Chairman of McKenna Long & Aldridge, and co-author of the Open Space Study.

Research Atlanta’s second forum of the year was an Arts Forum in June 2004 to discuss the study released May 2004 about lessons learned from Detroit arts initiatives. A diverse group of people attended the event, which was hosted by Right Management and held at The Capital City Club in Brookhaven. In attendance were board members, community leaders, and representatives from the arts community from the entire metro Atlanta area. The highlights of the event were the panelists: Michael Rushton, Georgia State University Associate Professor of Public Administration and Urban Studies; Raymond King, SunTrust Senior Vice President for Community and Governmental Affairs; and Bill Nigut, Atlanta Regional Arts and Culture Leadership Alliance Executive Director. The success of these events was evident in press coverage and interest in the community.

In 2004, Research Atlanta participated in activities around the country. Deborah McCarty attended the ARC LINK trip to Boston and the GMA conference in Savannah with key Atlanta Business leaders. She also serves as a member of Mayor Shirley Franklin’s City of Atlanta Parks Commission.

Efforts have been made by Research Atlanta in 2004 to help continue to grow the Metropolitan Atlanta Mayors Association (MAMA) in partnership with The Regional Leadership Forum (RLF), the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (AYSPS). McCarty has been an ongoing participant in all the Executive Committee meetings of the MAMA organization. MAMA's initial meetings were also held with a potential bi-partisan metro caucus with the Georgia General Assembly, which is scheduled to have meetings in early 2005. This year, Research Atlanta partnered with the Regional Leadership Forum by sharing staff member Jennifer Kreidler. This relationship has strengthened the bond with RLF and enabled programs to grow further.

Research Atlanta originated on the premise that an informed citizenry engaged in serious debate about the problems affecting their community is essential for good public policy decisions. More than a “think tank,” Research Atlanta engages the public in the kind of discussion needed to resolve issues. In partnership with WABE, Georgia Public Television, Leadership Atlanta, the League of Women Voters of Atlanta-Fulton County, Regional Leadership Forum, and the Atlanta History Center, Research Atlanta has taken steps to inform the community through forums about the issues it researches. Past forums have addressed regional decision-making, private management of public schools, the impending water crisis; air quality and attracting the middle class back to the central city.

Research Atlanta has a wealth of information available on its Web site at www.researchatlanta.org. Reports include metro Atlanta issues as diverse as city services, air quality, public service delivery, governance, public finance, education, housing, and poverty. Particularly valuable reports for today’s policy debates include the TAD study, the Open Space study, Sustainable Funding for the Arts: Earmarked Taxes, and Options for Metropolitan Atlanta and Reinventing Municipal Governance: Programmatic Innovations from the New Generation of Big City Mayors.

Research Atlanta’s work consistently receives excellent media attention. The Atlanta Business Chronicle released executive summaries to tie in with the release of all full reports released by Research Atlanta. Prominent news reporters such as Maria Saporta and Tom Sabulis of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Wendy Bowman-Littler of the Atlanta Business Chronicle are regular attendees of Research Atlanta events. Research Atlanta has continued to strengthen its relationship with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Business Chronicle and WABE in 2004 in many areas including press releases, press coverage, forum attendees, and report releases.

In the 2004 Annual Corporate Fundraising Campaign, Research Atlanta raised almost $160,000. Research Atlanta received several in-kind contributions in 2004, including gifts of time and effort. For example, Graham-Windsor provided meeting facilitation and planning development.

Research Atlanta Project Status

Studies Completed, 2003/2004

Open Space Acquisitions and Management Opportunities in the City of Atlanta and Adjacent Jurisdictions, May 2003. Forum on the report was held March 2004.

Sustainable Funding for the Arts: Earmarked Taxes and Options for Metropolitan Atlanta, September 2003. Forum on the report was held November 2003.

Sustainable Funding for the Arts: What Can Atlanta Learn from the Detroit Experience?, June 2004. Forum on the report was held June 2004.

Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law: A Policy Guide to the Evaluation and Use of Tax Allocation Districts, November 2004. Forum planned in early 2005.

Update on Composition of Council Size in Comparable Cities, August 2004.

Studies In Progress, 2004

Dynamics of Change: Atlanta Regional Commission project, with monthly releases on their Web site of “Dynamics of Change.” Report updated with 2000 Census data. Research Atlanta will have parallel releases on its Web site and Atlanta Business Chronicle has agreed to release sections on a quarterly basis.

McKinsey: McKinsey completed a pro-bono study for Research Atlanta which included a review of comparable entities in other cities, as well as a strategy for the future based on interviews with local stakeholders, with recommendations included for the 2003-04 Annual Fundraising campaign.

Studies Pending, 2004

Affordable Housing
Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP) grant from Ford Foundation received and currently working with ANDP to determine Research Atlanta role.

Homelessness
Data evaluation in progress, with funding sources under review.

Housing Costs
Research in progress, with a grant from the Metro Atlanta Homebuilders Association.

Literacy
Scope, budget and plan under review, with funding pending.

Education Study for Atlanta Public Schools
Proposal under review, with funding proposals in progress.

MAMA
Twenty-six mayors attended the MAMA Luncheon at College Park, September 30, 2004.

State of Georgia Legislative Caucus
Next meeting scheduled to be held January 2005; Senate and House Steering Committee members attended last meeting on January 29, 2004.

Arts
Proposal and funding to expand previous study is currently under consideration.

Media Coverage

"City leaders seek pointers in Boston," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 19, 2004.

"Arts score high in poll, 56% would back tax for culture," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 13, 2004.

"Contemporary connection: Midtown gallery is thriving, surviving," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 16, 2004.

"Setting the scene: New theatre will boost cultural district in Atlanta’s historic downtown," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 14, 2004.

"Sustainable funding for the arts: What can Atlanta learn from a referendum in Detroit?" Atlanta Business Chronicle, June 18, 2004.

"Three leaders lighted the way," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 11, 2004.

"Georgia’s redevelopment powers law," Atlanta Business Chronicle, November 19, 2004.

Research Atlanta Board

Executive Committee

Board Members