With a core goal of empowering upward economic mobility for all, CATLYST is a strategy designed to improve regional competitiveness and collaboration throughout the 10-county region.
CATLYST works to ensure that metro Atlanta has good jobs, a well-trained workforce, and the regional collaboration needed to invigorate economic growth. CATLYST serves as the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Atlanta region, and allows communities and organizations to receive grants and assistance from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for projects and technical assistance that support the four focus areas.
It all happens through the work of project teams consisting of leaders from across the region’s public, private, and nonprofit spheres. Work began in 2017 with an evaluation of the region’s economy, including data analysis and extensive outreach (interviews, focus groups, public forums, and workshops). This work built on the 2012 Regional Economic Competitiveness Strategy.