“Site Selection” magazine has named the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce as one of the top 10 economic development organizations in the country.

A business publication that is read my more than 44,000 executives, the magazine recently released its rankings for last year’s top economic development groups in the nation in its May 2007 edition.

In 2006, more than 60,000 new jobs were available in metro Atlanta and in 2005, 70,000 new jobs were created.

And the Metro chamber played a leading role in getting those jobs here, according to Kessel Stelling, president and CEO of Bank of North Georgia and the chair of the Chamber’s economic development committee.

“The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce is focused on jobs, jobs, jobs,” Mr. Kessel said in statement. “For six years in a row, Atlanta has ranked third in the nation among cities with the most Fortune 500 headquarters. Metro Atlanta has what companies want, and the chamber continues to recruit new companies and more jobs to the area, and build on our economic development success,” he said.

Site Selection ranked the economic development groups according to four objective categories: new jobs, new jobs per 10,000 residents, new investment amount and new investment per 10,000 residents. They were also reviewed on innovation, leadership and customer service.

Other groups recognized included the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce of Dallas, Texas;
Greater Louisville Inc. of Louisville, Ky.; Greater Washington Initiative of Washington D.C.
; Indy Partnership of Indianapolis, Ind;
McAllen Economic Development Corp. of McAllen, Texas ; the Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corp. and Greater Statesville Development Corp. of Iredell County, N.C.
; the Piedmont Triad Partnership of Greensboro, N.C.; the
St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, St. Louis, Mo. and World Business Chicago of Chicago.

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