Decide DeKalb Development Authority: A Practical Guide for Atlanta Businesses and Investors

If you’re looking at starting, expanding, or relocating a business in metro Atlanta, you’ll likely run into the Decide DeKalb Development Authority at some point. This public economic development agency plays a major role in business incentives, site selection, and local job growth in DeKalb County, which includes parts of the City of Atlanta and several key business corridors.

This guide explains what Decide DeKalb is, how it works, and what it can realistically do for a business owner, developer, or investor focused on the Atlanta/DeKalb area.

What Is the Decide DeKalb Development Authority?

Decide DeKalb Development Authority (often just called Decide DeKalb) is the official economic development authority for DeKalb County, Georgia.

Its core purpose is to:

• Attract new businesses to DeKalb County and the Atlanta metro area
• Support existing local businesses that want to grow or modernize
• Promote investment and job creation through incentive programs
• Help connect companies with real estate, workforce, and financing resources

If you’re considering a project in areas like:

• Downtown Decatur
• Brookhaven
• Chamblee
• Doraville
• Stonecrest
• Portions of the City of Atlanta located in DeKalb County

…Decide DeKalb is one of the main agencies you’d talk to about incentives, development tools, and site selection support.

Where Is Decide DeKalb and How Do You Reach Them?

Decide DeKalb’s main office is in Decatur, convenient to MARTA and major Atlanta roadways. While contact details can change, the typical pattern for getting in touch is:

• Office location: Near downtown Decatur in DeKalb County’s civic and business hub
• Main phone line: A central number that routes to business development staff
• General email: A shared inbox for project inquiries and incentive questions

For the most accurate details, most businesses:

• Call the main DeKalb County or Decide DeKalb office during regular business hours
• Or use the contact form or email listed on Decide DeKalb’s official channels

When you reach out, it helps to be prepared with:

• Your business name and industry
• The location you’re considering in DeKalb (city, corridor, or address)
• Estimated investment (buildout, equipment, land, etc.)
• Approximate jobs created or retained

This information helps staff quickly determine what programs may apply.

What Does Decide DeKalb Actually Do for Businesses?

From an Atlanta-area business owner’s perspective, Decide DeKalb mainly focuses on four big areas:

1. Incentive programs and financing tools
2. Site selection and real estate support
3. Targeted development in key corridors and zones
4. Connections to workforce and partner organizations

Let’s break these down in more detail.

Incentive Programs and Financing Tools

Under Georgia law, development authorities like Decide DeKalb can use several tools to lower project costs, especially for developments that create jobs or improve underused sites.

Common Incentive Types

While individual deals are tailored case by case, businesses in DeKalb County often encounter:

1. Tax Incentive Structures
These may include:

• Property tax abatements or savings on new construction or major renovations
• Time-limited structures that reduce the effective tax burden for qualifying projects

These tools are typically considered for:

• Manufacturers and logistics operations
• Corporate offices or major expansions
• Mixed-use or commercial developments with substantial investment

2. Bond Financing (Development Authority Bonds)

Decide DeKalb can issue certain types of bonds to help structure large investments, particularly where:

• A project brings significant capital investment
• The development is tied to job creation or retention
• The site is in a strategic growth area

These bond mechanisms can sometimes enable more favorable financing or tax treatment for qualifying projects.

3. Specialized Incentive Programs

Depending on timing and state/local priorities, Decide DeKalb may help you access:

• Job creation incentives for hiring local workers
• Incentives linked to film, media, and creative industries (DeKalb is a major filming hub in metro Atlanta)
• Benefits tied to technology, logistics, healthcare, or advanced manufacturing

Many companies combine Decide DeKalb programs with:

• Georgia state incentives (like job tax credits)
• City programs (for projects inside cities such as Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, or the Atlanta portions of DeKalb)

Who Typically Qualifies for Incentives?

Not every small business or retail shop will qualify for major incentives. In Atlanta/DeKalb, incentives are usually targeted where public benefit is clear. Typical qualifying factors include:

• Job creation: The more permanent, full-time jobs you create or retain locally, the stronger your case
• Capital investment size: Large expenditures on land, buildings, machinery, or tenant improvements are viewed favorably
• Location:
  • Projects in underdeveloped or redevelopment areas
  • Sites near transit corridors or targeted nodes (like near MARTA stations)
• Industry type:
  • Manufacturing, logistics, tech, film, professional services, health, and other high-impact sectors often receive priority
• Wages and benefits: Projects offering competitive wages and benefits may have a stronger claim

If you run a smaller business (for example, a restaurant or boutique) in places like Decatur Square or downtown Chamblee, you’re less likely to receive large-scale tax incentives from Decide DeKalb directly, but you may still benefit from:

• Local small business grants or façade programs (often city-run)
• Technical assistance connecting you to SBA lenders, chambers, or workforce services

Site Selection and Real Estate Support

For companies exploring Atlanta-area locations, Decide DeKalb can act as a local guide and connector.

How They Help with Sites

Businesses and developers often turn to Decide DeKalb for:

• Lists of available industrial, office, and commercial sites across DeKalb County
• Guidance on zoning and land-use context
• Identification of sites with infrastructure capacity (roads, utilities, fiber)
• Help understanding permitting and approval pathways in various DeKalb cities and unincorporated areas

If you’re new to Atlanta, having a local public partner can make it easier to understand:

• The differences between Decatur, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Stonecrest, and unincorporated DeKalb
• How portions of Atlanta in DeKalb County relate to City of Atlanta processes
• Which corridors or submarkets best fit your workforce and logistics needs

Focus Areas: Corridors, Nodes, and Redevelopment Zones

Decide DeKalb doesn’t just focus on single parcels; it takes a strategic view of the county.

Some areas of particular interest often include:

• Transit-oriented development near MARTA stations (e.g., Avondale, Chamblee, Brookhaven)
• Industrial and logistics corridors near major highways and rail
• Commercial corridors targeted for revitalization or mixed-use growth
• Film and TV production zones leveraging studios and backlots in DeKalb

If your project supports a county priority—such as revitalizing a corridor, redeveloping a long-vacant property, or bringing new jobs along transit—your incentive options may be stronger.

How Decide DeKalb Fits with Other Atlanta Economic Development Groups

The Atlanta metro area has multiple economic development players. For someone doing business in the region, it’s helpful to understand how they interact.

Key Partners and How They Relate

For a business, this means you might work with:

• Decide DeKalb on county-level support
• A city economic development office for local zoning, permits, or city incentives
• State-level staff for large, job-heavy projects

If you’re unsure who to start with, contacting Decide DeKalb for DeKalb County locations is typically a reasonable first step. They can point you to the right city or state partners as needed.

Working with Decide DeKalb: What to Expect

If you’re an entrepreneur, site selector, or developer considering a DeKalb project, the process usually follows a few stages.

1. Initial Inquiry

You (or your consultant) reach out with:

• Basic project description
• Prospective site or sites
• Estimated investment and job numbers
• Preferred timeline

A staff member will usually respond to:

• Confirm whether Decide DeKalb is the right contact
• Offer a brief conversation to learn more
• Explain which incentive tools or support types might be possible

2. Project Evaluation

Decide DeKalb then typically evaluates:

• Location: Is it in DeKalb, and is it a priority area?
• Scale: Does the project meet investment and job thresholds for certain programs?
• Type: Does it align with local and regional economic goals?

At this stage, they may request additional documentation, such as:

• Business plans or executive summaries
• Preliminary site plans or square footage estimates
• Job and wage projections

3. Structuring Incentives

If your project is a fit, Decide DeKalb may explore:

• A possible incentive package (tax savings, bond structures, or other tools)
• Conditions related to job creation, wages, and investment timelines
• Collaboration with city councils or county commissions, where formal approvals are needed

Development authorities often present incentive agreements for approval by their governing board. Businesses should be prepared to:

• Provide clear, consistent details
• Participate in board or public meetings where the agreement is considered

4. Implementation and Compliance

After agreements are in place:

• You complete the development or expansion
• Decide DeKalb may monitor job and investment commitments over time
• Continued eligibility for incentives can depend on meeting agreed milestones

This ongoing relationship can help you stay connected to:

• Workforce development resources
• Future expansion opportunities
• Local networking and partnership events

How Decide DeKalb Helps Different Types of Atlanta-Area Users

For Local Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses

If you’re a small business owner in Decatur, Brookhaven, or another DeKalb city:

• Decide DeKalb may not always provide direct financial incentives for small storefronts.
• However, they can often:
  • Point you to city programs, chambers of commerce, or small business centers
  • Connect you with lenders familiar with Atlanta/DeKalb markets
  • Share information on business districts or redevelopment areas where support is stronger

For Corporate Site Selectors and Investors

If you represent a larger company looking at the Atlanta region:

• Decide DeKalb can:
  • Provide confidential preliminary site and incentive discussions
  • Coordinate conversations with city officials, utilities, and transportation agencies
  • Help compare DeKalb locations to other parts of the region from a public support and infrastructure standpoint

For Real Estate Developers

Developers working on mixed-use, office, industrial, or specialized projects in DeKalb may rely on Decide DeKalb for:

• Insight into targeted redevelopment areas
• Potential incentive structures that can improve project feasibility
• High-level market positioning of DeKalb compared with other Atlanta submarkets

Tips for Approaching Decide DeKalb Effectively

To make the most of your interaction with Decide DeKalb:

• Be specific about your location.
  • Identify the address, parcel, or corridor you’re considering in DeKalb County.
• Quantify your project.
  • Estimate capital investment, jobs, pay ranges, and timeline as realistically as you can.
• Clarify your needs.
  • Are you primarily looking for tax savings, site options, workforce connections, or introductions to local officials?
• Be transparent.
  • Development authorities typically look closely at whether public investment or tax incentives are justified, so clear information is key.
• Ask about timing.
  • Some incentive tools must be approved before certain commitments are made, like purchasing property or starting construction.

When Decide DeKalb May Not Be the Right Fit

There are situations where Decide DeKalb may not be the best starting point:

• Your project is entirely outside DeKalb County
• You’re looking for one-time grants or simple cash assistance without job creation or broader impact
• Your business is very small with limited job creation and no significant capital investment

In those cases, other resources in the Atlanta area may be more appropriate, such as:

• Local chambers of commerce (e.g., DeKalb Chamber of Commerce)
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
• City-based small business offices in places like Decatur, Brookhaven, or Chamblee

However, if you’re unsure, a brief conversation with Decide DeKalb staff can help clarify whether they can assist or refer you elsewhere.

By understanding how the Decide DeKalb Development Authority operates within the Atlanta business ecosystem, you can better position your project for support, navigate local processes more efficiently, and make informed decisions about where and how to invest in DeKalb County.