Select Fulton Development Authority: A Practical Guide for Atlanta Businesses and Investors

If you live in Atlanta, do business in Fulton County, or are considering investing or expanding here, you’ll probably run across the name Select Fulton or the Fulton County Development Authority. These are key players in shaping economic growth in Atlanta and the broader county, especially when it comes to business incentives, project financing, and major investments.

This guide explains what Select Fulton and the Fulton County Development Authority do, how they relate to each other, and how they can matter to you as a resident, entrepreneur, or site selector looking at Atlanta.

What Is Select Fulton?

Select Fulton is Fulton County’s economic and workforce development arm. It focuses on:

• Attracting and retaining businesses in Atlanta and Fulton County
• Supporting workforce development and job training
• Coordinating with local, regional, and state partners on incentives and projects

When people talk about “Select Fulton Development Authority”, they’re often referring to the development authority functions that support investment and job growth within Fulton County, including areas inside the City of Atlanta.

Select Fulton is not just about tax breaks. It’s more of a one-stop resource for:

• Companies exploring a move or expansion in Fulton County
• Developers considering new commercial or industrial projects
• Local employers needing workforce talent or training support
• Community partners working on economic development initiatives

How the Fulton County Development Authority Fits In

Within Fulton County, development authority functions are generally handled through official bodies that can:

• Issue tax-exempt or taxable revenue bonds
• Structure property tax incentives (often through bond-lease arrangements)
• Support major capital investment and job-creating projects

Select Fulton works closely with these functions to help companies navigate the incentive and approval process.

For someone evaluating Atlanta as a business location, the development authority role is important because it can affect:

• Your overall cost of locating in Fulton County
• The timing of your project
• The level of local support and coordination you receive

Where Select Fulton Fits in Atlanta’s Economic Development Landscape

Atlanta’s business ecosystem includes several overlapping organizations. If you’re trying to figure out who does what, this simple overview can help:

If your project is in the City of Atlanta, you may interact with both:

• Select Fulton / Fulton County development authority functions, and
• Invest Atlanta

Each may have different tools, criteria, and approval processes, so it’s common for larger projects to coordinate with multiple agencies.

What Types of Projects Does the Development Authority Typically Support?

While specific policies evolve over time, development authority tools in Fulton County commonly focus on projects that:

• Create or retain a significant number of jobs
• Involve substantial capital investment (buildings, equipment, infrastructure)
• Support targeted industries, such as:
  • Logistics and distribution
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Technology and innovation
  • Corporate headquarters and operations centers
  • Film, media, and creative production
• Redevelop underutilized or blighted properties
• Strengthen key commercial corridors or industrial areas

If you’re a small neighborhood business opening a single storefront, you may not qualify for large-scale bond or tax incentives, but Select Fulton can often still be a resource for workforce and connections.

Common Incentive Tools in Fulton County

While specific program names and details can change, businesses looking at Fulton County often encounter:

1. Property Tax-Based Incentives

Through development authority mechanisms, some projects may qualify for:

• Reduced property tax obligations over a defined period
• Arrangements where the development authority holds title to a property and leases it back, creating a structure that can lower ad valorem tax burdens during the incentive term

These tools are usually performance-based, meaning a company is expected to:

• Meet certain job creation or retention numbers
• Achieve specific investment thresholds
• Maintain operations for a minimum period

2. Bond Financing

Development authorities can issue revenue bonds to help finance eligible projects. This is generally used by:

• Large or capital-intensive developments
• Projects with significant public benefit, such as infrastructure or major employment centers

For many smaller businesses, bond financing is less common, but for corporate expansions or major real estate projects in Atlanta or Fulton County, it can be an important option.

3. Workforce Development Support

Select Fulton has a strong workforce development component, often working with:

• Local employers looking to hire and train residents
• Job seekers in Fulton County
• Training providers, schools, and community organizations

Support may include:

• Access to talent pipelines
• Help connecting to training grants or programs
• Coordination with workforce centers to help staff new or expanding operations

How Select Fulton Helps Businesses Considering Atlanta

If you’re looking at Atlanta or Fulton County for a project, Select Fulton can often help you:

1. Understand incentive eligibility

   • Review basic project details (jobs, investment, location)
   • Determine whether it makes sense to pursue development authority tools or other incentives

2. Navigate multiple jurisdictions

   • Coordinate between county and city programs where needed
   • Help clarify whether you should also be talking with Invest Atlanta, your local city government (if outside Atlanta), or state-level partners

3. Connect with workforce resources

   • Link you to hiring and training programs
   • Provide guidance on how local talent pipelines align with your workforce needs

4. Coordinate with regional and state partners

   • When appropriate, connect you with state incentives and regional initiatives that complement county-level tools

What Atlanta Residents Should Know

Even if you’re not a business owner, the activity of Select Fulton and the development authority has real-world impacts in Atlanta, such as:

• Where new jobs are created
• How quickly vacant or blighted properties are redeveloped
• The mix of industries and employers that come into the area

Residents and neighborhood groups sometimes watch development authority projects closely because incentives can influence:

• The nature of new development in their community
• Long-term tax base growth
• Local infrastructure and service needs

Public meetings and board approvals for major projects are usually part of the process, giving residents an opportunity to follow and understand large developments in their part of Fulton County.

Basic Steps if You’re a Business Interested in Incentives in Fulton County

If you’re exploring an Atlanta or Fulton County location and want to know whether Select Fulton or development authority tools might apply, a typical path looks like this:

1. Clarify your project details

   • Number of jobs (new and retained)
   • Average wages or salary ranges
   • Total capital investment (real estate, equipment, build-out)
   • Preferred site or submarket within Fulton County

2. Reach out early in your planning process

   • Incentives are often not retroactive.
   • Initial contact before you sign a long-term lease, purchase property, or announce a decision can be important.

3. Discuss eligibility and available tools

   • Understand which programs might fit your project size and industry.
   • Get clarity on any performance requirements or long-term commitments.

4. Coordinate with other partners

   • If your project is inside the City of Atlanta, you may also talk with Invest Atlanta.
   • For very large or strategic projects, you may be referred to or connected with Georgia state-level partners.

5. Prepare for a public approval process

   • Major incentives usually require:
     • A formal application
     • Staff review
     • Consideration by a board or authority that meets publicly

Where Select Fulton Fits in If You’re New to Atlanta

If you’re relocating a business from another state or another part of Georgia:

• Select Fulton can give you a high-level overview of the county’s business climate, including key corridors like Downtown Atlanta, Midtown, Buckhead, South Fulton, and the Airport area.
• You can get context on:
  • Available industrial or office areas
  • Workforce strengths in different submarkets
  • How county-level incentives might stack with city or state offerings

This county-wide view is useful if you’re still comparing sites within the Atlanta region, such as:

• Inside the City of Atlanta vs. another Fulton city (e.g., Sandy Springs, South Fulton, College Park)
• Fulton County vs. neighboring counties in the metro area

Practical Local Tips for Using Select Fulton and Development Authority Resources

Here’s how people in Atlanta typically make the most of these resources:

• Start with a clear timeline. If you’re on an aggressive schedule to open or expand, mention that early so officials can tell you what’s realistic.
• Be ready with data. Job counts, wage levels, square footage, and project budgets are central to any incentive discussion.
• Consider the neighborhood impact. Projects that bring visible benefits—jobs, redevelopment, or added services—tend to align better with local support.
• Don’t overlook workforce help. Even if you don’t qualify for a big tax incentive, training and hiring assistance can be a major benefit.
• Keep communication consistent. Larger projects often involve multiple agencies; having a single internal point of contact on your side helps keep the process organized.

Finding and Contacting Official Atlanta-Area Economic Development Offices

While names, phone numbers, and staff can change, the following types of contacts are typically relevant if you’re working on a project in Fulton County or Atlanta:

• Select Fulton / Fulton County Economic Development offices

  • Usually located within Fulton County government office space in downtown Atlanta or nearby civic centers
  • Can direct you to the right contact for incentives, workforce development, and project review

• Invest Atlanta (for projects inside the City of Atlanta)

  • Handles many city-level incentive and redevelopment programs
  • Often works in tandem with county and state partners for larger projects

• Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)

  • Especially relevant if you are considering multiple locations within Georgia or planning a large, multi-site, or industrial project

For the most accurate and current contact information, businesses and residents typically:

• Call the main Fulton County government information line and ask to be directed to Select Fulton or economic development services
• Visit the official Fulton County government website and navigate to the economic development or Select Fulton section
• For city-specific questions, contact the City of Atlanta’s economic development office (Invest Atlanta) through the city or agency’s main channels

When Select Fulton and Development Authority Tools Make Sense for You

You are most likely to benefit from Select Fulton and development authority support if you are:

• A company planning a significant expansion or relocation into Fulton County
• A developer working on a large commercial, industrial, or mixed-use project
• An employer needing help with workforce recruitment, training, and pipeline development
• A community partner or civic group interested in how major economic development projects are evaluated and supported in Atlanta

For Atlanta residents, understanding the role of Select Fulton and the Fulton County Development Authority can help you track how major projects are shaped, how incentives are used, and how economic growth strategies affect your neighborhood and the broader city.