Dear Partners,

 

On behalf of The Collaborative Firm, thank you for joining us for the 24th Annual South Metro Development Outlook (SMDO26). Your presence, partnership, and participation continue to make SMDO the premier platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration across South Metro Atlanta.

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SMDO26 brought together regional leaders from Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, and Henry counties, along with the City of Atlanta, for impactful conversations centered on this year’s theme, South Metro 2.6: The Future in Motion — The Future Is Not Coming. We Are Building It. From Regional Economic Outlook and Growth to Transformational Transportation: Roads Rewritten, from Artificial Intelligence: Disruption, Design & Decision-Making to Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure: Engines of the New Economy, each session challenged us to think boldly about how policy, infrastructure, innovation, and workforce strategy intersect to shape our region’s trajectory. The 2026 Political Horizon: Power, Policy & Possibility and South Metro Rising: Bold Moves & Breakthroughs discussions further reinforced the importance of leadership and collaboration in navigating what’s next.

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The energy continued during our World Cup-themed luncheon, where we explored the economic and global impact of the upcoming tournament, and celebrated the ATN Groundbreaking—an important milestone underscoring South Metro’s momentum in infrastructure and regional connectivity.

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Because of you—our sponsors, speakers, partners, volunteers, and attendees—SMDO remains a trusted convening where ideas translate into action and relationships fuel measurable progress. Your engagement strengthens the collective vision for a more connected, competitive, and future-ready South Metro.

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Save the Date: SMDO27 will take place on February 17, 2027. We are deeply grateful for your support and look forward to continuing this important work and building on this momentum together.