Edward Andrews Homes Announces Year End Spectacular

About Sales, Inc. announces the Edward Andrews Homes’ Year End Spectacular savings event. The builder is offering $4,000 in moving expenses plus special incentives for select homes.*

One home, located on home site 23 at Hawthorne at Lost Mountain in Powder Springs, is now priced at $309,400. Plus, buyers receive a $20,000 incentive when closing before 2013. The home features the Woodruff plan with four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths with a master on the main, two-story family room and gourmet kitchen with oversized island and walk-in pantry. The library off the foyer offers a great retreat. Upstairs, the home includes a bedroom with private bath and two bedrooms connected by a Jack-and-Jill bath with separate vanities and walk-in closets. A catwalk to the bonus room overlooks the spacious family room. To schedule a tour, call Alicia Collins at 770-651-8066.

Another home, located on home site 14 at Marseille in South Forsyth, is now priced at $364,963 and offers a free third-car garage. Featuring the Camellia plan, the home has five bedrooms, four baths, keeping room with fireplace, dining room with butler’s pantry and gourmet kitchen. The kitchen includes an oversized kitchen island, stained cabinets with crown molding, granite countertops and tile backsplash. The family room has lots of light with a bowed window wall and sandstone fireplace. Additional features include tile floors in all baths and a master on the main with walk-in closet.

Also located in Marseille, home site 98 features the Burton plan with free third-car garage. Priced at $367,058, the home has five bedrooms with four baths. The home boasts a two-story foyer, formal living room, bedroom with private bath and a gourmet kitchen with an island. The large family room features coffered ceilings and a fireplace. Upstairs, the home has a large owner’s suite with trey ceiling, master bath with his and her vanities and a large walk-in closet. Three secondary bedrooms, two full baths, a laundry room and media room complete the second floor. To schedule a tour, call Donnie Mayer at 770-406-9077.

For more information on Edward Andrews Homes and its Year End Spectacular event, please visitwww.EAHhomes.com.

*Incentives are valid for a limited time only and are subject to changes, omissions, errors, prior sales and withdrawals without notice. See sales agent for details. Information is believed accurate, but not warranted.

French Software Maker Arkadin Adds New Headquarters in Atlanta

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that Paris-based Arkadin, a communications software maker, has moved their American headquarters from New York to Atlanta. Arkadin has leased more than 10,000 square feet in the "Queen Building" in Central Perimeter, where it will employ up to 50 employees over time. The Atlanta office is Arkadin's first branch in the Southeast.The company cites plentiful business opportunities and lower operating costs as the reason for the move.

"Atlanta provided Arkadin better coverage of the United States and access to skilled talent, especially in finance, marketing and sales," a company spokeswoman said.

"Atlanta has a sizable talent pool to support our needs in all areas of our business, and its proximity to the largest airport in the U.S. is ideal for conducting business throughout North America," said Arkadin President Mark Alexander. Alexander is an Atlanta native, who was previously executive vice president of Atlanta-based Premiere Global.

Arkadin will continue to maintain its New York office as a main regional hub for marketing, sales and operations center for the Northeast.

Arkadin estimates that the overall cost of doing business is 30 percent-to-40 percent less expensive in Atlanta compared to New York, which is ideal for future expansion. The company, which employs about 1,000 in 30 countries, sells audio, web, and video conferencing software. The services are delivered on a subscription model allowing for fast, scalable deployment with lower upfront investment.

Georgia Ranks No.8 in Forbes' Top 10 States for Business

Georgia ranked No. 8 on Forbes’ annual “Best State for Business” list, which is up three spots from last year's listing.

Forbes compiled the list using six  categories: costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia gained the ranking with a gross state product of $419 billion and five-year annual gross state product of -0.2 percent.

Utah ranked No. 1 for the third year running with Virginia and North Dakota following in second and third place. North Carolina and Colorado ranked fourth and fifth.

The Top Ten, courtesy of Forbes:

1. Utah
2. Virginia
3. North Dakota
4. North Carolina
5. Colorado
6. Nebraska
7. Texas
8. Georgia
9. Oklahoma
10. Iowa

Job Growth in 2012: a Great Year for Atlanta

Back in October, Governor Nathan Deal announced that jobs and investment generated by the Global Commerce division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development jumped by almost a third during the 2012 fiscal year. The department reported that the 403 company expansions or locations with which it assisted created 28,776 jobs, an increase of 29 percent from last fiscal year, and $5.97 billion in investment, a 32 percent increase. These statistics reflect a trend of continued growth since the state's 2009 fiscal year.

"These figures are more than numbers--they represent the growth of hope and opportunity for our citizens," said Deal. "This tangible evidence of proactive company growth is a sign that not only is our economy on the path to recovery, but also that Georgias top-notch business climate has helped us stand out against our competition."

The 403 projects worked on by GDEcDs Global Commerce Division during fiscal year 2012, which ended June 30, 2012, also represented an 11 percent increase from the previous year. Of those projects, 36 percent were new locations, highlighted by companies such as Baxter, Caterpillar and Bed, Bath & Beyond. These three projects alone created 4,100 jobs. The remaining 64 percent were expansions by existing Georgia companies. The largest of these expansions were by Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (1,000 jobs) and Home Depot (700 jobs).

Atlanta, as well as its surrounding cities, is a him for growing and expanding businesses. Norcross is collecting company headquarters, with RockTenn, Hyundai and FedEx making huge moves to the area.  

The Global Commerce Division also managed aggressive outreach to Georgias small businesses and entrepreneur-led ventures, with 66 percent of companies assisted by the divisions Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment team during FY12 classified as small businesses. More than 1,100 startups and small businesses were assisted through direct contact or resource awareness.

TOP PROJECTS IN GEORGIA, FY12

Company	Type	Jobs	Investment	Location
Baxter	New	1,800	$1.3B	Jasper, Morgan, Newton, Walton
Caterpillar	New	1,400	$200M	Clarke, Oconee
KMMG	Expansion	1,000	$100M	Troup
Bed, Bath & Beyond	New	900	$50M	Jackson
Home Depot	Expansion	700	$24M	Cobb
Lowe's	New	600	$125M	Floyd
Carters	Expansion	600	$50M	Jackson
RockTenn	Expansion	500	$5M	Gwinnett
CHEXAR	Expansion	500	$1.9M	Crisp
Mohawk	Expansion	470	N/A	Chattooga
Dinex	New	430	$20M	Laurens
Mando	New	429	$200M	Meriwether

Cool Holiday Traditions for the ATL

Looking for good, clean fun this holiday season? Check our list of family-friendly events to get into the spirit.

Holiday Artists Markets 2012

Christmas Handmade Gift Fair

Dec. 15, Gallery 1526, Atlanta

gallery1526.com

The Handmade Gift Fair is an annual event providing unique and locally made gifts for the shopper who’s seeking that extra-special something! Local musical guests include Russian Romance, a balalaika/guitar duo performing Russian, Eastern European, and Gypsy music, as well as other musicians who will perform throughout the day.

Georgia Clay Council's Holiday Market

Thursdays-Sundays through Dec.16 at Studio 101

gaclay.com

If a functional pottery set or a cool sculpture is on your list this year, this is the market for you. 15 clay artists and potters will display their works at Studio 101. Be sure to pop in and find a great gift for someone on your list.

Spruill Gallery Holiday Market
Tuesdays-Sundays through Dec. 23 at Spruill Gallery
spruillgallery.blogspot.com
Spruill Gallery's annual holiday tradition--the Artist Market, featuring more than 90 local artisans this year.

Snow Mountain

Nov. 22-Feb. 18 at Stone Mountain Park
stonemountainpark.com

Enjoy a day of tubing, roasting marshmallows and more. Gaze upon the Confederate carving on the mountain and make some memories with family.

Macy's Pink Pig   
Weekdays through Dec. 28 at Lenox Square
lenoxsquare.com
Join Macy's as they bring back family-favorite Priscilla the Pink Pig. Jump on Priscilla's back as she carries riders through a life-size story book.

Santa Boozefest and 5k Reindeer Run
Saturday, Dec. 15 at Gold Room
spiralentertainment.com
A huge holiday party with food trucks, live music and unlimited tastings of more than 150 beers, wines and liquors. Tasters get a free souvenir tasting cup. Buy tickets to the fest or Reindeer Run separately, or purchase combo tickets.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights  

Nov. 17-Jan. 5 at Atlanta Botanical Garden
atlantabotanicalgarden.org

A lighted walk through the 30-acre botanical garden illuminated by more than 1.5 million low-energy lights. Some new attractions this year are the Van Gogh-inspired “Starry Night Walk and “Liquid Lights."

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
Friday, Dec. 14 at Vinings Jubliee
viningsjubilee.com
Take a trip to Vinings Jubilee and enjoy free sleigh rides, courtesy of Rudolph and Saint Nick. Don't forget to stop by the shops and boutiques and purchase unique gifts for family and friends.

Season of Magic Rides at Piedmont Park
November 22 – January 6, 4:00pm – 10:30pm daily
piedmontpark.org/support/season_of_magic.html
All rides start at Park Tavern. Couples and families can enjoy daily horse-drawn carriage rides in Piedmont Park, the only Atlanta park with carriage rides. Don't miss the ice-skating rink in a heated tent complete with music and rink-side dining. Enjoy dinner from MetroFresh and cocktails in the Glow Bar. Visitors will be carried through the historic areas of the Park, enjoying beautiful holiday lights and ornaments under the scenic Atlanta skyline. Rides are available every ten minutes from 4:00pm to 10:40pm daily. Each ride is approximately 20 minutes in length. Infants (0-24mos) ride free.

Atlanta Symphony holiday shows

atlantasymphony.org

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra offers several holiday concerts to enjoy. Christmas with the ASO features 400 singers and musicians, including the symphony, the Morehouse College Glee Club, and more. Handel’s Messiah is a traditional favorite, while the Gospel Christmas offers both modern and traditional pieces. Check out their website for performance information.

Fat Cat Cabaret's Christmas in the Trenches
Saturday, Dec. 15 at Spruill Gallery
instantkavarna.com
This cabaret show will transport you back to WWII-era vaudeville. Featuring perfomances by Evelyn Harleen Cassidy, Jacqueline Trade, Ruby le Chatte, Sally Strumpet, Salvador Charlí, and more. Bring a pet food donation for the Save Our Pets Food Bank and receive a discounted ticket price 

Nutcracker Tea
Sundays through Dec. 23 at Park 75
fourseasons.com
The annual Nutcracker Tea is a fun-filled day of activities for all families. Watch the Atlanta Ballet perform a version of "The Nutcracker", followed by a traditional tea service featuring 14 different loose-leaf teas, finger sandwiches, scones and bite-size desserts. Cocoa and other beverages will be served. Children will also decorate holiday cookies to end the afternoon. 

Decatur Bonfire

Dec. 13, 7-8 p.m. at Decatur Square

decaturdba.com

A favorite with families, the Decatur Bonfire warms you up with marshmallow roasting around a huge bonfire and visits with Santa in the community bandstand.

White Elephant Gift Exchange
Saturday, Dec. 22 at Battle and Brew
battleandbrew.com
Stop by the pub famous for its beer and video games to participate in the White Elephant Gift Exchange. Bring something you wouldn't mind having for yourself, and be prepared to re-gift any item you don't want or  need.

Georgia Capitol Christmas Tree 
Weekdays through Dec. 21 at Georgia State Capitol
libs.uga.edu/capitolmuseum
One of the largest real Christmas Trees in Atlanta, located in the Georgia Capitol rotunda. Visit the Capitol and to see this enormous cedar tree decorated with of thousands of lights. Make sure to take a few holiday pictures.

The Holiday Spirit
Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Atlanta History Center
atlantahistorycenter.org
An educational and fun day at the Atlanta History Center. Holiday crafts, live music, decorations, engaging performances and a visit from St. Nicholas are included. Featured activities include time travel to explore holidays' past at Smith Family Farm and Swan House, where guests will encounter friendly "Spirits" from the 1860s and the 1930s.

Ice skating at Centennial Park

Nov. 21-Jan. 27 at Centennial Park
centennialpark.com

Billed as the only outdoor skating rink in Atlanta, Centennial Park’s rink has been a favorite for more than a decade. As you skate enjoy the nearly 60-foot Christmas tree.



Reindeer Day at the Nature Center
Sunday, Dec. 16 at Chattahoochee Nature Center
chattnaturecenter.com
Celebrate reindeer, nature and the holiday season at this event-filled day. Visit the live reindeer, then make your own antlers or a thumb print reindeer to take home. Visitors will also have the chance to enjoy story time and a campfire with treats. Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic so that they can spend the day exploring.