Camp Creek Marketplace Begins Business Association

               Since February 2013, business owners and managers in the Camp Creek Marketplace have been meeting monthly to form the Camp Creek Business Association.  State Representative LaDawn “LBJ” B. Jones initiated the group after receiving a suggestion from a community member before the session began this January.  “I worked with business associations when I was a prosecutor and I saw how important these groups were to economic development and crime prevention in an area” says Jones.  The Camp Creek Marketplace sits in the center of District 62 which Jones represents in the Georgia General Assembly. 

               In the first months of the group, Representative Jones introduced the business owners to their elected officials and police personnel.  This unique area is made up of three separate municipalities, East Point, Atlanta, and unincorporated Fulton County.  “My hopes for this group is that they will work towards growing the area economically, bring in more businesses, support the growth of the businesses currently here, help keep the area clean, and support the locals schools and communities surrounding the Marketplace” says Representative Jones.  Jones introduce several successful models of business associations from the metro area including Old National Merchant’s Association, Cascade Business Association and the Atlantic Station Business Association. 

               The meetings have been well attended with more than 40 of the local businesses being represented at the meetings.  In May, Representative Jones has turned the organization over to the business owners themselves to allow them to govern their own organization.  Representative Jones plans to continue to work with the group and help to see it succeed.  The group will also be working with the newly formed Airport CID made up of property owners in the Camp Creek area.  These two groups have similar interest, the growth of the Camp Creek business district, yet their membership and organization is different.  The CID is made up of property owners who tax themselves so they are able to provide matching funds with State and Federal grants to help the area infrastructure.  The business association is made up of business owners who may not necessarily own their property but have a stake in ensuring the area continues to grow. 

               The Camp Creek Business Association is open to all business owners in the Camp Creek area.  The group is still very new and looking for other business owners to join in to assist with laying the foundation for the organization. The business association has not limited itself to brick and mortar businesses; it is open to participants in the South Fulton area that have work from home businesses. “Participation is key.  I have seen business associations drastically change an area.  However, I know that these busy business owners have lots of other obligations and I hope to be able to assist them in moving things forward.  The Association will have to be patient and persistent as the organization grows.” Representative Jones says. 

               For more information about the Camp Creek Business Association contact Representative Jones’ office at 404-343-6770 or MyGA62@gmail.com.