Chairman Jeffrey E. Turner Delivers State of Clayton to Sold Out Crowd
On March 15, 2023, the Council for Quality Growth and Clayton County hosted the 2023 State of Clayton County Address in partnership with the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and the ATL Airport Chamber. Over 450 Council and Chamber members, businesses, elected officials, County leadership and staff, residents, and members of Clayton’s community gathered inside the Georgia International Conference Center to hear Chairman Jeffrey E. Turner’s annual address. The lunch was presented by Clayton County Public Schools and Invest Clayton.
Chairman Turner recalled the vast amount of successes the County has seen in the last year, including a 3% cost of living adjustment for all employees, $7.4 million in rental assistance for residents, and $3 million in grants for small businesses. “This past year we have had our share of challenges, just like so many other counties,” said Chairman Turner, “but despite an ongoing pandemic and high inflation, our county has continued to see economic growth and be fiscally sound.”
He went on to commend Clayton County’s public service departments for their hard work keeping the community healthy and safe, highlight the continued success of the 2021 SPLOST program, and speak about the new initiatives and partnerships intended to strengthen the county’s economy. “Our vision for economic growth must continue to include serious investments in transit and housing,” Turner asserted, “so people can afford to better connect with our community and create new opportunities and the means to access them.”
According to the Chairman, Clayton County can look forward to projects focused on MARTA’s expansion, transit-oriented development, investment in new industry sectors, and housing diversity, particularly workforce housing. “As we look to the future, if we are going to grow stronger as a county, we must continue to make economic development, job creation, and workforce development a priority for us,” he said.
The Council for Quality Growth’s State of Clayton County annually convenes the county’s business community with its local government bodies, as well as with other local leaders from across the region. “Our strength lies in the relationships we develop with local policy makers,” said Michael Paris, President and CEO of the Council, “and we are proud of our ongoing collaboration with Clayton County and Chairman Turner to support responsible growth and high-quality development as the county continues to grow.”
The program also featured remarks from Larry Vincent, Executive Director of Invest Clayton, Dr. Anthony Smith, Interim Superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools, and Katherine Zitsch, Director of the ARC’s Metro North Georgia Water Planning District.
