Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) hosted their 2020 Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration today at State Farm Arena.

The signature event highlighted the organization’s recent accomplishments, which range from the first milestones reached for Arts & Entertainment Atlanta and social inclusion achievements in Woodruff Park. 

After a networking lunch, attendees were welcomed by Steve Koonin, President and CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, and CAP Board Chairman Eddie Meyers of PNC Bank. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms greeted the audience and offered the business community words of support; CAP/ADID President A.J. Robinson then delivered his keynote address, reflecting on cites across the globe and ways in which Downtown Atlanta can continue to innovate.

“For nearly 80 years, the focus [of CAP/ADID] has always been the product of Downtown,” said Robinson, “and we’ve learned it takes a wealth of tools and tactics to refine it and make it truly great.”

During the program, Tally Sweat was presented with the Dan Sweat Award, now renamed the Dan and Tally Sweat Award, and the Marcus Downtown Economic Impact Award was given to Ted Turner, accepted by Taylor Glover of Turner Enterprises. WarnerMedia presented the Downtown Community Leadership Award to Tom Key, Artistic Director of Theatrical Outfit.

ADID Board Chairman Craig Jones delivered the annual ADID update, reflecting, in particular, on Arts & Entertainment Atlanta. “In 2020, be on the lookout for a new district website and the implementation of an arts and culture strategic plan,” said Jones. “This plan will support local arts programming and commission new, innovative experiences Downtown.”

 ADID award winners—Rufus Copeland, Thomas Lang, and APD Officer Ellyce C. Anderson—were also recognized for their outstanding work.

Attendees were sent home with CAP/ADID’s 2019 Annual Report that captures the year’s key projects, as well as the latest edition of the Downtown Investment Map, which captures the wealth of development activity occurring in the city’s core.

The 2020 CAP/ADID Annual Meeting was presented by State Farm Arena, the Atlanta Hawks, and Delta Air Lines and made possible through the generous support of Gold Level sponsors PNC Financial Services Group, Selig Enterprises, Troutman Sanders, and Turner Enterprises, Inc. Silver Level sponsors were Legacy Ventures, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Alston & Bird LLP, SunTrust Commercial Real Estate, Georgia-Pacific, tvsdesign, Jacobs, and Emory University Hospital Midtown. Bronze Level sponsors were Bank of America, Grady Health Foundation, The Candler Hotel, Lexicon Strategies, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Pennhouse Productions, Bisnow Atlanta, and WSP USA.