On Tuesday, November 14, 2023, the Council for Quality Growth held its 14^th Annual Community Improvement District (CID) Recognition Event in honor of Natalie Tyler-Martin, immediate past chair of the Airport West CID, and Jim Durrett, Executive Director of the Buckhead CID. Over 150 regional leaders and CID professionals gathered at Monday Night Garage, in the heart of the West End CID, to recognize the leadership shown by Tyler-Martin and Durrett over their long CID careers, and to celebrate the work of CIDs throughout the metro Atlanta region and state of Georgia. The 2023 CID Recognition Event was presented by Georgia Power, Georgia Primary Bank, and Pond & Company. 

For 14 years, the Council’s CID Recognition Event has annually recognized the role our state’s 31 and counting CIDs play in the growth of metro Atlanta and Georgia. Since 2016, the Council for Quality Growth has also presented the CID Leadership Awards to carefully nominated and selected CID leaders that have greatly impacted the region. 

Natalie Tyler-Martin, Director of Real Estate at the Veritiv Corporation, received the 2023 John Williams CID Leadership Award. This award is given to a CID leader that has volunteered their time to serve a CID, usually as part of its Board of Directors. Natalie served 10 years as Board Chair of the Airport West CID from 2014 to 2023, where she played an integral role in its formation and efforts to build economic value for residents and businesses surrounding the “economic engine” of Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Under her leadership, Airport West CID – part of the ATL Airport CIDs – has been a driving force for growth in the south metro region. During her tenure as Chair, Tyler-Martin prioritized increasing property values to fund the CIDs, leading to over $16 million collected and leveraged for four times the beautification, public safety, and transportation projects. 

John Shern, Chair of the Cumberland CID and the 2022 recipient of the John Williams CID Leadership Award, presented Tyler-Martin with this honor. “To witness investment that wholistically improved the community and to be part of the formation and life of the Airport West CID is one of my favorite journeys,” said Tyler-Martin in her acceptance. Natalie joins an esteemed list of CID leaders that have received this award, including Governor Roy Barnes, Senator Johnny Isakson, Tad Leithead, Kerry Armstrong, Bob Voyles, Mason Zimmerman, David Allman, and John Shern. “John Williams would be so proud of what that Council for Quality Growth has done in his name,” said Shern, “and so very happy with the candidates they have honored with the John Williams CID Leadership Award.” 

Jim Durrett, Executive Director of the Buckhead CID, received the Council’s 2023 CID Professional Excellence Award. This recognition is reserved for a CID industry professional that has dedicated their career to serving a CID in a position of leadership. In his 14 years serving the Buckhead CID, Jim has been a part of countless beautification, accessibility, and safety projects for the residents and businesses of Buckhead. He’s leveraged $109 million in property taxes to secure another $52 million in government funds to spearhead key infrastructure projects. Durrett oversaw the completion of a 10-year project to make Peachtree Road the signature and pedestrian-friend boulevard that it is today. He’s been an integral part of HUB404, one of our region’s highway capping parks with the goal of reconnecting communities divided by GA-400. He serves as treasurer of the HUB404 Conservancy and recently secured a $750,000 federal grant to advance the project. 

Emory Morsberger, Executive Director of the Gateway85 CID, President of Tucker-Summit CID, and the 2022 recipient of the CID Professional Excellence Award, presented Durrett with this honor. In his acceptance, Durrett reflected on the various steps of his career with the Georgia Conservancy, then the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and on to the Urban Land Institute and Buckhead Coalition, all of which taught him valuable lessons about leadership, growth, and the many tools he uses to serve his CID today. He is the 4^th recipient of CID Professional Excellence Award, after Gerald McDowell, Ann Hanlon, and Emory Morsberger. “Everywhere he goes, Jim makes progress,” said Morsberger. “He keeps it green, honest, and ethical, and you can count on him to keep moving things forward.” 

“Natalie Tyler-Martin and Jim Durrett are each great examples of vision, leadership, and dedication among our collective CID industry here in metro Atlanta,” said Michael Paris, President & CEO of the Council for Quality Growth. “It is such a privilege, every year, to bring together the leaders of our CIDs and recognize the work they do to grow and enhance our communities.” CIDs work year-round to enhance the quality of life here across metro Atlanta and Georgia. The Council is proud to partner with our regional CIDs and to support the newly established CIDs as they become activated across the state. Since the advent of CIDs more than 35 years ago, they have proven to be an economic catalyst for development, serving their communities through infrastructure improvements, transportation initiatives, beautification and trail projects, public safety support, and many other types of projects. This is the 14^th year the Council for Quality Growth has held this event to convene and acknowledge the CID industry and the 8^th year presenting the CID Award to deserving leaders. 

For more details about Community Improvement Districts or the 14^th Annual CID Recognition, please visit www.CouncilforQualityGrowth.org/CIDs.