Gateway85 Community Improvement District (CID), one of the largest and most active community improvement and business districts in the state and the U.S., is building a new bridge between Georgia and Ukraine’s growing tech innovation economy. Following a recent strategic mission to Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv, Gateway85’s leadership is working to bring high-growth Ukrainian tech companies to the district, offering a stable, cost-effective way to reach the U.S. market.

The trip, led by Gateway85’s executive director Emory Morsberger and community growth director, Olga Gorman, a Ukraine native, included meetings with Ukrainian government officials, defense tech leaders, startup companies, accelerators and representatives from the U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Service. The goal was to create long-term business partnerships and give Ukrainian technology firms a pathway to do business in the U.S. — bypassing wartime export restrictions and avoiding costly import tariffs by establishing operations within the United States and directly in metro Atlanta.

Located northeast of Atlanta, Gateway85 is already home to more than 1,800 businesses across 600 commercial properties, totaling nearly $2 billion in commercial real estate value. Its proximity to major logistics infrastructure, research institutions and a diverse talent pool makes it a natural landing zone for international companies. Ukrainian tech innovators, including DroneUA, Boxo, Skyeton and EcoFactor, are now exploring or initiating steps to establish operations in the district. From drone technology and mobile defense stations to EV-charging infrastructure, these companies want to tap into Georgia’s vast resources to build global momentum.

“Ukraine has brilliant entrepreneurs who are ready to scale globally, and Gateway85 has the infrastructure, partnerships and resources to help them do it,” said Emory Morsberger, executive director - Gateway85 CID. “By working together, we are strengthening Georgia’s economy, creating job opportunities in our district and helping Ukraine build long-term resilience through business expansion.”

In addition to attracting Ukrainian tech and manufacturing companies to locate in Gateway85, the district is also laying the groundwork for existing Gateway85-based companies to do business in Ukraine and participate in what’s expected to be the largest reconstruction project since World War II. Building on the success of the Launch Pad event in March and a strong presence at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C. in May, Gateway85 continues to position its business community for international growth.

Gateway85’s economic development strategy is backed by a strong coalition of partners including Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners, Partnership Gwinnett, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Tech and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Together, they can provide hands-on support — from office space and research access to business licensing and federal resources — to help these companies succeed.

Gateway85 is currently planning the launch of a dedicated tech office to serve as a base for incoming Ukrainian and international firms, along with a showcase event later this year to introduce visiting executives to the district’s assets. Outreach is also expanding to additional Ukrainian regions like Kharkiv and Dnipro, with the goal of identifying more companies ready to grow beyond Ukraine’s borders.

As Ukraine moves from emergency response to long-term recovery, Gateway85 is showing how local economic development can make a global impact — starting with one partnership at a time.