Alpharetta's Connected Alpharetta initiative wins two national economic development awards

Alpharetta's economic development team picked up two national awards for the marketing initiative it launched in January, a recognition that city leaders say validates the strategy behind their push to attract corporate relocations.

The International Economic Development Council awarded the city a Gold in the General Purpose Website category for ConnectedAlpharetta.com and a Bronze in the Print Brochure category for the Alpharetta Community Guide, the city announced Thursday, Aug. 20. Both awards fall in the 25,000–200,000 population group.

The IEDC is the world's largest professional association for economic developers. It will formally present the awards at its annual conference in New Orleans in October, which marks the organization's 100th anniversary.

"When we launched Connected Alpharetta earlier this year, we wanted to create a brand that was compelling, authentic, and worthy of the community it represents," said Charlie Jewell, the city's director of economic development. "To now have that work recognized by IEDC for excellence in economic development is incredibly rewarding."

The Connected Alpharetta initiative debuted in January 2026 with refreshed branding, a redesigned website, a coordinated social media presence, an email newsletter and printed materials including the community guide. The effort promotes Alpharetta as a destination for business investment and skilled workers.

Mayor Jim Gilvin said the awards reflect the quality of the department's work promoting the city, adding that the projects "do an excellent job showcasing what makes Alpharetta unique and communicating why businesses and talent choose to be here."

IEDC president and CEO Nathan Ohle said in a statement that the city's economic development department "is leading the field of excellence" with the Connected Alpharetta initiative.

The numbers back it up. In the nine months through April 2026, nine companies relocated to or expanded in Alpharetta, adding more than 1,200 jobs and over $33 million in capital investment, according to city data published in April. The city's 2025 year-in-review tallied 789 new jobs and $322.2 million invested in commercial and residential projects that received certificates of occupancy.