Georgia Institute of TechnologyCenter for Quality Growth and Regional Development

Center for Quality Growth & Regional Development

Technology SquareCQGRD-related development project

For more information contact:
Amy Danner, CoA/CQGRD
Contact Amy Danner
404-385-5133

A Mayor's Panel [on megaregions]

Charlotte, NC (September 4, 2009) — Mayor McCrory from Charlotte, NC and Mayor Barnet from Spartanburg, SC discuss the role of megaregions in developing the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion (PAM) in the global economy. McCrory identifies Georgia Tech’s Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development and Mayor Shirley Franklin of Atlanta, GA as vital to the development of the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion.

According to McCrory, “...that is where we think we will beat the competition. If we recognize from Raleigh to Birmingham will be one major economic region, where we are going to share many of the same infrastructure needs and if we decide to work together now, we think we'll beat the competition.” He mentions the ongoing series of meetings between Mayors and other infrastructure leaders in the PAM megaregion and some of the outcomes from the initial meeting in August 2009.

According to Barnet, “The concept of us having to win at the expense of someone else must give way to the idea that these mega issues cannot be solved by solved... by small communities and government agencies.”

Related Links

Full Video

Mayors Megaregion Meeting Proceedings

Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion Proceedings

Carolina Business Review Website

The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the nation's premier research universities. Ranked seventh among U.S. News & World Report's top public universities, Georgia Tech's more than 19,000 students are enrolled in its Colleges of Architecture, Computing, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Management and Sciences. Tech is among the nation's top producers of women and African-American engineers. The Institute offers research opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students and is home to more than 100 interdisciplinary units plus the Georgia Tech Research Institute.