GSMA Honors Metro Atlanta Chamber Mobility Task Force with Smart City Initiative Award

ATLANTA, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) Mobility Task Force was honored with a Smart City Initiative Award during the first-ever GSMA Mobile 360-North America conference in Atlanta, Sept. 22 and 23. GSMA is the organization that represents mobile operators worldwide.

"We're working to make Atlanta a global hub for mobility innovation," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobile & Business Solutions, and chair of the MAC Mobility Task Force. "We are really pleased the GSMA has recognized the great work of so many of the region's business and civic leaders who have come together to help make Atlanta a 'smart' city."

MAC's Mobility Task Force, comprised of high-level business and civic leaders, drives the strategic direction of Atlanta's mobile technology initiative. The task force's vision is to position metro Atlanta as the global hub for mobility.

"The Metro Atlanta Chamber, with its Mobility Task Force, is working to advance Atlanta's position as a center of mobile excellence," said Michael O'Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. "They're focused on attracting and growing companies in the Atlanta area, developing the right resources to attract and retain a skilled mobility workforce and creating next-generation innovations by establishing an environment that promotes entrepreneurial efforts and R&D. We are pleased to recognize MAC's Mobility Task Force for these significant efforts."

The task force was recognized for its achievements in the mobile industry and moving Atlanta ahead as a smart city. Some of those accomplishments include:

• Organizing events that draw an international audience of influencers to highlight the world-class mobility ecosystem in Atlanta
• Helping more than 250 students secure internships at FORTUNE 1000 companies like AT&T, Coca-Cola, IHG, Georgia-Pacific, The Weather Company, Turner Broadcasting and Verizon
• Raising more than $100,000 for scholarships and grants to promote mobile technology-related workforce development at colleges and universities
• Connecting more than 20 startups to customers and/or capital over the past 12 months

The GSMA Mobile 360-North America conference, which was held in conjunction with the second annual Mobility LIVE! conference, brought together thought leaders, senior-level executives in mobile and adjacent industries, key regulatory and government representatives to explore mobility issues specific to a particular region or country. In addition to the event in Atlanta, GSMA will host three additional Mobile 360 Series events in 2014 in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

"There is a mobility trend happening here in Atlanta, and the Mobility LIVE! and the inaugural GSMA Mobile 360-North America events underscore the great things our region is doing in the mobile space," said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. "This year alone, the Chamber and our partners have helped nine mobility companies relocate or expand in the region. Collectively these companies will create 1,430 jobs over the next three years."

Metro Atlanta has more than 250 mobile startups and is home to the top mobile innovators and influencers – giants such as AT&T Mobility, Delta Air Lines, The Weather Company, Verizon, The Home Depot and Turner Broadcasting.

In the past few years, Atlanta has claimed headlines with major mobile technology job announcements in mobile app development and related technology industries. Georgia is a growing hub for mobility, with 24,000 jobs in mobile app development, creating an economic impact at just over $1 billion, according to "The Geography of the App Economy" report, produced by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) and the Application Developers Alliance with South Mountain Economics LLC. Georgia also ranks fifth in "App Intensity" according to CTIA, which measures the ratio of app developer jobs against overall tech jobs in an area.

About the Metro Atlanta Chamber 
Everything we do at the Metro Atlanta Chamber is about building our economy and creating prosperity to help metro Atlanta thrive. We focus on helping small businesses and mid-size companies grow, helping entrepreneurs get started, and recruiting companies nationally and internationally in our key industries: bioscience, clean technology, health IT, mobility, supply chain and advanced manufacturing, and technology. In public policy, we tackle critical issues to support infrastructure and quality of life. For members, we offer 200+ events and activities each year. In sports, MAC's Atlanta Sports Council has helped drive almost $2 billion in economic impact through sporting events over the last 10 years. Visit our website at www.metroatlantachamber.com.

SOURCE The Metro Atlanta Chamber