Commissioner Boykin mentioned this in last Tuesday’s City Commission meeting.  From Active Living’s Cheryl Burnette (via Downtown Decatur’s Facebook Page)…

Clairemont Elementary has been selected by GDOT ‘s Safe Routes to School Resource Center to be the featured school for the second annual Georgia Walk to School Day event on March 2, 2011. Based on the success of last year’s event, this year the Resource Center has selected a school to showcase. This recognition will highlight Clairemont’s 6-year commitment to the SRTS program and their countless successes in transforming student commuting behavior. Though Clairemont was one of Georgia’s first SRTS programs, their process can be adopted by any school that is looking to increase their walking and biking population.

After arriving at school on GA Walk to School Day, students will gather in the auditorium for the morning assembly. Highlights of the assembly include student-made videos of their experiences walking and biking to school, words of encouragement from Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd, and representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation and the GA SRTS Resource Center.

East Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur, GA (pic submitted by Rod T)

If you considered the Holiday Inn hotel renovation “big news”, THIS is HUGE news for Decatur.  How do I know?  Because in addition to the city, the Governor’s Office just put out a press release about it.

Bottom-line: The international digital entertainment developer, CCP Games, is relocating from Gwinnett County into the “Wells Fargo/J. Christopher’s building” at 250 East Ponce de Leon Ave inside the city of Decatur.  The move is thanks to a LOT of hard work at every level, from the State, to the County, to the City, right on down to the property owner, to keep CCP in the state of Georgia.  After the company adds 150 new jobs, they will be 300 strong inside our city.

From both the state and the city’s press releases it also sounds like the decades of hard work on Decatur’s part to create an attractive, walkable community, played no small part in CCP’s decision.  From the Governor’s Office press release…

“Decatur offers the perfect blend of big city accessibility with a hometown feel that we were looking for,” said Mike Tinney, President of CCP North America. “Georgia’s financial climate combined with Decatur’s social climate provide the ideal conditions for continued growth.”

Also…

“CCP Games had a list of qualities they wanted in a new business location — a strong sense of safety, easy access to MARTA and a high quality of life that would be attractive to new employees — and we met all of them. A business environment that supports creative businesses and had a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment within easy walking distance of their office were also high on their list,” said Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd. “Decatur fit their needs and CCP fits our vision for our downtown business community. We welcome them to our city and look forward to their participation in our creative, actively engaged community life.”

Congratulations to all involved!  You can read both press releases for yourself in full after the jump.

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