Businessman/Civic Leader Herman J. Russell, former Mayor Andrew Young Will Be Honored at Meeting

ATLANTA — Central Atlanta Progress' 63rd annual meeting on Wednesday morning, March 30, will feature the latest news in Downtown economic development, a few special award presentations and a long list of VIP guests. The official meeting starts at 8 a.m. at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center with a coffee hour and registration beginning at 7 a.m.

CNN's "Live From" anchors Kyra Phillips and Miles O'Brien will present Downtown stories from the past year along with a forecast of what's ahead in 2005. Some of the topics to be addressed include expansion of Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd, creation of the Downtown office coalition, implementation of CAP's ongoing "Imagine Downtown" initiative and updates on the tax allocation districts and new entertainment district, including Underground Atlanta and Theatrical Outfit.

"People pick up pieces of information about what is happening in Downtown from a variety of sources," said A.J. Robinson, President of Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District." Our Annual Meeting is going to be one, massive informational resource that covers Downtown's growth from top to bottom. For anyone who needs to know everything about Downtown, this is the place that they will need to be on March 30."

Mayor Shirley Franklin will be speaking at the meeting to discuss the latest news from City Hall with its specific relevance to Downtown, including plans for the new 24/7 center, public safety and her plan for economic development.

Herman J. Russell, chairman of H.J. Russell & Company, will be honored as this year's recipient of the Dan Sweat Award, recognizing the heritage and accomplishments of the former CAP President. Frank Catroppa, Superintendent of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, and Debi Starnes, a City Council member, will be recognized as the recipients of the 3rd annual CAP Community Leadership Awards.

One of the meeting's highlights will be the announcement of the winner of the International Design Competion honoring former Mayor Andrew Young, Jr. Three firms are in the running for this presitigious assignment.

Phil Kent, chairman and chief executive officer of Turner Broadcasting Sytem, Inc. will become the new chairman of CAP at the meeting, taking over from SunTrust's J. Scott Wilfong.

Tickets for the meeting are available individually at $75 or $750 for a table of 10. They can be secured via phone at 404-658-1877 or on the Web at www.atlantadowntown.com.

Sponsors at the meeting include The Coca-Cola Company, SunTrust Bank, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., AMC, Inc. AmericasMart, Brasfield & Gorrie, Deloitte Consulting, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, International Paper, King & Spalding, LLP and WABE-FM.

About CAP
Central Atlanta Progress, a private, not-for-profit corporation that strives to create a robust economic climate for Downtown Atlanta and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, a public-private partnership that strives to create a livable environment for Downtown Atlanta, are building a Downtown Atlanta for the 21st century that is livable, robust and diverse.

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