Although residents zooming by the Fulton Industrial Boulevard exit on Interstate 20 may not realize it, the road is home to several of the top industrial businesses in the county.

In fact, said Patrick Stafford, executive director of the Fulton Industrial Business Association, the eight-mile stretch of Fulton Industrial is the largest contiguous industrial area east of the Mississippi.

Stafford said nearly 1,000 businesses with 30,000 employees are on the stretch of road in South Fulton County and his association is working heavily to promote the area and make it better for the employees who call it home.

"Right now, there's not a real fine dining establishment near us. If a business is entertaining somebody from out of town, they have to go somewhere else," he said.

The business association director would like to see more services provided for the businesses, including mid-level hotels and something as simple as a Kinko's.

As part of getting his message out, Stafford recently made several budget requests to the Fulton County Commission during its budget hearings.

Among the items Stafford requested were:

Increase the effort to assist the police and sheriff's department to patrol the area.

Secure a method for emptying the trash receptacles placed by Fulton County along Fulton Industrial Boulevard.

Assist with the purchase or condemnation of vacant or blighted lots along the corridor and turn them into mini-parks or picnic areas.

Keep up the support for the proposed MARTA rail service to Fulton Industrial.

Stafford said the industries on the corridor provide a huge amount of Fulton County's tax base and he wants to ensure the businesses have their interests represented on the commission.

He also disputed the myth that only industrial companies are located on the street.

"We have a lot of knowledge-based high tech companies in this area," he said.

As more companies discover the busy industrial complex, the news can only be good for South Fulton County.

"People want to live close to where they work and more people will discover the benefits of South Fulton," he said.

For information on the association, phone 404-691-3422 or visit www.fibaatlanta.com.

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