The landscape in Fairburn is changing. And that changing landscape includes business. That reality and the need to share ideas and promote an increasingly healthy business climate has led to the formation of the Fairburn Business Association.

“We now have 512 businesses in the city, association President Melody Koppe said Friday. “There are home-based businesses all the way to corporations that do business internationally and everything in between. This is a critical time in our growth and in our history. We have a lot of challenges and opportunities ahead of us in the next few years.”

Koppe said the former Fairburn Merchants Association, with membership made up largely by downtown establishments, had experienced leadership changes and had essentially been on hiatus for the past several years. But recent changes in the south metro area have afforded a new look and a new opportunity for the business climate.

“Residents of south metro Atlanta had been hearing for years that the boom was coming,” she said. “Well, the boom is here. It’s amazing.”

The newly formed Fairburn Business Association will hold its Kick-Off meeting on Monday, April 17, 2006 at the Fairburn Annex, located at 40 Washington Street in Fairburn. Registration, refreshments and conversation will start at 6:00 PM and the business meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 PM.

Koppe said the organization plans to provide its members with a wide variety of programs and services designed to help foster growth and development individually and collectively. Goals include creating a climate in Fairburn which is good for business and good for the community, she said. The association intends to provide members with information and training in Leadership in Governmental Affairs, Education and Communications, Cooperative Advertising as well as Social and Networking opportunities.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” said City Administrator Jim Williams. “I believe the community needs to start promoting this kind of business interaction.”

The Fairburn Business Association is a private-sector business membership association representing business owners and professionals from throughout the Fairburn area. Membership is open to sole proprietors, home based business owners, retailers, and companies of all sizes.

Melody Koppe can be contacted at 770 378-6858 to register. The association’s Web site is www.fairburnbusinessassociation.com

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