Greater Atlanta Business Roundup: October 2026

Welcome, connectors, to something new.

Every month, a lot happens across metro Atlanta that affects how we work, hire, build and grow, and most of it gets buried between headlines. So, I'm starting a monthly roundup that pulls the biggest business stories from across the region into one place: Atlanta, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton and Forsyth.

Each story gets a quick recap in plain English, a note on why it matters when it does, and a link if you want to dig deeper.

Here's what mattered in October for business professionals.

Metro-wide

The Fed held rates steady. The Federal Reserve kept rates at 3.75%–4.00% on Oct. 28, after raising them in September, and markets expect another increase in December. If you have a loan or a refinance coming up, it's worth talking to your banker now rather than waiting for rates to drop (Yahoo Finance).

The gas-tax holiday is extended. Gov. Kemp extended the suspension of Georgia's gas and diesel taxes through Nov. 30. Businesses that run trucks or vans get one more month of savings, so plan your December numbers as if it ends (Atlanta News First).

Unemployment is holding steady. The Atlanta region's unemployment rate was 3.4% in September, the same as a year ago. Not booming, not busting, which honestly isn't a bad place to be (WSB-TV).

Health insurance is getting pricier for the self-employed. Georgia Marketplace premiums are set to rise as much as 30% on Nov. 1. The state is also proposing a new state-run subsidy system starting in late 2027, with public comment open through Nov. 13. If you're a freelancer or small business owner buying your own coverage, this one hits home (Rough Draft Atlanta).

Atlanta and North Fulton

Downtown is becoming a neighborhood. Downtown's population is up 45% since 2010, visitors are back to 85% of pre-pandemic levels, and retail space is 90% full. At the same time, about 30% of downtown office space is vacant. Why it matters: downtown is shifting from an office district to a place where people live, and that opens the door for restaurants, shops and service businesses (Rough Draft Atlanta, Atlanta News First).

Sandy Springs picks its downtown developers. The city chose Trammell Crow and Third & Urban to lead City Springs 2.0. Across the street, their Hillcrest project announced its first tenants, Salted Melon and Chastain Creamery, opening next summer (Rough Draft Atlanta).

Star Bar is closing after 35 years. The Little Five Points music venue closes Dec. 31, with the owner citing the pandemic and film production leaving Atlanta. Red Light Café will take over the space, and yes, the Elvis shrine stays. Why it matters: when film work leaves, it's not just the studios that feel it. Venues, caterers and bars that served those crews take the hit too (Rough Draft Atlanta).

The G20 came to Midtown. World leaders gathered at the Loews Atlanta Hotel for the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting Oct. 30–31, closing several Midtown intersections. It's a big moment for Atlanta's global profile, and a tough couple of days for anyone making deliveries nearby (Atlanta News First).

Georgia Tech and the "battery belt." The U.S. Energy Department visited Georgia Tech to push for a fully American battery supply chain by 2030. Right now China makes about 80% of the world's batteries and the U.S. makes about 7%. Why it matters: if this effort takes off, metro Atlanta's engineers, suppliers and manufacturers are well positioned to benefit (Atlanta News First).

The Beltline's free business accelerator. For Women's Small Business Month, the Beltline highlighted graduates of Beltline Business Ventures, a free program offering one-on-one advising and a pitch competition for capital. One salon owner says her business grew 25–35% after completing it. If you're looking to grow near the Beltline, connectors, this is worth a look (Atlanta Beltline).

Beltline construction work for contractors. Bids were due this month on the Northeast Trail's next segment, a three-year project backed by a $25 million federal grant that starts in early 2027. The Beltline also split a Northwest Trail segment so smaller construction firms can compete for part of the work (Atlanta Beltline).

Gwinnett County

UCB is investing $2 billion at Rowen. Pharmaceutical company UCB dedicated the site of its biologics manufacturing campus on Oct. 12, bringing about 330 permanent jobs and more than 1,000 construction jobs. Why it matters: a project this size supports local contractors, staffing firms, suppliers and restaurants for years (Partnership Gwinnett).

Gwinnett earns a redevelopment award. Partnership Gwinnett received an international economic development award for its redevelopment plan and launches its next five-year strategy on Nov. 6 (Partnership Gwinnett).

Belk is leaving Peachtree Corners. The Belk at The Forum closes Jan. 15, 2027, after nearly 25 years. Neighboring businesses will want to watch what replaces it, since anchor stores drive a lot of foot traffic (Tomorrow's News Today).

Ponzi charges in Duluth. Federal prosecutors charged a Duluth broker and an attorney in alleged investment schemes, including one worth nearly $2 million. A good reminder to vet any investment that promises returns that sound too good to be true (FOX 5).

Norcross is growing. Mayor Craig Newton says median household income is up about 50% since he took office, and new employers like Pella have moved in. The city's next challenge is staying affordable as demand grows (Rough Draft Atlanta).

DeKalb County

Small Business Summit and pitch competition. DeKalb held its Small Business Summit on Oct. 14, featuring a $16,500 pitch prize and panels on funding and winning county contracts (Rough Draft Atlanta).

A possible change in economic development. Commissioners were set to consider handing the county's economic development office to an affiliate of Decide DeKalb, with nearly $2 million in added funding. Why it matters: if approved, it changes who businesses work with when they need county support (Decaturish).

A Publix is coming to Candler Road. Construction is underway on Candler Crossing, a $28.9 million Publix-anchored center in South DeKalb, set to open in October 2027. A grocery anchor like this tends to attract more businesses to the area (Decide DeKalb).

Cobb County

New businesses keep opening. Unincorporated Cobb issued 21 to 40 new business licenses a week in October, mostly in service trades, health care and restaurants. Good news for the local economy, and a sign of more competition for service providers (Cobb Courier).

Clayton County

Development pauses through year-end. Unincorporated Clayton isn't accepting applications for new data centers, subdivisions, apartments or gas stations until at least Dec. 31. Why it matters: developers and builders in those categories are on hold until commissioners decide what's next (Clayton County).

Forest Park moves business licenses online. Business owners can now apply for and renew Forest Park business licenses online instead of visiting City Hall (City of Forest Park).

Hawaiian Bros opens in Morrow. The chain is opening its first standalone metro Atlanta restaurant in Morrow, another sign of restaurant investment on the south side (Tomorrow's News Today).

Forsyth County

Housing moratorium extended again. Forsyth extended its residential moratorium for six more months on Oct. 15, the third extension since April 2025. Why it matters: builders, real estate agents and trades that depend on new homes should expect a slower spring (Atlanta News First).

More jobs, smaller raises. Forsyth added jobs faster than Fulton and Gwinnett over the past year, but its wage growth was the lowest among Georgia's 12 largest counties (North Atlanta Star).

Whole Foods is hiring. The county's first Whole Foods is staffing up at Forsyth Town Center. Expect more traffic for nearby shops once it opens (North Atlanta Star).

Mark your calendar, connectors

• Nov. 3: Election Day, with county commission seats on the ballot in Gwinnett, Cobb and DeKalb.
• Nov. 6: Partnership Gwinnett unveils its five-year plan.
• Nov. 13: Last day to comment on Georgia's health insurance subsidy proposal.
• Nov. 30: The gas-tax suspension is set to end.
• Dec. 8–9: The Fed's next rate decision.
• Dec. 31: Clayton's development pauses expire unless extended.

That's October. See you next month, connectors.