The undisputed "Capital of the South," Atlanta is known for it's strong, diverse economy, a pro-business environment, easy access, excellent quality of life and relatively low cost of living. As a result, the city is one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in the country, and has been consistently ranked as the best or one of the best markets for business. In fact, Atlanta is ranked the Number Three city in the United States for having the most Fortune 500 headquarters (13), as well as being home to regional offices for 431 of the Fortune 500 firms. 

While the economic conditions of the past several years were certainly not as robust as what Atlanta and the nation enjoyed during the latter half of the 1990s, the city has historically led the nation out of each economic cycle in terms of job creation and overall recovery of all business sectors. In fact, Atlanta is once again adding more jobs than any other city in the country, according to a third-quarter 2003 report published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.