Atlanta, Georgia – As Atlanta prepares for a lot of big events, like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, city officials and experts in economic development have put together a coordinated collection of resources for small businesses. The goal of the effort is to help local business owners get ready early, remain informed, and better prepare for new opportunities that come up as a result of more international attention and visitors.
City leaders stated that the effort is part of a larger goal to make sure that big events help neighborhoods instead of bypassing them. The city wants small businesses to be able to take part in major events and benefit from them even after they are over by getting support ahead of time.
Mayor Andre Dickens emphasized that neighborhood businesses are central to Atlanta’s economy and identity.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our neighborhoods and our economy,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “As Atlanta steps onto the global stage, we are focused on making sure our entrepreneurs have access to the tools, information, and partnerships they need to succeed, during these major events and well beyond them.”
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Showcase Atlanta is an essential component of the strategy. It is the main place where small businesses can get ready for the event. The portal puts all of the funding options, workforce support, technical help, and event-related opportunities in one spot. City officials said this arrangement is based on what business owners said they wanted: a single, solid starting point instead of having to deal with several unrelated programs.
Showcase Atlanta’s leaders say the idea is to make it easier for businesses to get assistance and know what to do next, whether they need money, staff, marketing help, or advice on how to grow their business.
The new tools include links to banks and other financial partners, a youth-focused entrepreneurial accelerator that aims to have a long-term economic impact, and marketing support grants that will be explained in more depth in future announcements. Through a consolidated vendor interest process, small businesses will also be able to look into pop-up and vending opportunities that are connected to big events.
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Additional help includes in-person training on issues like marketing, being ready for hospitality, basic legal knowledge, and bookkeeping. There will also be a Workforce Expo on March 5–6 to link companies with those looking for work. There are other online tools, like a short company readiness evaluation, that can assist entrepreneurs find the most useful resources.
City partners are helping by giving money to specific loan funds, launching pop-up shops in downtown areas, and making preparations to bring local businesses and cultural events to important corridors. Officials said that participating does not guarantee contracts or placements, but the integrated system is meant to make opportunities more visible, prepare people for them, and make them easier to get to as they become available.
In the following months, Showcase Atlanta and its partners will reveal all the facts of the initiative, including the dates and eligibility requirements.
