Impact

From its beginnings in the late 19th century when Atlanta was building its commercial and economic base, The Coca-Cola Company has served as a catalyst for progress. Over the years the company has made significant civic and financial contributions that have, in turn, supported and strengthened the city that Atlanta has become. The company’s presence can be felt all across the city – through its universities, civic and nonprofit institutions, and its public spaces.
Giving back locally has long been a company priority, and that tradition of community support continues today at Pemberton Place. Named for Dr. John S. Pemberton, the pharmacist who invented Coca-Cola® in Atlanta in 1886, the 20-acre complex is currently home to the Georgia Aquarium and the NEW World of Coca-Cola® (opening May 2007).

• Land Grants: The Coca-Cola Company donated nine acres to the Georgia Aquarium and 2.5 acres to the City of Atlanta for construction of a human rights center.
• Green Space for Atlanta: The land between the New World of Coca-Cola and Georgia Aquarium adds five acres of green space to downtown Atlanta.
• The Impact:* The combined estimated economic impact of the Georgia Aquarium and the New World of Coca-Cola is more than $105 million per year for Atlanta. • Jobs: The two attractions will create more than 2,700 direct and induced permanent jobs. • Visitation: One million people are expected to visit the New World of Coca-Cola annually. • 19 percent of the attraction’s visitors are expected to come from overseas. • Estimates indicate that 44 percent of out-of-town visitors to Pemberton Place will stay over night in local hotels resulting in more than $1 million in tax revenue per year.
Key Milestones: Coca-Cola and Atlanta Impact
The company’s long history of community support includes:

• Asa Candler, a company founder, donated $1 million to help defray the costs of establishing Emory University.
• Robert Woodruff, president of The Coca-Cola Company