Page 34 - Fayette County NCG

City Updates

Considering travel ball, tournaments,
and similar sporting events, being able
to host those events has great economic
reach. Families visit, stay in local hotels,
dine at restaurants, and spend money
where they play.
The city’s second target business
sector is creative services. By “leveraging
the creative ecosystem” that already
exists, Funderwhite said Fayetteville will
continue to prioritize growth in this area.
She said employment in creative services
has grown in Fayette County by 153%
over the last 10 years, “due in large part to
Trilith Film Studios.”
Funderwhite said the city’s third
target industry, Retail & Hospitality,
is complementary to sports tourism.
“We want to work to attract more local
and unique boutique retail,” she said.
Fine dining restaurants, breweries, and
Fayetteville Downtown
distilleries are all desirable, working
to attract visitors but also serving as
amenities for residents, Funderwhite Fayetteville plans to “build on that initiatives” the city will pursue to continue
said. Funderwhite added that the city’s locational asset,” helping tech companies its “upward trajectory” in the coming
“38 acres” project is moving forward, locate and grow there. Fayette County has five years.
a component of which will serve this seen sector growth of 44.5% over the last Available in the full report on the City’s
restaurant/retail objective. 10 years, with an additional 17.5% growth website, the recommendations in the Re-
Fayetteville’s fourth target industry projected for the coming years, according Imagining Fayetteville plan are:
is Technology & Professional Services. to Funderwhite. 1. Develop a City Sports Complex
Funderwhite called the city’s proximity The second part of the Re-Imagining 2. Create and Staff a CVB
to Atlanta and to Hartsfield-Jackson Fayetteville plan is “Fayetteville’s Next 3 Develop Attainable Housing Options
International Airport “a huge site location WOW: Recommendations.” Funderwhite 4. Conduct a Comprehensive
advantage.” Over the next five years, explained these as “transformative Gateways Plan
5. Create a Proactive City
Communications Effort for City
Residents (Internally)
6. Partner More Proactively with the
Fayette County Economic
Development Authority to Tell
Fayetteville’s Story (External)
7. Engage a Retail Recruitment Firm
8. Establish a City Economic
Development Advisory Board
Funderwhite said numbers five
through eight are important but mostly
internal organizational changes. The
initial focus will be on the exciting and
ambitious transformative initiatives one
through four.
Though early in the process,
Fayetteville City Center Park
Funderwhite said a City Sports Complex
30 Fayette County SOURCE Magazine • Issue 2 • 2025