The Atlanta University Center Consortium and Morehouse College hired AngelouEconomics in 2006 to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the Atlanta University Corridor area. The Atlanta University Consortium is the largest consortium of private historically black colleges and universities in the world and consists of Spelman College, Morris Brown College, Clark Atlanta University, The Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Morehouse College. The consortium is located in the Atlanta University Corridor area of southern Atlanta, including downtown Atlanta.

With the majority of economic development occurring on the north side of the Atlanta region, the south side and the Atlanta University Corridor area have been left with little or no population growth, economic decline, and an unusually high concentration of poverty. Today, the Corridor has a population of just over 110,000 people, an average per capita income of $10,550, and an average unemployment rate of 21%.

The CEDS plan developed by AngelouEconomics will uncover the Corridor’s unique strengths and build strategies to attract and support high impact industries that will improve per capita income, wages, and employment opportunities in the Corridor. The ultimate goal is to diversify the economy, reduce poverty and unemployment, create jobs, improve the quality of life, and promote university sponsored economic development activities for the ultimate benefit of students, residents, and business owners within the Corridor and the city as a whole.