Midtown Atlanta Business Archives -

Food and Agricultural Giant Cargill Opens Midtown ATL Tech Hub

February 22, 2025 by Thom Abbott

In November 2024, Cargill, a global leader in food and agriculture, inaugurated its new tech hub in Midtown Atlanta, marking a significant milestone in the company’s digital transformation journey. This strategic move aims to harness Atlanta’s burgeoning tech scene and diverse talent pool to drive innovation in the food and agriculture sectors.

Strategic Location in Midtown’s Technology Square

Cargill’s decision to establish its tech hub in Midtown’s Technology Square places it at the heart of Atlanta’s innovation district. The company has subleased a portion of the NCR campus on Spring Street, providing a modern workspace designed to foster collaboration and technological advancement. This location offers proximity to leading academic institutions and a vibrant tech community, aligning perfectly with Cargill’s objectives.

Job Creation and Talent Acquisition

The Atlanta tech hub is set to create over 400 highly skilled jobs in the coming years, focusing on areas such as data engineering, generative artificial intelligence, and SAP. As of January 2025, Cargill has already onboarded approximately 50 employees, with many hailing from the local area. This recruitment drive underscores the company’s commitment to tapping into Atlanta’s rich pool of technical talent to drive its digital transformation efforts.

Leadership Perspectives

Brian Sikes, Cargill’s Board Chair and CEO, emphasized the strategic importance of the Atlanta hub, stating that Georgia’s business-friendly environment provides an ideal backdrop for the company’s investment in technology and innovation. Jennifer Hartsock, Chief Information and Digital Officer at Cargill, highlighted that the city’s thriving tech innovation ecosystem offers unparalleled access to expertise essential for advancing the company’s digital initiatives. Community Engagement and Future Outlook

Beyond job creation, Cargill has demonstrated a strong commitment to the local community, contributing over $1 million in the past year to support organizations such as the Georgia FFA Foundation, Georgia Mountain Food Bank, and local educational institutions. Looking ahead, the Atlanta tech hub is poised to play a pivotal role in developing digital solutions that enhance the global food supply chain, open new markets, and promote sustainability in the food system.

In summary, Cargill’s new tech hub in Midtown Atlanta signifies a strategic investment in technology and talent, reinforcing the company’s dedication to innovation and community partnership in the region.

Cargill employees will have numerous living options in the Midtown Atlanta area. Some may choose to rent in one of the luxury apartment buildings. Others may see the value in renting vs. buying

Those options can range from a Midtown Atlanta condo, many with in walking distance of the new office, or single family homes in areas like Brookhaven or Chamblee. We are ready here at Thomas Ramon Group to help you find the perfect place to call home along with your new Cargill Tech Hub!

Anthem to take Second Midtown Tower

April 19, 2019 by Thom Abbott

The kinda-giant in health insurance, Anthem, Inc. is going to occupy a bigger part of the Midtown Atlanta office landscape.

Anthem to take Second Midtown Tower

740 West Peachtree is currently under construction for the company, next to the almost complete Coda mixed use development. The addition of 712 West Peachtree and the creation of the Anthem Technology Center mean hundreds of Anthem workers will call Midtown Atlanta home by 2021. The second building is expected to start construction in a few weeks.

In an email quoted in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Anthem confirmed this expansion:

“We have announced some future changes to our Atlanta-area office locations that will enable us to provide improved worked environments for our employees and enhance our strong collaborative culture, as we focus on creating a better healthcare experience for the communities and customers we serve. We have recently agreed to lease a tower as part of the new Portman Holdings development in Midtown Atlanta at 712 West Peachtree, and plan to consolidate our offices currently in Buckhead and downtown Atlanta to this new location when construction is completed in 2021.”

As stated above, this consolidation of offices in Midtown and Buckhead may, or may not mean additional new people looking to move into Midtown Atlanta to be closer to the new offices. But there are certainly many choices for just that. Just 4 (or so) blocks away, the new conversion, Harper on Piedmont will offer new condominium residences. Headed North from the site you will find buildings like Cornerstone Village, Viewpoint Midtown, Spire and MidCity Lofts. All of these buildings are an easy walk to the new Center. And these are just a few of the many options! The stars on the map below indicate the location of these buildings.

Anthem employees needing to travel are just a couple blocks from the North Avenue MARTA station for easy access to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The location of the new building to MARTA, would also open up areas like Assembly Doraville and Chamblee with transit access to work.

We look forward to helping Anthem, Inc. employees call Midtown Atlanta HOME! For more information on the living options available in Midtown Atlanta, just contact us at 770.713.1505 or complete the form below!

Midtown Mobility from Midtown Alliance

September 26, 2018 by Thom Abbott

Midtown Alliance is a non-profit membership organization and a coalition of leading business and community leaders – united in our commitment to Midtown as a premiere destination for commerce, culture, education and living. Governed by a 71-member board of the district’s top private sector leaders, our mission is to improve and sustain the quality of life for those who live, work and play here. The Alliance accomplishes this goal through a comprehensive approach to planning and development that includes initiatives to enhance public safety, improve the physical environment, and strengthen the urban amenities which give the area its unique character.

Guided by a visionary master plan – Blueprint Midtown – and in partnership with the Midtown Improvement District, Midtown has become a national model for urban excellence.

Midtown Alliance puts out various communications each month and throughout the year to keep residents and Midtown employers informed of what’s going on in the area. While you might find some of these things on their website, we wanted to share with you the September issue of Midtown Mobility from Midtown Alliance.

Biketopber — October 1-31, 2018

This is a month-long, FREE event also known as the Atlanta Bike Challenge. Biking, teambuilding, competition and prizes! Click on the link for more information about this event!

Measuring Foot Traffic

A key part of getting more retail (and maybe a couple less restaurants) is have feet on the street. While the Midtown population has grown, it’s certainly nothing like Midtown Manhattan! Midtown Alliance will look at the increase in foot traffic as well as car traffic. If you can imagine, technology that will measure pedestrian activity!! WOW! Data like this can be important to anyone looking to open a store front in Midtown!

Here is a link to the complete September Midtown Mobility newsletter.

Midtown Mobility | September, 2018

Atlanta software company FullStory moves to Brookwood

September 25, 2018 by Thom Abbott

Fullstory, a rapidly growing Atlanta software company is going to double its workforce, and move their Atlanta headquarters from Armour Yards.

Atlanta software company FullStory moves to Brookwood

Last year, FullStory raised some $15M to move forward on an aggressive R&D expansion that was projected to add up to 120 new jobs.

FullStory will now build out and lease a 49,200 sq.ft. headquarters in the space that was formerly the Brookwood Kroger. It’s currently occupied by the retailer, Sam Flax. Located at 1745 Peachtree Street, the location will offer employees that want the urban lifestyle to choose from Buckhead to the North or Midtown to the South. Condominium buildings like Viewpoint Midtown or 1010 Midtown are just a couple of the options available in Midtown Atlanta. Meanwhile, in Buckhead, FullStory employees could look at places like Cosmopolitan or Eclipse.

Transit options are a bit far for the location, but one could take MARTA to the Arts Center Station (if coming from the North) and Uber or Lyft back to the offices. But based on the location, there will most likely be ample parking to have employees in their own cars.

The building itself, will be redesigned by the architect, Plexus r+d and will be a blend of the open spaces, but will have “nooks and crannies where employees can squirrel away and focus,” Bruce Johnson, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer told the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

FullStory currently employs about 100 people in their current location at Armour Yards.

As new employees come on board, MyMidtownMojo and Thomas Ramon Realty are here to help them find a new home in Midtown, Buckhead or beyond! Contact us using the form below and we can talk about what you are looking for in your Atlanta home!

New Hotel Proposed for Beltline in O4W

May 25, 2018 by Thom Abbott

There is never a lack of interest, or desire to live, work or build on the Beltline! That is evidenced by the recent announcement by Portman Holdings, LLC who has just purchased a prime little corner at Irwin Street and the Beltline!

New Hotel Proposed for Beltline in O4W

The company purchased the site, a little more than 1 acre for a mere $5.5 MILLION! It closed May 9th, according to a story in the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Portman, known for their major hotel construction will seek to build a “cool lifestyle boutique hotel” on the site. While still to early in the planning stages, 145-170 keys are being proposed. The company is talking to hotel brands not found in the Atlanta area, and the article also mentions a food an beverage and event space.

One might recall that a hotel was proposed for the site back in 2015, but that deal, with Beltway Investment International, Smart Hotels, LLC, and Hospitality Ventures Management Group never moved forward.

A second hotel ( or maybe it was first?) is also proposed as part of the New City LLC project that is next to the Historic Fourth Ward Park. That project could break ground later this year.

We’ll update this article with some on-site photos, but the photo BELOW shows the location of the new hotel.

Embassy Suites Atlantic Station Moves Forward

May 23, 2018 by Thom Abbott

Once upon a time, lodging options in the Midtown area were pretty sparse. You either went luxury or almost nothing else. Fast forward to 2018, and you have numerous hotels to choose from, and several new options on the horizon. Embassy Suites Atlantic Station will be one of those new options.

Embassy Suites Atlantic Station Moves Forward

Horizon Hospitality Management has filed a permit application with the City of Atlanta for a 10-story high rise building, next to The Atlantic Condominiums at 200 17th Street. The photo to the right shows what I think will be the location of the property, based on the renderings provided in an article at WhatnowAtlanta.com. There is a possibility the site could be next to the tennis courts that are alongside The Atlantic.

Details mention 175 rooms taking up some 145,020 square feet and potentially a “high end steakhouse” fronting 17th Street. Hmmmm…steak. Designed by Mike Clifford of the Atlanta-based firm of LPBC, the project could break ground later this year and be ready for guests by 2020. (Remember, 2000 and we thought how is that possible, and now we are talking about 2020!!!!)

While North of the campus, this hotel would be another option for guests and parents visiting Georgia Tech.

Below is a rending of the proposed Embassy Suites Atlantic Station, as well as a couple site photos I snapped today. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one!

Currently, the only other hotel at Atlantic Station is the Twelve Hotel.

Anthem to take Second Midtown Tower

Atlanta software company FullStory moves to Brookwood

New Hotel Proposed for Beltline in O4W

Embassy Suites Atlantic Station Moves Forward

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