Chick-fil-A Bowl Named a Top 10 Small Business in Atlanta

College football’s most charitable bowl game recognized as one of the city and southeast’s best businesses by Business Leader Media.
 
ATLANTA (June 28, 2011) – The Chick-fil-A Bowl was honored Monday as a Top 10 small business in Atlanta and one of the best small businesses of the South by Business Leader Media.
 
Winning companies were evaluated on a combination of factors including sales generated in their local markets, revenue growth, business achievements and civic contributions as a part of Business Leader Media’s Top 300 Small Business of the South Award.
 
The Chick-fil-A Bowl was recognized for its accomplishments in hosting three major events that combined to create more than $65 million in economic impact and more than $3 million in direct tax revenues for Atlanta over the last year. In addition to the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31, the Bowl also hosts the annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game over Labor Day weekend to open the college football season and the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament in May.
 
“This is a very meaningful designation for us and a reminder that what we do can have a positive impact on our community,” said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “It’s a validation for our mission to be the leader in charitable and scholarship giving and be an example for others to follow.”
 
The 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl recorded its 14th consecutive sellout, its all-time high TV viewership, an all-time high in team payout at $6.7 million and was the most charitable bowl in the country giving $1.25 million in charity and scholarship. The Bowl also sponsors the National Football Foundation’s Play It Smart program in Atlanta and operates an endowed scholarship program at ACC and SEC schools totaling more than $1.5 million. Last year, the Chick-fil-A Bowl became one of the first in its industry to launch a sustainability program. In addition, the Bowl helped create the new non-profit Atlanta Hall Management, Inc. and donated $5 million to help build the new College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
 
“Business Leader is thrilled to be able to honor and recognize top small businesses like the Chick-fil-A Bowl in both the Atlanta area and the entire South,” said Stephen Reynolds, group publisher, Business Leader Media. “The great work being done by the Chick-fil-A Bowl and others is so important to the health of local economies. They are a great example of how to play a vital role in improving the quality of life in the Atlanta community.”
 Business Leader Media, who provides localized business intelligence in print, online and award event formats, recognizes the region’s top businesses in nine southeast markets. Small businesses competed for the honor in Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fla., Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham and Greensboro, N.C.
 
For the past 20 years, Business Leader Media has provided local business intelligence to readers in several Southeast markets. Its products include magazines, websites, email newsletters, and a number of networking and awards events for businesses, ranging from the top small businesses of the South to women leaders of excellence, from catalyst entrepreneurs to business leaders of the year.