American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and The Renaissance Communications Group Launch “Atlanta ROI*” to Attract Israeli Real Estate Investors to the Southeast

 Publication and Web Site to Educate Israeli Investors on Regional Real Estate Opportunities 

ATLANTA, August 23, 2007 --- The American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Region (AICC) and The Renaissance Communications Group in October will launch “Atlanta ROI* -- Real Estate Opportunities and Investments,” a publication and website (www.atlantaroi.com) to introduce Israeli institutional and entrepreneurial investors to the commercial real estate market in Atlanta and the Southeast.  The magazine will support AICC’s Real Estate initiative, a key objective of its new Strategic Plan, and will be delivered directly to more than 250 institutional and entrepreneurial investors in Israel. 

“Atlanta and the Southeast have a long history of generating profitable returns to real estate investors,” said Tom Glaser, president, American-Israel Chamber of Commerce.  “Atlanta ROI* will create a platform for us to share our story of the continuing growth of our local and regional real estate market.  While Israeli institutional and entrepreneurial investors invested more than $3.9 billion in New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago from 2002 and 2006 –more than two-thirds in New York and Miami– Atlanta drew just $40 million of investment.“

Glaser added:  “Israeli investors know about some spectacular deals in New York City in 2007. They need to know that Atlanta, the business capital of the Southeast, offers its own spectacular opportunities.  We are taking the initiative to educate Israel’s most active investors and their advisors.”

The first issue of Atlanta ROI* will be distributed in October at a special event for Israeli institutional and entrepreneurial investors during the Chamber’s Oct. 27 – Nov. 1 mission to Israel.  Future issues will be published in February, June and October 2008.

AICC will collaborate with The Renaissance Communications Group (TRCG), an Atlanta-based communications agency, to produce the magazine. 

“We were looking for a way to accomplish this important goal, and The Renaissance Communications Group developed a solution that will help us achieve this objective,” said Glaser.

According to Mark A. Weiss, the president of TRCG and the magazine’s publisher, Atlanta ROI* will be a full-color publication, printed three times a year.  The magazine will cover Metro Atlanta’s sub markets and focus on the various types of property available for real estate investment including office, multi-family, retail, commercial, hotels, industrial and warehouse, and land.  In addition to Atlanta, the magazine will feature other Southeastern cities in future issues.

Weiss said the magazine’s objective is to educate Israeli institutional and entrepreneurial investors with content that offers insight into the key role that real estate has played in the development of Metro Atlanta and the Southeast.

Atlanta ROI* will present a convincing case for the Southeast market as an excellent opportunity for real estate investment,” said Weiss.  “In addition, it will introduce Israeli investors to the outstanding network of real estate and allied professionals in Metro Atlanta and the Southeast.”

Atlanta ROI* will be supported by advertising.  Larry Reid, the magazine’s sales manager, is optimistic the Atlanta and Southeast real estate community will support the magazine. 

“Our publication will be delivered directly to the desks of Israeli investors and the institutions that advise them,” said Reid.  “It will give them ‘feet-on-the-street’ resources to help them put together deals in the Atlanta and the Southeast.  Atlanta ROI* will provide the environment to help them make the initial introductions.” 

TRCG has developed advertising opportunities, from full-page ads to business directory listings in the magazine to enable businesses of all sizes to participate.  Advertising rates and additional information about the publication can be found at www.atlantaroi.com. 

The American-Israel Chamber of Commerce is a bi-national business association with the mission of increasing economic development by fostering understanding, cooperation, and business relationships between Israel and the Southeast. AICC is a proud affiliate of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Since its founding in 1992, AICC has been involved in completed transactions valued at more than $900 million, creating jobs and benefiting the economies of both Israel and the Southeast.  For more information, visit the Chamber’s website at www.aiccse.org. 

The Renaissance Communications Group (TRCG) connects businesses and organizations to their targeted customers, employees and stakeholders through marketing, advertising and public relations.  The company, located in Roswell, GA is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2007 and has helped over 150 businesses and organizations communicate since its inception.  Visit TRCG’s website at www.rencomm.com for more information.