(from left) of Thrust Interactive CEO Jesse Lindsley, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Invest Atlanta Vice President Bill Cronin.
ATLANTA, GA (March 5, 2012) – Invest Atlanta – Atlanta’s Development Authority –has assisted Thrust Interactive, an Atlanta-based third-party development studio for online and mobile games and apps, in its move to a new headquarters in the city’s Inman Park neighborhood.
Specifically, Invest Atlanta provided site selection and advocacy support for Thrust Interactive.
The high-tech gaming company - started eight years ago in the owner’s house - just moved into its new headquarters at 741 Edgewood Ave. The 4,500-square-foot freestanding loft building houses the company’s 20 employees and provides room for expected growth. The company already has hired nine new employees in 2012 and plans to expand their team further due to growing demand of the gaming industry in Atlanta.
Mayor Kasim Reed – who also chairs Invest Atlanta – attended the recent opening of Thrust Interactive’s new headquarters and praised Thrust CEO Jesse Lindsley for starting and growing a company in the city. At the event, Thrust also introduced its latest game – Boomblastica.
“I am pleased about the growth and success of Thrust Interactive, an Atlanta-based business,” said Mayor Reed. “I congratulate Jesse on the opening of the new headquarters and applaud Invest Atlanta for its role in supporting this and many other small businesses across the city. Together, we will continue to attract world-class talent, create jobs and bring new companies to Atlanta.”
Thrust Interactive’s new headquarters, previously a commercial photography studio is equipped with sets resembling vintage 1920s Southern California beach cottages. This unique build-out enables the space to double as an incubation center for emerging indie development teams.
Thrust Interactive’s story is indicative of Atlanta’s position as a top city for high-tech and creative companies, said Brian P. McGowan (top right photo), president and CEO of Invest Atlanta.
“Atlanta offers young entrepreneurs, especially those in the technology and creative fields, an attractive environment for growth and job creation,” McGowan said. “Invest Atlanta is proud to have assisted Thrust Interactive and looks forward helping many more similar firms as they grow in the city.”
Entertainment tax credits for digital gaming companies have played a role in Thrust’s growth, Thrust CEO Lindsley said. While Thrust Interactive itself has not received any of the credits, they have helped Thrust attract key clients that do benefit from the credits.
“When we started Thrust, our kitchen was the conference room, and our board room was in the garage,” Lindsley said. “Thanks to the city of Atlanta’s pro-business stance under Mayor Reed, we now have a full-fledged headquarters where we can collaborate and continue to grow.”
The Thrust Interactive relocation offers a prime example of how Invest Atlanta, working with the Georgia Department ofEconomic Development and Metro Atlanta Chamber, can help creative companiesgrow, thrive and remain in the city of Atlanta said Amanda Shailendra (middle left photo), business development manager at Invest Atlanta.
“I enjoyed working with our partners, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Metro Atlanta Chamber, to help make expansion possible for Thrust Interactive,” Shailendra said. “Home-grown companies like Thrust Interactive that create new jobs are exactly the typeInvest Atlanta works to help.
Contact:
Krunali Parekh
Wilbert News Strategies
C: 404.901.4433
D: 404.965.5024
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