Nothern Hamilton County

 Opportunities ripe in county’s small towns

Small-town America still thrives in northern Hamilton County, and its unique style offers the perfect option for some companies.
 
Businesses in Arcadia, Atlanta and Cicero find a hometown ambiance in communities that pride themselves on growth at a slower pace than in Hamilton County’s larger cities and towns. They become part of the fabric of the area quickly, often finding hard-working, highly skilled employees who live next door to the hiring manager, whether that neighbor’s front porch is a few steps away in a subdivision or a healthy walk in the countryside.

Small town doesn’t just mean small business. One of the 25 largest medical device manufacturers in the Indianapolis metro area operates in Cicero, and a nationwide pillar of the seed industry grows strong in Atlanta.
 
Residents and commercial interests here value the often simpler, small-town lifestyle, yet appreciate their community’s closeness to larger cities, a wide range of services, cultural attractions and shopping options. Many would call it having their cake and eating it, too.
 

Small-town success: Arts flourish, business prospers

While physical boundaries sometimes blur between their corporate limits, each of these communities has a distinct charm and character.

A partnership of residents, merchants and town government, the Arcadia Arts Initiative has helped the town foster handmade, one-of-a-kind arts and create a niche for itself in recent years. The Tabby Tree Weaver shop, for instance, has fueled small-scale economic development by using local suppliers and spurred tourism; the picturesque shop on Main Street has drawn weavers and fiber artists to Arcadia from across the country and a few other nations.

You wouldn’t expect to find an agricultural giant in a quiet, relatively unknown community, but Atlanta is home to the largest, independent, family-owned seed company in the United States. Beck’s Superior Hybrids has grown for 100 years in Atlanta, is in the midst of a large expansion project and leaders – all of whom live here -- say it will continue charting new opportunities in the future.

The largest of the three small northern towns, Cicero features a lakeside point of view and is particularly suited to the service industry. Ready-to-go office space has the advantage of plentiful parking and lower rents in a town where everything is a short walk away.

“Local” isn’t part of a catch-phrase in these small towns. Local businesses help each other succeed, share resources, and refer customers and clients to other hometown businesses and services.
 

Find friendly, hometown mood in small towns 

Hamilton County’s small towns are communities where quality of life is homegrown. Folks go to Erika’s Place for lunch because they know Erika – and probably know her parents, too.

Flags flying over the Morse Reservoir bridge in Cicero capture the patriotic attitude of its residents, who still applaud as American Legion members wave from their float in the annual Memorial Day parade. The town triples in size on the Fourth of July, particularly when fireworks light up the sky around dusk over Morse.

There are two times a year when traffic has to be directed in Arcadia: on Super Saturday at Hamilton Heights Elementary School and on graduation night at the high school. At both events, residents fill the school buildings and parking lots – whether they have children in the schools or not -- to help youngsters take mini-classes related to careers, hobbies and sports or to congratulate tomorrow’s leaders for their accomplishments today.

But the quality of life isn’t found only in single-day events. A vibrant library system offers programs and classes for all ages every day in Atlanta and Cicero. Hamilton Heights Schools are small enough to give individual attention to students, large enough to open their minds to life’s opportunities.

All three communities have town parks, ball fields and a variety of housing options to make living in Arcadia, Atlanta or Cicero enjoyable. Coupled with a desire to attract more business, these towns’ quality of life may make them the perfect setting to locate.