The City of Alpharetta was recognized as the 2026 Most Innovative City at the inaugural Tech North Atlanta Awards held on Wednesday, September 16. This award reinforces Alpharetta’s long-standing position as one of the region’s most dynamic and forward‑thinking technology hubs.
The Tech North Atlanta Awards spotlight the people, companies, products, and communities that are driving the continued growth of North Atlanta’s technology ecosystem.
“Tech North Atlanta’s inaugural awards celebrate the people and organizations who are not only driving innovation today, but also helping to shape the future of North Atlanta’s technology community,” said Karen Cashion, President and CEO of Tech North Atlanta. “Our first-year honorees are the catalysts for the innovation happening across North Atlanta and the important role our region is playing in metro Atlanta’s technology ecosystem.”
Charlie Jewell, City of Alpharetta Director of Economic Development, receives the 2026 Most Innovative City award presented by Scott McMichael, Tech North Atlanta Board Member.
Known as the Technology City of the South, Alpharetta is home to more than 700 technology-based companies and over 11,500 employees working in Computer and Mathematical roles. This robust ecosystem is built on decades of strategic investment, beginning with the installation of hundreds of miles of redundant fiber-optic cable during the 1990s dot-com boom, critical infrastructure that positioned Alpharetta for resilient, long-term growth.
In 2012, the City established the Alpharetta Technology Commission, a tech-focused advisory board made up of local C-suite technology leaders and the first of its kind in Georgia. The Commission later partnered with the Greater Alpharetta Tech Network to form what is now Tech North Atlanta, an independent nonprofit supporting startups, mid-market firms, and enterprise companies in the northern metro area (spanning from I-85 to I-75 north of the perimeter).
Today, Alpharetta continues to attract a wide range of technology companies, from high-growth startups to innovation centers of global corporations such as Equifax, Morgan Stanley, Fiserv, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, UKG, and Tech Mahindra. The city’s skilled workforce, collaborative business community, and strong digital infrastructure make it an ideal environment for companies seeking to scale and innovate.
Receiving the Most Innovative City award underscores Alpharetta’s commitment to fostering technology excellence and reinforces the city’s role as a premier destination for forward-thinking companies.