ECG joined City of Acworth leaders, city staff, development partners, and the community for the groundbreaking of the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, a milestone for one of metro Atlanta’s most actively growing areas. The project is expected to deliver a $5 million economic boost to downtown businesses, restaurants, and retailers.

Yesterday, Downtown Acworth marked a significant milestone as city leaders, Acworth DDA, development partners, business owners, and community members gathered for the official groundbreaking of the SpringHill Suites by Marriott.

A Vision Years in the Making

Projects of this scale do not happen overnight. They happen through years of relationship-building, financing work, infrastructure investment, and the kind of quiet persistence that never makes the program but deserves recognition. Mayor Allegood took time at the podium to do exactly that… Acknowledging city services and partners from the Downtown Development Authority, the Cobb County Fire Marshal’s office, City Attorney, to Lake City Hospitality partners, the Power and Public Works team, whose work on nearly $1 million in infrastructure improvements in front of the site was essential to making the project buildable, and Electric Cities of Georgia, which he credited with making the initial introduction between the city and the developer.

“Electric Cities of Georgia created the initial connection with Jeremy. They brought Jeremy here. So thank you to our good friends at ECG.”

As Mayor Allegood noted in his remarks, Acworth has spent 25 years building quality of life, and that investment shows. Infrastructure improvements, streetscape enhancements, the development of Logan Farm Park, the creation of the Acworth Community Center, a pedestrian overpass, and new public parking.

“This year, we’re celebrating our 25th year of building a great quality of life,” Mayor Allegood said. “And we have identified, in this 25th year, that our project, our quality of life achievement for 2026, would be building this hotel.”

Why a Hotel. Why Here. Why Now.

City Manager James Albright, who served as program moderator for the ceremony, explained that for a downtown to truly thrive, it needs one essential ingredient above all else: people.

“Every visitor that we bring helps contribute to and generate revenues so that our city team can continue to provide outstanding services for our residents,” Albright said. “If you want a downtown to thrive, you need people. You can do that through residential, through jobs, or through tourism, and with this hotel, we check the box on both jobs and tourism.”

Through years of comprehensive planning conversations, Acworth’s residents made their preferences clear. Dense residential development, apartments and condos stacked above the downtown, was not the direction the community wanted to go. What emerged instead was a strategy rooted in authentic place-making and the kind of tourism-driven activity that a quality hotel is uniquely positioned to generate.

Albright added that the site is situated roughly a half acre off Interstate 75 and directly across the street from the Acworth Community Center, putting guests within easy reach of everything the city has to offer. Guests attending events at Lakepoint Sports Complex, small conferences at the Community Center, The Cowan, The Cedars, and The Conservatory at Waterstone, will have a high-quality place to stay close to the heart of the action.

“When I go to another city, I would much prefer to be at a location that is in proximity to parks, restaurants, and shops, to have an experience when I’m traveling,” Albright said. “And that is exactly what this location offers. We now have a special place to stay that is in proximity to those venues and to the heart of everything we have to offer here in Acworth.”

A Developer’s Perspective

Set on 3.5 acres and designed to complement the historic character of downtown Acworth, the four-story, 100-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott will serve as an anchor and economic driver for the city’s downtown corridor. The hotel will be within walking distance of the restaurants, shops, and experiences that have made downtown Acworth one of the most visited destinations in the region.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott is an upscale, select-service hotel brand and the largest all-suite brand in Marriott’s portfolio. It is designed for travelers who want more space and style than a standard hotel room at a moderate price point. Every room is a suite that features areas for sleeping, working, and relaxing. The hotel will be within walking distance of restaurants and shopping opportunities in Downtown Acworth.

Jeremy Emmett, principal of Red Hills Hospitality and the developer behind the project, offered some of the most candid remarks of the afternoon. A second-generation hotelier with deep roots in Georgia’s hospitality industry, Emmett shared that his path to Acworth began with a business association meeting where City Manager Albright presented a before-and-after look at downtown Acworth’s transformation over the years.

What he saw convinced him immediately.

“When the mayor says I brought a vision, the vision was already there,” Emmett said. “I just was able to see it because you guys mapped it out and made it so very clear. Anybody in the country would want to be a part of this community. You have the vision, you have the leadership, you have it all in place. You are a very lucky community, and I am very lucky to be able to be a part of it.”

Looking Ahead

With construction now underway, the SpringHill Suites by Marriott is poised to become exactly what its developers and city leaders envision: an anchor for downtown Acworth that draws visitors, supports local businesses, and strengthens the economic foundation that years of city leadership have worked to build.

For a community that has spent years earning this kind of investment, it is a moment that speaks for itself.

Congratulations to Mayor Tommy Allegood, the City of Acworth Leadership, City Council, Acworth DDA, and every partner who stayed the course to make this happen.

Electric Cities of Georgia’s Office of Economic and Community Development provides site selection, retail and industrial development, community development, GIS mapping, research, and marketing services to its 52 member communities across Georgia. Learn more at https://www.locationgeorgia.com/about-us.