ATLANTA – April 16, 2008 –One month after a tornado hit downtown Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center has made great strides towards being fully operational. The storm passed through downtown Atlanta on March 14 and caused damage to the convention center, as well as the Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park.

A mere two weeks after the tornado, the Georgia World Congress Center hosted International Window Coverings Expo, March 26 - 29, and National Propane Gas Association, March 29 - 31, both in Building C. The two events brought a combined impact of nearly $14 million in direct spending to Atlanta.

These events marked the re-opening of the entire Georgia World Congress Center campus, which closed for one week following the tornado.

"Hundreds - really thousands - of people have worked to get the convention center and the city back to business. It’s a perfect example of teamwork and we want to thank our customers and the community for their support,” said Mark Zimmerman, general manager of the convention center.

Since then, the Georgia World Congress Center campus has hosted the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s Easter service, the ING Georgia Marathon and Expo, Arbonne International and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting.

This week, April 17 -19, the FIRST Robotics Championship will call the whole campus home with events taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park. Additionally, the 26th Annual Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto Show begins on April 19 and runs through the April 27th in both Buildings B and C.

"We are extremely pleased that the campus is open and ready for business," said GWCCA Executive Director Dan Graveline. “This is a great illustration of the strong partnership between the GWCCA, the Atlanta hospitality community, the city and the state."

FIRST and the AJC Auto Show mark the re-opening of Building B exhibit halls. With nonstop construction efforts, officials plan to have Building A opened April 21 and the remainder of Building B by April 28.