ACWORTH — Since Atlanta Magazine proclaimed Acworth “The new Marietta” in its June 2011 edition, citing its new restaurants, business growth and quality of life, the 2010 All-America City has been basking in accolades.

Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood mentioned the story Thursday as he touted successes within the past year in his annual State of the City address at the Acworth Business Association’s monthly luncheon. The event, attended by ABA members, city officials and invited guests, took place at NorthStar Church.

“If we’re the new Marietta, then we need to be the new county seat,” Allegood told the cheering audience. “So we’ll be working on that in a couple of years.”

Over the past decade, Acworth’s population jumped to 20,425 in 2010 from 13,422 in 2000, an increase of about 52 percent, making it the fastest-growing city in Cobb County.

“What makes us so different?” Allegood asked. “If you asked a citizen, if you asked a business owner, they’ll tell you it’s our quality of life.”

In 2011, a total of 15 new businesses opened on Main Street in Acworth, Allegood said, adding that 50 new businesses, including 10 restaurants, opened across the north Cobb city.

Among them was PTS Sports Solutions, which opened its first retail store in November on North Main Street. The store, owned by Dale Yakes, sells sporting goods and invested $1 million in the location, Allegood said.

“Why did he do this?” asked Allegood. “He did it because he knows there’s going to be a payoff on Main Street in Acworth, Ga.”

Thanks to the city’s downtown opportunity zone, which includes portions of Main Street, North Main Street and Cherokee Street and offers businesses $3,500 in employee tax credits, Acworth was able to lure RaceTrac to build a new prototype gas station off Cherokee Street. Allegood said the company received $25,000 in tax credits.

The mayor said the city’s chief building department official, Loyd Fasselt, is focused on being a good partner for businesses. “His philosophy is our building department has to be business-friendly,” Allegood said. “So we’re going to have to go the extra mile and cut the red tape for our business partners.”

Allegood reported that all banked-owned residential developments in the city have been sold.

The 40 new homes sold in Acworth last year added $7 million to the city’s tax base, the mayor said. Allegood said Acworth’s 2011 tax base improved to 35 percent commercial and 65 percent residential, compared to 16 commercial and 84 percent residential in 2001.

“That means employment in our city is up by 300 percent over 10 years,” said Allegood, who was first elected mayor in 2001.

“It means that our commercial property values and tax base have increased by 400 percent. That 400 percent translates to a very even mileage rate and a very even financial tax base.”

In the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, the city ended the year with a surplus over its $27 million budget, the mayor said. Every city department operated under the budget by cutting expenditures, Allegood said.

Among road projects completed was the SLOST-funded Nance Road improvement project that included road widening and drainage improvements at the Acworth Due West Road intersection. “You can get from (Highway) 41 to Main Street in record time now,” Allegood proudly said.

The School Street improvement project is on schedule to be completed this year, the mayor said. When finished, it will have three parking lots with 200 spaces and a mile of sidewalk. Legacy at Walton, a senior living community, is set to open this summer on the site of former public housing. Walton Communities has invested $16 million in Acworth, said Allegood.

Upcoming projects this year that Allegood announced include a trail bridge that crosses Tanyard Creek and a $2.5 million SPLOST-funded reconfiguration of the Hwy. 41 and Mars Hill Road intersection. A trail system master plan expected to be adopted this year will be designed to connect areas of the city, Allegood said.

It’s no secret that Main Street business owners and City Hall have feuded over the enactment of a three-hour parking limit on spaces around Main Street. So the city is working to add more parking in the area, including 40 new spaces this spring across from City Hall near a new outdoor plaza on Senator Russell Avenue, Allegood said.

Cedarcrest Church in Acworth will break ground on a new a new campus on Highway 41 near WellStar’s $29 million Acworth Health Park that’s under construction, which Allegood referred to as an “economic development engine.”

Upcoming events include a Black History Month celebration at Gallery 4463 on Cherokee Street is scheduled on Feb. 4. This April, city officials hope the newly created Acworth Arts Fest will bring a record 500,000 people to Acworth. The Pro Wakeboard Tour is expected to bring 15,000 people to Acworth in May.

Each year, the Acworth Parks and Recreation Department handles 100 events, drawing 200,000 people to the city’s recreational facilities and enrolling 3,000 children in various youth programs, Allegood said.

Among them is North Cobb Christian School senior Nick Geter, who over four years has bonded with wheelchair-bound Justin Millwood at Horizon Field, which serves children with special needs. Allegood took time out in his presentation to highlight the special relationship between the two friends.

In October, Geter was able to present Millwood with a special walker he worked to raise funds for, that allows Millwood to play baseball at Horizon Field.

“Justin Millwood inspires us to be courageous,” Allegood said. “Geter, you inspire us to make a difference in the lives of the people in our community.”