Although a precise number of countries with companies that do business with and inside the City of Peachtree Corners isn’t readily available, it’s obvious there is a broad international presence in this metro Atlanta community that is becoming the center of the Southeast’s Silicon Orchard — with technology incubator, Curiosity Lab, being a primary factor in this reach for global business.

One of the most recent endeavors took place at an announcement ceremony on July 1 when Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), formerly the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, signed a memorandum of understanding with Peachtree Corners. This agreement formalizes an already long-standing relationship between the city, Curiosity Lab and MUFG and recognizes a partnership aimed at advancing innovative solutions in transportation and Smart City technology.

Joining Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason and City Manager Brian Johnson at the event were Mio Maeda, consul general of Japan, Yukata Fujishiro, head of JCB for the Americas at MUFG Bank, Hiroyuki Akiyama, chief executive director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Atlanta, a non-profit that provides business support services to companies expanding to Japan and Yuichi Arai of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia.

Two countries, one goal

The bank’s unique MOU with Curiosity Lab is the first of its kind, focusing on scaling startups and innovation, setting a new standard in the financial sector. Mayor Mason emphasized the economic development benefits of the collaboration.

“The reason we [built Curiosity Lab] was for economic development,” he said. “And when you have [an organization with] the same goals, a partnership like this develops, and it does nothing but further our goals for the economic development of our citizens in the broader community.”

Mason added that this collaboration will strengthen the already powerful relationship between the city and the country.

“We leverage that to open up our markets — your markets to us, our markets to you. And only good can come with that,” he said.

Maeda agreed that the association will open new doors for both entities.

“More than 800 Japanese companies and Japanese-affiliated companies and offices with activities are in the state of Georgia,” he said. “It’s huge, but mainly they are in areas of manufacturing. This partnership opens up new frontiers of the relationship between Japan and Georgia in advanced technology.”

Future success built on past engagement

Fujishiro put it all into perspective when he emphasized the company’s legacy and its future. MUFG’s mission is to connect companies, society and local governments, highlighting their extensive network in Japan.

“MUFG has been innovating for over three centuries, and Curiosity Lab is leading innovation for the future. Together, we can create cities that are smarter, faster, cleaner and more efficient,” he said.

It’s not a coincidence that the partnership is taking place here. The support network in metro Atlanta has been instrumental in formalizing the relationship with MUFG. As the largest bank in Japan and one of the top ten in the world, MUFG embraces new ways of doing things while staying true to its core values.

“Urban infrastructure is a large part of our work,” said Fujishiro. “We financed the new Terminal One at New York’s JFK Airport. [And] MUFG is one of the banks that contributed to the investment in the construction of Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Curiosity Lab,” he continued. “They are pioneering the next generation of city infrastructure with autonomous vehicles, solar-powered roads and smart public technologies from all over the world. And Peachtree Corners has created a dream come true for companies across industries: a testing site where local government encourages private industry.”

Innovation and growth

MUFG’s 360 years in existence isn’t a fluke. The company looks for innovative ways to enhance its profile. They host accelerate events in Japan and have a venture capital and equity fund to invest in startups globally — something that’s not standard practice in many American banks. But it has already proven successful in this country, as the Atlanta office is approaching its 50th anniversary.

“This milestone reflects our long-standing commitment to the economic development of the region,” Fujishiro said. “Supporting Japanese businesses has been an integral part of this commitment. We have the reach of a global institution and the client service of a local branch. This unique culture allows us to connect Japanese companies with the best opportunities abroad.”

The dedication to innovation and infrastructure shared by MUFG and Peachtree Corners makes the partnership more valuable, he said.

Johnson explained that the coalition with MUFG was an obvious win for the city.

“We have an opportunity and a location to scale technology, to make the world a better place and to make it easier to do so. And so we’re really excited that that goal and mission marries well with MUFG,” he said.

“MUFG is a bank that understands the challenges that companies in the innovation space have,” Johnson added, “and they created an internal framework to help those companies, and a framework for external partnerships so that we can connect companies and products … and together try to make the world we live in a little bit safer, smarter, cleaner.”

This partnership between the city and MUFG aims to foster innovation and urban infrastructure and connect Japanese companies with global opportunities, leveraging MUFG’s global reach and local client service.

For more about MUFG, visit mufgamericas.com.

To learn more about Curiosity Lab of Peachtree Corners, visit curiositylabptc.com.

Source: Curiosity Lab and the city’s Inside Peachtree Corners newsletter

The City of Peachtree Corners and Curiosity Lab kicked off spring with numerous new collaborators and partners. It’s been an exciting past few months of new and innovative technology making waves in a variety of industries including GIS, metaverse tech, smart delivery and so much more!

Learn more about [Curiosity Lab’s] newest members and partners, and how they’re helping Peachtree Corners, and [the] Innovation Center continue to thrive and grow.

BizzTech

As Peachtree Corners continues to grow, city officials are always looking to find innovative solutions to increase safety through preventative management tools. Earlier this year, Curiosity Lab announced its partnership with BizzTech — the leading provider of immersive, AI-driven Metaverse platforms — to deploy a photorealistic digital twin of downtown Peachtree Corners.

BizzTech’s Urban Metaverse will provide city leadership with an increased level of real-time insight to accelerate data-driven decision-making, boost public safety and cut planning costs.

BizzTech’s solutions are AI-powered digital twins that combine generative AI and agentic AI to not only simulate but also autonomously adapt and respond to various scenarios, enhancing user interaction and decision-making.

The platform’s predictive analytics alert city personnel to potential bottlenecks and safety hazards before they escalate, supporting proactive maintenance, optimized traffic flow and lower operational costs.

The first-of-its-kind collaboration with Curiosity Lab marks a big step forward in operational efficiency. More on this announcement can be found here.

Esri

Continuing the partnership focus on increasing city management efficiency, Curiosity Lab partnered with Esri — the global leader in geographic information systems (GIS) technology — to deploy ArcGIS OnlineSM and ArcGIS VelocitySM.

Together, these solutions will enable Peachtree Corners to seamlessly visualize, analyze and consolidate data from connected smart city solutions. Esri’s ArcGIS Velocity solutions will aggregate real-time IoT device data, giving Peachtree Corners immediate insight by combining information from both existing and newly deployed technologies, empowering leaders with
critical information.

[Curiosity Lab and city leadership] are looking forward to exploring the many ways this technology will help spot patterns, predict issues, and act upon situations before they impact our community. Learn more about this announcement here.

Arrive AI

If you’ve stopped by Curiosity Lab recently, you may have noticed a new high-tech mailbox at the entrance — Arrive AI’s ArrivePoints^TM. Arrive AI has joined our ecosystem with the launch of its autonomous last mile (ALM) solutions anchored by smart mailboxes.

Offering a 24/7 solution within Curiosity Lab, the smart mailbox tracks, verifies and dispenses packages, and features integrated video monitoring to keep packages safe during and after delivery.

The unit also features advanced heating and cooling capabilities, compensating for rapid temperature shifts of up to 20°F in minutes to protect packaged contents. Connected via T-Mobile’s award-winning 5G network, ArrivePoints offer low latency, high speed connectivity and strong bandwidth for seamless delivery and real-time tracking.

We’re looking forward to seeing Arrive AI enhance its delivery capabilities in real-time with high-speed connectivity and our innovative ecosystem. Read more about this innovative delivery unit in Informed Infrastructure’s latest article or read the full announcement here.

[Curiosity Lab] has more exciting announcements regarding new collaborations with companies such as Derq and VisionCraft, two traffic management system innovators changing the way cities can improve traffic and roadway safety.

“As 2025 rolls on, we’ll continue pushing the boundaries of what a smart city can do — and we can’t wait to share what’s next. Stay tuned for more to come!”

The original, unedited version of this article can be found in the city’s Inside Peachtree Corners June 2025 newsletter.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Peachtree Corners, it’s that we’re a city full of people who care about their neighbors, their neighborhoods and the community as a whole. That’s why I’m excited to share some great news: the formation of the Peachtree Corners Garden Club!

Garden clubs have a long-standing tradition in cities and towns across America, and for good reason. They provide a platform for residents to share gardening knowledge, exchange tips and techniques and cultivate not only plants but friendships and a sense of belonging.

The Peachtree Corners Garden Club will be no different. Whether you’re an experienced gardener with a backyard full of blooms or a newcomer with a windowsill herb garden, this club will offer something for everyone.

This new club will be for anyone who enjoys getting their hands in the dirt, appreciates the beauty of nature or just wants to meet some friendly folks while making a positive difference in our city. Whether you’re a master gardener or someone who’s just managed to keep a houseplant alive for a few months (we’ve all been there), there’s a place for you.

The benefits of joining a community garden club

One of the best parts of joining a garden club is the chance to learn from each other. From swapping gardening tips and plant cuttings to hosting workshops and hearing from guest speakers, the club will be a great way to build your knowledge — without feeling like a classroom. It’s all about learning by doing and helping each other grow (plants and friendships).

Gardening is fun on your own, but it’s even better with friends. The Peachtree Corners Garden Club will bring together people with a shared interest and a passion for improving our community. Whether it’s working on a group project or just catching up at a meeting, it’s a chance to connect with others in a relaxed, friendly environment.

We already live in a beautiful city — but there’s always room for more color, more greenery and more curb appeal. The club will take on projects that help spruce up public areas, plant trees and flowers and keep some of our favorite spots looking their best. These small touches can make a big difference in how we feel about where we live.

In addition to beautification efforts, the Garden Club will be a champion for sustainability. Members will advocate for native plantings, support pollinator health by promoting bee-and butterfly-friendly gardens and educate the public on how to garden in environmentally responsible ways. These practices not only benefit our ecosystem but also help preserve the natural resources that make our city a desirable place to live.

More than planting flowers

We all know life can get busy and stressful, but gardening is one of those simple joys that helps bring balance. Spending time outdoors, working with plants and seeing something you’ve grown come to life, it’s not just rewarding, it’s good for your mental and physical health. The Garden Club is a chance to slow down, breathe in some fresh air and enjoy the peaceful side of life in Peachtree Corners.

In essence, the Peachtree Corners Garden Club will be about more than planting flowers — it’s about planting the seeds of a stronger, more connected and more beautiful city. It’s about empowering residents to make a difference, not just in their own backyards, but in the shared spaces we all call home.

I encourage all residents, whether you’re a lifelong gardener or simply curious about getting started, to consider joining the Garden Club. Let’s keep Peachtree Corners blooming — together.

The next Garden Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. in the Community Chest room at City Hall located at 310 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners. This meeting will discuss the forming of the club and club leadership and goals and create a club vision plan.

You can follow the club on Facebook at facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577611141785.

For more information, sign up for the Garden Club’s distribution list at forms.gle/oQ9VvLBPcXcLuVes9.