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The creation of 150 jobs over a three-year period is expected when a digital entertainment company relocates its North America headquarters from Gwinnett County to downtown Decatur this summer.

Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd announced Feb. 24 that CCP Games, the Reykjavik, Iceland-based digital entertainment developer, is relocating to 250 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. The new jobs will bring the company’s staff total to 300 by 2013. The business will occupy 40,000 square feet of office space in the city’s downtown business district.

“CCP Games will be one of our largest private sector employers and is a perfect fit for our downtown business district,” Floyd said. “They join a growing number of creative businesses relocating to our city because of our vibrant downtown business district and the high quality of life we offer.”

The company is the developer of EVE Online, a science fiction-based mass multiplayer online game, which was published in 2003. Through this expansion, CCP North America will support the needs of its growing company.

“CCP outlined a list of requirements for their location, including a safe, urban environment with a variety of restaurants and pubs that would be attractive to a younger work force,” said Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss. “We had all of the amenities they listed and we are excited that they made the decision to join the Decatur business community.”

“Decatur offers the perfect blend of big-city accessibility with a hometown feel that we were looking for,” said Mike Tinney, president of CCP North America. “Georgia’s financial climate combined with Decatur’s social climate provide the ideal conditions for continued growth.”

An economic market analysis conducted for the city last fall as part of its strategic planning process identified the need to focus attention on attracting new commercial office tenants to diversify its job base and attract higher paying jobs. The report specifically targeted creative industries as an ideal fit because of the city’s reputation as having a business environment that encourages collaboration, supports small businesses and nurtures creative energy.

“The CCP decision to relocate to Decatur is the type of announcement that every city wants to make,” Floyd said. “I have enjoyed getting to know the owners of CCP and look forward to welcoming all of their employees to our city. We believe they will be the catalyst that brings other creative businesses to our city and we look forward to a long, prosperous future together.”

Said Sheila Hunt, chairwoman of the Decatur Downtown Development Authority: “This project came together because everyone, including the property owner, the state of Georgia, DeKalb County and the city of Decatur worked together to keep this company in Georgia and make this announcement possible.

“We began working on this project with the property owner and their leasing agents a year ago,” Hunt added. “It was a team effort, and we are grateful for all of the support we received to make this deal work.”

The Georgia Department of Economic Development, the DeKalb County Development Authority, Georgia Power and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce assisted the company with this relocation and supported the city’s efforts to bring CCP to Decatur.