Commerce secretary visits Georgia business leaders

ATLANTA - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker spent Friday talking with Atlanta business leaders and government officials.

The Commerce Department said the visit was part of a nationwide listening tour to see how the public and private sectors work together.

The secretary's Atlanta tour schedule include stops at the Invest Atlanta economic development organization, the Census Bureau's Atlanta office, and the Global Center for Medical Innovation, a nonprofit that works with schools and others on the commercialization of new medical technology.

In a statement, Pritzker says her goal is to "serve as a bridge to the business community - both domestically and abroad - so that we can work together to strengthen the economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans."

At Invest Atlanta, she talked about how the Department of Commerce can help businesses be more competitive by supporting manufacturing, investing in research and helping exporters reach new markets.

Pritzker started the listening tour after being confirmed as commerce secretary in June. Other stops have included Orlando, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn.