Earn Your Leisure Sparks Conversation About Atlanta’s Support for Invest Fest, Mayor Andre Dickens Responds

What started as a conversation about entrepreneurship quickly turned into one of the biggest discussions surrounding this year’s Invest Fest.

During a recent interview, Earn Your Leisure founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings revealed they’ve had conversations about possibly moving Invest Fest out of Atlanta, saying they don’t believe the city has fully embraced the event despite its tremendous growth and economic impact.

Since its launch, Invest Fest has evolved into one of the nation’s premier business and financial literacy conferences, drawing entrepreneurs, investors, celebrities, and thousands of attendees from across the country. The annual event has become a destination for anyone looking to learn about wealth building, investing, and entrepreneurship while creating a significant boost for Atlanta’s local economy.

Despite that success, Earn Your Leisure believes the festival deserves stronger backing from its host city. Their comments ignited debate across social media, with supporters arguing that an event bringing millions of dollars into Atlanta should receive greater recognition and support from local leadership.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens responded to the remarks, emphasizing the city’s relationship with Invest Fest and reaffirming Atlanta’s commitment to the event. Dickens highlighted the festival’s positive impact on the city and acknowledged the role Earn Your Leisure has played in making Atlanta a destination for conversations around financial empowerment and Black entrepreneurship.

The exchange has sparked a larger conversation about the relationship between major cities and independently created cultural events. As conferences like Invest Fest continue to attract national attention and generate substantial economic activity, many are asking what role local governments should play in helping those events grow.

For now, Earn Your Leisure has made it clear that Atlanta remains home to Invest Fest, but the discussion has opened the door to broader questions about partnership, investment, and how cities can better support events that contribute to both their economy and cultural identity.

With another successful Invest Fest on the horizon, one thing is certain—the conversation surrounding the festival now extends beyond financial literacy. It’s also about recognizing the value of homegrown events that continue to elevate the culture while bringing lasting economic impact to the communities they serve.