The addition of this industry vertical at ATDC comes at a critical time. The retail industry is challenged with a torrent of change in consumer behavior and keeping up with the pace of the digital transformations occurring across the sector. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the U.S. retail sector comprises more than 3.7 million establishments and supports some 42 million jobs with a $2.6 trillion impact on the economy. In Georgia alone, the retail industry supports 1.2 million jobs and adds $75.6 billion a year to the economy.