February 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles New Features on GEDA Website! Award Nominations CEcD Study Group Membership Renewals Legislative Update  Membership Renewals Renew your membership in GEDA today. The 2010 dues invoice/directory update has been sent to all members.  Don't allow your membership to expire.  There's still time to  Renew Your Membership Legislative Update February Legislative Digest  The 2010 Legislative session is underway and in full progress.  Click here for the latest report to track relevant economic development related policy.   Connect with GEDA

New Features on GEDA Website Site Map New website … new look … everything seems to be in a new place ... I can’t find the membership directory!!! I know that the new site can be sometimes confusing. Until you fully experience the navigation of this site, it can be confusing. We have created a SITE MAP to alleviate some of this confusion. Click here and you will see links to all of our main pages. Down the left hand side of the screen are the major subject headers found on our main menu bar, including Membership, Events, News, Committees, etc. Those images are linked to their pages – and to the right are all of the links that can be found in that area. This SITE MAP will be a great way to find whatever you’re looking for at www.geda.org!  Alphabet Soup IEDC, ACCG, IAMC, REAP, SBDC … Economic development is like any other industry group – we have a tremendous amount of alphabet soup! There are so many industry terms and so much jargon, that it can be difficult for newer professionals (and even the seasoned folks) to fully understand all of these terms. Well, GEDA has attempted to compile some of these terms and Acronyms to help you more easily comprehend all of it. Click here to see our list (complete with links to most of the acronyms!)   Special Service Awards Committee Award Nominations Special Service Awards Committee: Committee Chair, Andrea Schruijer would like to be proactive this year in soliciting nominations for special service awards.  So many communities become so heavily involved in their work that they miss out on the recognition that they deserve.  And there are some volunteers who deserve to be honored for their dedication and committment to the economic development of their communities.  Start reviewing the qualifications of Deal of the Year and Volunteer of the Year and consider a deserving project or professional that would be a worthy recipient.  Visit the Special Service Awards Committee page for more information.                                                             Professional Development Opportunity CEcD Study Group, Certification in 2010  Do you have any interest in becoming a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)?  Would you like to learn more about what it takes, how to do it, what the study & experience requirements are?  Do you think you have what it takes?  GEDA is going to provide information to those people that are interested in learning more.  If there are enough people who are ready to sit for the exam - we will create and help coordinate a CEcD study group!  GEDA has had a GREAT deal of success over the years in successfully guiding people through the process.  In fact, only Texas has more Certified Economic Developers than Georgia does! Email us at mpennington@georgia.org to let us know of your interest.

Upcoming Events February - No Program March 15, 2010 - Monthly Luncheon, Hotel Palomar - Registration Available Soon April 19, 2010 - Monthly Luncheon, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre May 19-21, 2010 - Spring Workshop, Jekyll Island, GA Welcome New Members Keith Barclift, Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority Mary Beth Bass, UGA Archway Partnership Benjamin Brooks, Smith Gambrell & Russell Joseph Brown, Southwest Georgia United Tedra Cheatham, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Jeff Dudley, Winter RLG Industrial Construction Jason Fritz, Electric Cities of Georgia Chase Grogan, Student-Georgia Southern University Sarah Harrison, Municipal Consulting Serivices Kevin Johnson, Georgia Power Tino Mantella, Technology Association of Georgia Kirk Mathews, Benning Construction Company Leneva Morgan, Georgia Power Edward Outlaw, Outlaw Consulting, Inc. Shirley Sherrod, USDA Rural Development