August 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Update from GDEcD Commissioner Heidi Green Register for Our Next Two Programs Update on the Tax Commission Meeting Learn Why They Didn't Locate Social Media Updates Link to Us Campaign  Ideas for Upcoming Issues? Social Media Updates Did you know? GEDA currently has 202 fans of our Facebook Page; there are 243 members of our LinkedIn Group; we have 121 people following us on Twitter.  Don't you think it's about time that you joined at least one of these???  Click any (or all!) of the following icons to go directly to our pages.  This is the best way to get information from GEDA, as well as exchange information with each other! Link to Us!! Show Off Your Affiliation with GEDA Have you ever wanted to announce to the world that you were part of the world's greatest economic developers association, but tattoos seemed too painful and bumper stickers didn't seem strong enough?  Well, we have a great opportunity for you!  You can place the GEDA logo on your website (active members only, please) and let everyone know that you are a proud member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.  Email us and ask for the logo - all we ask is that you place our web link, www.geda.org, on the site as well.  Thanks! Have an Idea for the Gazette? Help Us Help You! What items would you like to see featured in the Gazette?  Email us and let us know what we should be covering.  We want to make this newsletter as useful for you as possible.  To borrow a line from the movie Jerry McGuire, "Help me help you!"

Update from GDEcD Commissioner Heidi Green Greetings!  As you may know, our department has undergone many changes in the recent past.  I am thrilled to be serving as GDEcD Commissioner and I look forward to serving you in my new position.  We are also excited to have Pat Wilson on board as the new Deputy Commissioner of Global Commerce.  Pat will bring great knowledge of state government and excellent relationship building skills to the Global Commerce team and I am certain you will enjoy getting to know him. Our department is moving forward into a new fiscal year after great success in FY10.  With our jobs and investment numbers both coming in higher than FY09, we are proud to say that companies are investing in Georgia and bringing jobs to citizens across the state.  As we begin the new fiscal year, the department is striving to continue our successes as we reach out to companies in Georgia and across the globe. Click here to read the rest of the article.   Register Today for TWO Great Programs! GEDA has TWO fantastic programs coming in the next two months that you do not want to miss! First - our August luncheon is something new and different from GEDA (exactly what you have been asking for from us)!  Our June luncheon brought us the perspective of site selection consultants in what one long-time GEDA member dubbed "the best GEDA luncheon in the past 10 years."  Now it's time to spend more time with the state's brokerage community.  While chomping on chili dogs, onion rings and fried apple pies, we can get to know each other in a laid-back, fun atmosphere.  Make sure you register today for this UNIQUE opportunity to meet the major brokers in the state! And just a few weeks later will be the 47th GEDA Annual Conference at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  Misti Martin and her committee have a great program lined up including: Dr. Jeffrey Rosensweig, Emory Professor, Global Guru and one of GEDA's favorite presenters; both Gubernatorial candidates; some fantastic breakout sessions and much more!  Did I mention that we'll have our Annual Awards Ceremony and the FAREWELL performance by our own GEDA All-Star Band???  That alone should be reason enough to join us in Savannah!  Register today to take advantage of Early Bird Prices. New Tax Reform Council Meeting Update on the Commission formed by HB 1405 The state's new tax reform commission held its first meeting on August 28th. House Ways & Means Chair Larry O'Neal, Speaker of the House David Ralston and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle asked the commission to recommend a "flatter, fairer, consistent, easily understandable, simple to comply with, effective and stable in raising revenue, more job friendly and generating sustainable economic growth" tax system. The commission will be examining the tax code "from top to bottom - all 19 platforms" and explore every tax exemption and preference currently in the code to measure their effectiveness in accomplishing their supposed missions.  A.D. Frazier, former chief operating officer for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, was elected commission chair.  Frazier will lead the commission on fact-finding sessions over the summer and fall to gather input from across the state. Click here to read the rest of the report. Find Out Why That Company Didn't Locate YOU Can Help Create a Session at Annual Conference! There will be a workshop on Wednesday afternoon that will present the economic climate in different states and compare their effectiveness in attracting new businesses as well as retaining existing businesses.  Specifically, the state of Georgia's strengths and weaknesses will be discussed and evaluated in an interactive and data driven approach.  The discussions will be based on Droege & Co.'s Economic Climate Index which provides transparency to the development of labor cost, availability of labor and executives, closeness to customers and suppliers and much more. To broaden the qualitative aspect in these discussions we intend to execute a survey to investigate the reasons why companies have chosen to locate, and the reasons why companies not to locate to the state of Georgia.  Now, for the purpose of this survey, we extend a request that you provide us with company names and contacts that fit into one of these two categories.  If you know of a contact that you would like to suggest as a participant in this survey, please forward that information to Scott McMurray or Mike Pennington.

Upcoming Events REGISTER TODAY for GEDA's August Luncheon! August 23 - Piedmont Park (Greystone Building)  It's a "Meet the Brokers" event catered by The Varsity!  (Sponsored by the Development Authority of Fulton County.) September 22-24 - 47th ANNUAL CONFERENCE!  Hotel rooms are available at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  (Mention GEDA to get our special low rate.) Welcome New Members Kevin Hall, Williams & Associates David Childs, ADP Add a Photo!!! Say Cheese! Out of approximately 700 GEDA members, only 87 of you have added a photo to your profile!!!  It's so easy to add a photo ... Just go to Edit Your Profile and scroll about half way down the page to "Personal Image."  Pick one you'd like to display and you're ready to go!   Governor's Conference on Tourism Stay in tune with today's tourism trends, technology and topics at this annual conference held exclusively for the state's tourism industry.  Year after year, the Governor's Tourism Conference is recognized as a must attend event for the tourism industry in Georgia.  This year's conference will be held in Athens August 30-September 1 and features these keynote speakers: Roger Dow - US Travel Association, Horst Schultze - founding President of Ritz-Carlton and Bill Geist - Zeitgeist Consulting.  Learn about new social media strategies, market segmentation, statewide research and legislative issues facing Georgia's tourism industry. GDEcD is offering GEDA members a $25 DISCOUNT on the registration fee!!!  Register online at www.georgiagtc.com and use the code GATOURISM when prompted. Give It a Try! Visit our FAQ Page We have answers for many of your questions about GEDA, our website and other topics available at our FAQ page.  Forgot your password?  Don't know how to register?  Is there a site map? (Yes!)  Many of your questions may already be answered.  If not - let us know and we'll answer them for you.