June 2011 Newsletter

Featured Articles Spring Workshop Wrap Update Your Building Info! SBA Disaster Recovery Assistance Annual Conference Hotel Available June Luncheon Registration 2011 Events Calendar New Members Georgia Competitiveness Initiative Annual Conference Hotels! Room Block is Now Available But we just finished with Spring Workshop!  I know, I know.  It feels like we're just now finished with laundry after the super-duper successful Spring Workshop.  But Annual Conference is just three months away! GEDA is pleased to announce that our room block at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott is now available!  Conference dates are from September 21-23, but you can start arriving at our discounted rate as early as Tuesday, the 20th. You can either click on this link which will bring up our dates and rates, or you can call (888-236-2427) and give "gedgeda" as the rate code.  (HINT - it's a lot easier to just click here.) June Luncheon Early Bird Deadline is This Friday June 20th is right around the corner, and that means that our Early Bird deadline for the luncheon registration is coming - this Friday!  Make sure to register today to get in at the lower rate. Our "program" is the 2nd Annual Broker's Event.  The feedback from members and brokers alike was that last year's event was a great idea and quite successful.  We were extremely pleased to have 23 brokers as our guests in 2010.  And we already have that number this year, with several more RSVPs to come.  This promises to be a great luncheon, yet again.   This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce yourself and your company/community to the major players in the brokerage community.  And major thank you to our sponsor - the Georgia Department of Labor. NOTE:  Make plans to stay for a bit after the luncheon.  GEDA is hosting a listening session to find out what you think about US!  We are in the midst of creating our next strategic plan and need to hear from you!

Spring Workshop Wrap!! We have closed the books on the 2011 Spring Workshop.  I think we all "survived" and were able to have a fabulous time on the coast!  Early reviews so far have said, "By far, this is the best overall conference in several years", "This was one of the best I remember", "Maybe the best I have attended in my four years in Georgia" and "This was the best conference yet."  The weather was picture perfect; the speakers were very well-received; the afternon and evening activities were well-attended and successful.  By all accounts, Angie Gheesling and her team did a tremendous job on this conference! "By far, this is the best overall conference in several years" Presentations are now all online.  We have fourteen presentations from the Conference that are now available online.  So, if you saw it, loved it and want to refresh your memory -click here.  If you MISSED a particular session or even the entire conference, you can still check out the slides here. For those of you who attended, there is still time to complete the survey.  We have about 25% of our attendees who have already done so (THANK YOU!)  If you have not yet had a chance to let us know what you thought, please take just a few minutes to give us your feedback.  Thanks!  And start watching the Gazette and email for information on Annual Conference - it's right around the corner! We have photos uploaded also.  HUGE thank you to Greg Mullis with Tri-County EMC!  Click here to view the photos. Don't Get Left Behind! Update Your Building Info! The Georgia Department of Economic Development is requesting your assistance.   Georgiafacts.net which houses a greatd eal of information about available buildings in Georgia has some information that may not be up-to-date.  We need YOU to create an account online and update the assets in your community.  Detailed instructions are available below. To Create a Login: Go to georgiafacts.net > My Account (on the top far right) > Sign In. Select "Create a New Account.:  Enter the requested information (name, email, phone) and click 'Continue.'  Select 'Continue' again and enter the rest of the information, including a username and password. Select 'Local Economic Developer' and click 'I agree.' Once you are logged into the system, you will be able to add new buildings, edit existing listings and delete buildings that are no longer available.  After saving the changes, they will be live immediately.  For detailed instructions on how to add, edit and delete buildings, click here. SBA Special Assistance For Communities Affected by Tornados The Presidential disaster declaration in Georgia as a result of the recent tornadoes automatically activated the U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loan program. This financial assistance is available to homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations of all sizes. The interest rates are fixed and are as low as 2.688% for homeowners and renters, 3% for non-profit organizations and 4% for businesses with terms up to 30 years.  For more information, click on the attached flyer.

2011 Events Calendar June 20.  June Luncheon.  Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center.  2nd Annual Broker's Event, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Labor.  (Stick around afterwards for a GEDA Listening Session.  Help us help you by making GEDA stronger than ever.) JULY - NO PROGRAM. August 15.  Luncheon program.  Marriott Renaissance Midtown (formerly the Hotel Palomar.) Welcome New Members Dorie Bacon, Screven County Development Authority Parker Bray, Student Scott Cooper, TVA Oliver Dallas, AGL Resources Alan Pryor, Fulton County Angela Steedley, The Steedley Firm Theo Stone, Wolverton & Associates Eric Van Otteren, City of Snellville   Georgia Competitiveness Initiative 12 Regional Listening Sessions The Georgia Competitiveness Initiative (GCI) was created by Governor Deal, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.  It is designed to bring government and business leaders together to craft a long-term economic growth strategy for the state.  There are several phases of the plan, but the next one is the most important one - regional listening sessions. GCI will host listening sessions in each of the twelve regions over the summer.  It is absolutlely VITAL that economic developers go to these meetings with ideas to improve Georgia's competitiveness.  The committee will use the results of these 12 meetings to formulate the recommendations for the legislature next year.  If you do not go, someone else will!  Economic developers must voice opinions on what should be done to make us the strongest state possible. Go to the GCI website to find dates/locations for your region.