December 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Economic Development Research Program Happy Holidays from GEDA 2014 is the Year to Sponsor Tis the Season to Renew New Members 2014 Grants App of the Month Economic Development Research Program Between 1985 and 2000, Georgia Tech administered the Economic Development Research Program (EDRP) which provided research services to communities throughout the state. Through this program, state resources were leveraged with a small local match to provide needed research to local communities. With funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), that program was re-introduced on a limited basis last year. Two projects were awarded in Liberty County and Grady County, which are still on-going. However, there is a second-round of funding that is being made available for 2014 and it is time to submit your requests. If your community has a need for innovative research, is willing to become actively involved in the project during the study phase and follow-up implementation, and is willing to provide some level of cost match, Georgia Tech and EDA want to partner with you to conduct the research. For more information on this new resource, you can contact Dr. Alfie Meek, the Director of Innovation Strategy & Impact at Georgia Tech (alfie.meek@innovate.gatech.edu). You may fill out an application at http://communityinnovation.org/edrp/research-project-application/. The deadline to apply for the 2014 funding is December 31, 2013. The final projects will be chosen by the EDRP Board and awards will be announced by February 1. The goal is that the paperwork can be taken care of during the month of February and research can begin in March 2014. As before, there are limited funds available and projects will be chosen based on local commitment, likelihood of implementation, level of cost match, and obviously a match with the capabilities of the research team at Georgia Tech. We look forward to getting your applications and partnering with you to meet your community’s research needs. GEDA Holiday Hours The GEDA office will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday with the exception of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day.  We will be closed on those three days in accordance with the state holiday calendar. Happy Holidays from GEDA   Thank you. You have made 2013 an unbelievable success in every way we could possibly imagine. While we certainly spent a great deal of time planning for a fantastic 50th Anniversary celebration, you responded in such a positive way that it is difficult to grasp. Attendance figures are through the roof, sponsorships set records in every category that we can measure, membership is now over 800, approaching pre-Great Recession numbers. GEDA proactively worked to get our name and purpose out in more public areas through a communications strategy. Starting with the 32-page publication that came with your January Georgia Trend and continuing through multiple placements in newspapers all over the state, more citizens know about economic development than ever before. Thank you. GEDA is moving forward into our 2nd 50 years and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.   2014 is the Year to Sponsor Calling all sponsors!  Now is the time to grab your spot on GEDAs 2014 calendar.  With an event almost every month, there's something for everyone no matter your budget.  Some changes to note for the upcoming sponsorship season: There are three sponsorships available for each of these luncheons: Legislative, Meet the Brokers & Consultants Panel. There is only one spot left for Champions Circle. Sponsorships range from $200-10,000 Our sponsorships always sell out so don't be left behind.  Click here for the full sponsorship prospectus.  For availalility and to lock in your event or program of preference, email mgworley@southernco.com. Tis the Season to Renew! It's time to renew your membership to the organization that you can't live without.  What better gift can you give yourself and/or your employees this season than the gift of education and networking to further your careers?  Don't miss all that we have in store for you in 2014.  Renew your membership now by click here, log in and then click the red button that says "RENEW". 2014 Events Calendar January 29.  Legislative Day at the The Freight Room. 2014 Calendar is available now too! New Members in November! Jennie Allison, CSRA Regional Commission Allen Bernhardt, Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development Ashley M Brown, Macon Economic Development Commission Brion Fitzpatrick, Inman Solar Colin Martin, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce Nathan Mize, Mize & Mize Michael Eugene Mizell, Millennium Security Services, LLC Summer Nix, Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce Be On the Lookout for GEDA Grants Available in January! Each year, GEDA awards thousands of dollars in grants to support the professional development of our members. These funds cover a significant portion of the expenses associated with many of the programs you value. In 2013, more than $15,000 were awarded through three rounds of applications and we are doing it again in 2014. Round 1 applications will be due in early February. Programs which may be eligible for support during Round 1 will include: Basic Economic Development Course in Atlanta, GA CEcD Exam Community Development Institute Economic Development Institute IEDC courses International Missions Penn Worden (general purpose professional development grant) In these tight fiscal times, let GEDA help you continue your professional development journey. Apply for a grant today! To download an application, please go to the Professional Development Committee documents page. For further information on GEDA’s scholarship program, please contact Justin Strickland, 2014 Professional Development Committee chair. App of the Month "From Dec. 26 to Jan. 6, Apple will offer a free gift every day from the App Store or iTunes. That means free books, movies, apps, songs right after you've opened that brand new iPad or iPhone. Each deal is only available for 24 hours. But in order to find out about those giveaways you'll need to download Apple's "12 Days of Gifts" app, which is available now in the App Store." -ABC News Have an app to recommend to us?   Fill out this simple form.

November 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Pushing the Boundary on Innovation: Center of Innovation for Life Sciences & IT State of the Ports Exercise your Leadership by Serving as a Grader Georgia Named No. 1 by Site Selection November Luncheon and GDEcD Open House Renew Your Membership In Memory of Walt Bellamy New Members Back in Time Pushing the Boundary on Innovation: Center of Innovation for Life Sciences & IT As the fifth largest IT employer in the nation and with more than 165,000 technology employees, Georgia is a hub for innovation. The Center of Innovation for Life Sciences & IT is a leader when it comes to helping these businesses and industries thrive. The Center’s industry experience and insight provides companies with essential resources to solve problems, grow quickly and compete globally. Let us help you find the right solutions to meet your company’s unique needs. Are you our next success story? Visit  Tech.GeorgiaInnovation.org to learn more. State of the Ports Luncheon and Conference on 11/13 at the Westin Buckhead The Georgia Chamber invites you to attend the 2013 State of the Ports Luncheon and Transportation Conference on November 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The event will be held at the Westin Buckhead Atlanta and feature speakers Governor Nathan Deal, Mayor Kasim Reed (invited) and Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz.  Click here for more details and to register. Exercise your Leadership by Serving as a Grader Calling all CEcDs!! IEDC is requesting your participation in the CEcD grading process for the Atlanta, GA CEcD Exam for two credits towards your recertification. The exam is a two-day process on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 2013.  The grading process will begin at 12:30 pm local time on Saturday, December 14. Please make travel and accommodation arrangements to arrive on Friday, December 13 or early Saturday, December 14.  Interested?  Fill out this form and email it to rthomas@iedconline.org. Georgia Named No. 1 by Site Selection “Making Georgia the premiere state in the nation for business has been a strategic goal from Day One of my administration. We have worked hard to stay ahead of the curve and anticipate business needs not only today, but in the future. Achieving this national recognition means we are on the right track and reminds us of the importance of continuing to strive for excellence in all we do.” - Governor Nathan Deal Click here to read the full article in Site Selection Magazine. Consultants Panel and GDEcD Open House on November 18 Our annual Consultants Panel just got better with the addition of the Open House at the Georgia Department of Economic Development before and after the luncheon!  Our Partnerships are here to maximize your membership value so don't miss out on this opportunity. If you haven't registered for this month's luncheon, now is the time.  Click here to register for the November 18th luncheon at the Renaissance Midtown Atlanta.  We will be hearing from Jeff Forsythe, McCallum Sweeney Consulting, William Hearn, Site Dynamics, and Gary Yates, Jones Lang LaSalle with Jonathan Sangster, Georgia Power as our panel moderator.    2014 is Right Around the Corner! The holiday season is upon us and it will be time to renew your GEDA membership dues.  What better gift to give yourself than another year in this organization that you love so much?  Click here to renew your dues if you haven't done so already. We also want to get on your calendar in advance so here's a list of the event dates for 2014: January 29 - Legislative Day February 17  March 17  April 21  May 14-16 - Spring Workshop at Brasstown Valley Resort June 16  August 18 September 17-19 - Annual Conference at Hyatt Savannah Riverfront October 20  November 17 You can add prepaid meals to your membership dues for a bargain price of $240 by emailing us at ccrossfield@georgia.org.  For a list of our (and other industry) events, go to our Calendar of Events.  We will be updating that throughout the year. In Memory of Walt Bellamy GEDA is sad to report that Walt Bellamy passed away on Saturday. Walt is best known as a Hall of Fame center in the NBA, playing with several teams including our Atlanta Hawks. After his basketball career, he began a career in service – to the Democratic National Convention as a three-time delegate and as Senate Doorkeeper at the Georgia General Assembly. Most recently, Walt served as Secretary-Treasurer of the College Park Business & Industrial Development Authority. More information about his playing career can be found here. Rest in peace, Mr. Bellamy. 2013 Events Calendar November 18.  Consultants Panel at the Renaissance Midtown Atlanta December.  NO MEETING.  Happy Holidays! 2014 Calendar is available now too! New Members in October! Shawn Gunn, Gwinnett County Economic Development General Bob McMahon, 21st Century Partnership Chrissy Miner, 21st Century Partnership Woody Vaughan, King & Spalding App of the Month Did you switch to an iPhone but miss your BlackBerry Messenger?  Well that ends today (actually it ended 10/21). Last month one of BlackBerry's most popular features finally finds its way to iPhone and Android as an official app.  Click here to read more and get the link to the app on your device. Have an app to recommend to us?   Fill out this simple form.   Back in Time On November 22, 2013, our nation will arrive at the 50th anniversary of the assassination of our 35th President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. While traveling in a motorcade in Dallas, TX with First Lady Jacqueline and Texas Governor John Connally, President Kennedy was shot and fatally wounded at 1:30 pm Eastern Standard Time. At 3:33 pm, Lyndon Baines Johnson was sworn in as our 36th President once Kennedy was pronounced dead. The oath was administered aboard Air Force One, with Jacqueline Kennedy by his side. By that evening, Lee Harvey Oswald had been arrested and charged in the murders of Dallas police officer JD Tippit and President Kennedy. Two days later, on November 24, night club operator Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald as he was being transported from a police holding facility to the county jail. The shooting was caught on live TV and was witnessed by millions.   A jury found Ruby guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. While awaiting a trial date for his appeal to be heard, Ruby became ill and died of pulmonary embolism due to lung cancer. Ten months later, the Warren Commission presented President Johnson an 889-page report that stated that Oswald and Ruby had both acted alone in their actions. Georgia’s own US Senator Richard Russell, Jr. served on the Warren Commission.

October 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles The Value of the Right Connections: Thrush Aircraft CMAA Economic Breakfast Panel Annual Conference: a Huge Success UGA ED Course Brooke Lucas, 40 Under 40 New Members App of the Month Back in Time The Value of the Right Connections: Thrush Aircraft Thrush Aircraft is a global leader in the aviation sector, producing aircraft for agricultural spray operations. Through the help of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Aerospace, they were able to create their newest model, the 510G and added over 40 jobs to their manufacturing facility in Albany, Georgia. This video is the perfect example of the support the Center of Innovation for Aerospace provides Georgia-based businesses. Learn more of their story here. CMAA-SAC Economic Breakfast Panel CMAA-SAC welcomes GEDA member panelists Bill Dobbs, Brian Dill and Misti Martin on October 15 at the Buckhead Club. In an economy making a brisk recovery, state and local Economic Development Agencies are playing a more pivotal role in attracting business from around the world. The evolution of project delivery models speak to this as do accelerated development models being employed throughout the industry. What are the State of Georgia and local economic development authorities doing in an effort to streamline industry and job creation? This breakfast panel made up of state and local developers from areas attracting global business will discuss their role in the creation of opportunities for their communities and the connection to the construction industry.  Click here for more information and to register. Annual Conference was a Huge Success GEDA's 50th Anniversary Conference was the biggest and best in years- rave reviews and record attendance!  We truly enjoyed seeing everyone gathered to celebrate with us for such a monumental occasion.   Thank you to all those involved in making it a huge success!  Go to the conference page for access to photos, videos, presentations, the attendee list and a list of our generous sponsors. UGA Course for Economic Development Professionals Successful economic development professionals understand how financial packages are structured and the importance of financing options in attracting and retaining companies. The University of Georgia is offering a new training course about just that targeted to economic development professionals. The course will be a one-day session held on December 5, 2013 here in Athens. A reception will be held on the evening of December 4 for anyone staying overnight. Breakfast, lunch and the training materials are included in the fee. The next course will be held on February 5, 2014 in Tifton. Click here for more details.  Brooke Lucas, Georgia Trend's "Forty Under Forty" Brooke Lucas of Atlanta, chief of staff for the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), has been named one of Georgia Trend magazine’s “Forty Under Forty.” Each year, the magazine recognizes outstanding Georgians under the age of 40 representing business, government, politics, nonprofits, science, conservation and education. Lucas, 33, joined the GDOL in January 2011, when newly elected State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler appointed her deputy commissioner for workforce development. In January 2012, Butler promoted her to chief of staff. “Brooke has brought innovation, leadership, and her vast knowledge of economic development to this organization and is one of the architects of change for this department,” said Butler. “Through my years in public service, I have met many people from all walks of life across Georgia, and I can tell you that Brooke ranks in the very top.” In her role as chief of staff, Lucas manages the day-to-day operations of the GDOL and acts as liaison between the labor commissioner’s office, the Governor’s Office, and the Georgia General Assembly. Also, she consults with state agencies and businesses on a myriad of labor and workforce issues.  Butler says Lucas has worked extensively to broaden the department’s focus on providing enhanced services to employers, who are vital to economic development and job creation. She has helped lead the development of two units that are central to the way the GDOL provides services to jobseekers and employers – the Special Workforce Assistance Team (SWAT) and the Business Services Unit (BSU).  Click here for the full press release. 2013 Events Calendar October 21. Awards Luncheon. Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins November 18. Monthly Luncheon.  Renaissance Midtown Atlanta. December 14-15. CEcD Exam by IEDC. Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Welcome New Members! Tim Fenbert, Southern States Regional Center Marie Garrett, City of Brookhaven Catherine Mary Jennings, Gas South Marc Jerome Litt, Building and Earth Science, Inc. Bates Mattison, City of Brookhaven Molly Olson Andrea Rimer, Troutman Sanders App of the Month Pocket has been called the “DVR for the web” by The New York Times, Businessweek, and TechCrunch. When you find an interesting article, video or web page that you want to read, watch or view later, put it in Pocket. Once it’s in Pocket, it automatically syncs across to your phone, tablet and computer so you can view it anytime on any device, even without an internet connection. Free for iPad and iPhone.  Back in Time Fifty years ago no one had heard of USB or iPhones/Pads/etc.  Here's a list of inventions and the "hottest" tech toys in 1963: Nov 18th - Bell Telephone introduces push button telephone Jul 1st - US postal service institutes (Zone Improvement Plan) zip code Sep 16th - WVAN TV channel 9 in Savannah, GA (PBS) begins broadcasting Laser is first used for eye surgery Roche labs introduces Valium Oral Polio Vaccine (with lump of sugar) Measles vaccine – John Enders Easy-Bake Oven Lava Lamp (Astro Light) Cassette Tape Computer mouse – Douglas Engelbart

September 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Countdown to Annual Be a Volunteer Rock Star Last Call for Champions Circle New Members App of the Month Back in Time 50th Anniversary Annual Conference GEDA's 50th Anniversary Conference is just days away!  Are you registered?  Will you be amung the vendors exhibiting to the largest crowd of economic developers in one building in years?  We hope you answered yes to at least one of those questions.  We have worked tirelessly with an amazing group of volunteers to put together valuable programming, delicious menus, and great networking opportunities including but not limited to the app, exhibit area, and optional activities.  Click here to see who else is registered.  Be a Volunteer Rock Star This article marks a shift in content for the monthly Gazette.  We would like to offer more editorial pieces like this one (originally submitted by Mike Pennington for the SEDC weekly blog).  It is not our intention that this content will be created by GEDA staff, but by YOU!  Feel free to submit an article that you think the membership would find valuable. I know you’ve heard it before … you’ve probably even said it many times before. Join with me, “You can only get from an association what you put into it.” Stated differently, your volunteer activity is directly proportional to the benefits you receive from engagement. We have heard it time and time again and we likely have seen it come to fruition. However, it can still be daunting when you are taking those first steps with a new group or organization. Do my skills match what they’re looking for? Do they have a need for someone like me? Do I have anything of value to provide them? The answers to those questions are yes, Yes and YES! Sometimes the biggest obstacle can be overcoming any self-doubt or apprehension about trying to get involved with a new group. Often times, you may not know anyone within the organization and will have to start over by proving that you have the talent and experience to contribute. Rest assured, we have all been there before. There are a few rules to follow when finding the right place to ‘plug in.’ Follow these and you’ll be much more likely to Find Your Passion. Know Your Strengths … and Your Loves You have known you longer than anyone else. It is not bragging to know what your strengths are. (Now, telling everyone about them may cross that line.) You know what you do well and you know what you enjoy doing. What’s interesting is, those two may not always match. You may discover that you have a great talent for writing but you cannot stand doing it. Or you may think that you would love to paint, but have no shred of artistic ability. Do not force yourself to use your talents in an arena where you have no passion. That will only lead eventually to burnout. The key is to find that place where your interest and your skills are at a high. As you can see in the graph, there are four potential outcomes when you volunteer, based on your skills (actual, not perceived) and your level of interest, or passion, for the subject. - When both skills and interest are low, you will not be able to contribute a great deal to the tasks or discussions. This is neither your area of expertise nor something you care about. Please avoid falling into the “What Were You Thinking?” category! - High skill plus low interest will lead to the Burnout mentioned earlier. - Activities in which you have little skill but great interest could lead to a situation where you do more harm than good. You could be seen as more a Nuisance than someone who is actually contributing. - Finally, of course you want to be the Rock Star; the person who has a high level of skill and a high level of interest. THIS is your passion! THIS is where you should volunteer your time, talent and resources. You know what you love. You know what you do well. Find where those two lines intersect and you have found where you have great potential to succeed as a volunteer. When you find that right spot, you can confidently begin contributing to the larger group. Associations and organizations are absolutely ecstatic to find new Rock Stars! Be a GEDA volunteer rock star! Last Call for Champions Circle We are thrilled to announce that 4 of the 5 Champions Circle sponsorships have been sold for 2014!  Only one spot left.  Who will it be?  Email Brian Dill if you are interested.  As a quick reminder, these four companies have agreed to sponsor GEDA throughout 2014.  This is the first time we have ever offered a package like this one and we couldn't be more excited about the response!  Be prepared to see the following four logos a lot next year.  And yours could be the 5th and final logo. THANK YOU to: Development Authority of Fulton County Georgia Power Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority King & Spalding YOUR NAME HERE    2013 Events Calendar September 25-27.  Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Savannah  October 21. Awards Luncheon. Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA December 14-15. CEcD Exam by IEDC. Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Welcome New Members! Phillip Barry, Avison Young Jaime Riggs, Candler County Industrial Authority App of the Month It will probably come as no surprise to anyone that we think our app is the best so we nominated it and took a vote here and it won App of the Month.  It's where you can go to find out anything related to the Annual Conference from room names and the agenda to who's there and who's is exhibiting       Back in Time Check out that top TV shows of 1963.  Did you catch the originals of any of these or just the reruns?   The Beverly Hillbillies   Bonanza   The Dick Van Dyke Show   Petticoat Junction   The Andy Griffith Show   The Lucy Show   Candid Camera   The Ed Sullivan Show   The Danny Thomas Show   My Favorite Martian   The Red Skelton Show   I’ve Got a Secret   Lassie   The Jack Benny Program   The Jackie Gleason Show   The Donna Reed Show   The Virginian   The Patty Duke Show   Dr. Kildare   Gunsmoke

August 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Sponsorships Available Inflation Strikes Again New Sponsorship Level It's Time to Apply for Awards Georgia Centers of Innovation Spotlight New Members App of the Month Back in Time 2014 Sponsorships Available 9/1 Over the past few years, our sponsorship offerings have become more and more popular to the point that people are reserving their favorite luncheon, mobile app or platinum sponsorship more than a year in advance. While it is absolutely against our nature to ask people to wait when they ask to give us money, we must make sure that we have a level playing field for all GEDA members. To that end, the Board of Directors recently approved a policy which states that GEDA cannot accept sponsorship requests until September 1st of the current year. In other words, if you have interest in any of the sponsorships with limited availability (Circle of Champions, conference platinum, mobile app or monthly luncheons) you will need to submit that request after September 1st of this year.  For more information, contact Brian Dill, Sponsorship Committee Chair, or click here for the latest Sponsorship Brochure. New Luncheon Rate We have been fighting it for as long as we can, and it has finally taken over. “It” in this case is the rising costs of food at our monthly luncheons. We currently ask the loyal and fantastic GEDA members to pay $30 per person for the lunches. And yet, after service charges and taxes, we have to pay close to $35 for each person – the math just does not work. That is why we will have to increase luncheon prices for 2014 to $35 per person. However, there is still a way to pay only $30 per lunch. If you select our prepaid meals option for 2014 when you renew, the cost is only $240 for the year. Again, based on your feedback, the Legislative Luncheon will now be covered in the prepaid meals option. $240 for 8 meals … what a bargain! Circle of Champions Based on what we have seen this year, one of these things must be true:    • Brian Dill and the Sponsorship Committee are absolute rock stars;    • The economy is recovering somewhat;    • There has never been a better time to be a GEDA member; or    • We have the greatest members on the planet. Okay, you’re right. All four of those are true. We will soon close what has been an unbelievable year for GEDA, with membership growth, meeting attendance, the 50th anniversary celebration and unprecedented sponsorship numbers.  Based on feedback from YOU, the Board of Directors recently approved a brand new sponsorship opportunity for 2014: the Circle of Champions. This is a completely different offering for us, and the initial buzz has been very positive. GEDA is now actively looking for no more than five organizations to be our initial Circle of Champions (CoC) sponsors. Instead of sponsoring individual events, these CoC members will sponsor GEDA for the entire year! That’s right, you’ll automatically be a sponsor for all 10 of our events AND you will have your logo scrolling on our home page all year long! And just for fun, we’re throwing in two memberships with prepaid meals to boot. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. How much for ALL this?  Only $10,000 for a package worth so much more, but you have to act fast. We only have room for five Champions for 2014. Questions? Comments? Let us know. The Board also decided that, due to the crazy popularity of a few monthly luncheons, GEDA would expand our monthly luncheon sponsorships to allow for as many as three slots at three of our luncheons: Legislative Reception, Meet the Brokers and the Consultants Panel. It's Award Time It's time once again to request applications for our 6th Annual Deal of the Year Awards. As you know, the DOY is awarded to outstanding achievements in the location or expansion of Georgia companies. We have four award categories: Large community (over 100,000), Medium (50,001 - 100,000), small (50,000 or less) and regional. Any EDO with a current GEDA member is eligible to submit a nomination - as long as the deal was announced after July 1, 2012.  The awards ceremony will take place at the October luncheon this year. Volunteer of the Year (VOTY) forms can be found here and DOTY forms can be found here . For more information, contact Morgan B. Law, CEcD, Chair of the GEDA Special Service Awards Committee.   Energizing Georgia and Creating New Wealth   As one of the six Georgia Centers of Innovation, the Center of Innovation for Energy works with new and existing businesses to help them grow and compete globally. One of these companies, Sputnik Technology USA, Inc., a Swiss-based energy company, who sells solar inverters under the name SolarMax, contacted director Costas Simoglou for information on Georgia when they were looking to locate their first North American office. Initially considering another city, Simoglou convinc ed the company leadership that Georgia was the place for them. “Because the COI is here, we were able to get in touch with the right people and recruit the right people. We were able to find the right spot to build our office and testing lab. Georgia was the best place to come and they have continually proven to be the best place for us,” said Michael Ernst, President, Sputnik Technology USA, Inc.   2013 Events Calendar August 19.  Small Business Rock Star Award Luncheon at the Renaissance Midtown.  September 25-27.  Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.  (Reserve your room at the Hyatt.) Welcome New Members! Matthew Morris, Effingham County Industrial Development Authority Shelby Perkins, HLB Gross Collins, P.C. Joshua Stephens, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce App of the Month Who says nothing in this world comes free?  Apps Gone Free is FREE and was featured in USA Today. Find great apps without spending a dime! Get high quality paid apps for free each day. Unlike other apps, we offer no paid listings - these are expert-picked top-ranked apps, for FREE!  Available for Apple and Droid devices. Have an app to recommend to us?   Fill out this simple form.  Back in Time Check out these celebrities that were born the same year that GEDA was, 1963: a. Michael Jordan, February 17 b. Larry the Cable Guy, February 17 c. Charles Barkley, February 20 d. Vanessa Williams, March 18 e. Quentin Tarantino, March 27 f. Conan O’Brien, April 18 g. Jet Li, April 26 h. Mike Myers, May 25 i. Johnny Depp, June 9 j. Helen Hunt, June 15 k. Greg Kinnear, June 17 l. George Michael, June 25 m. Phoebe Cates, July 16 n. Lisa Kudrow, July 30 o. Coolio, August 1 p. James Hetfield, August 3 q. Whitney Houston, August 9 r. John Stamos, August 19 s. Tori Amos, August 22 t. Mark McGwire, October 1 u. Tom Cavanagh, October 26 v. Dermot Mulroney, October 31 w. Rob Schneider, October 31 x. Brad Pitt, December 18 y. Jennifer Beals, December 19

July 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Important Dates and Update Your Profile Celebrate 50 Years at Annual Get Your Grants Here Member Spotlight New Members App of the Month Back in Time What are you doing for your career for the rest of 2013? Make sure these 2013 GEDA Events are on your calendar: August 19:  Small Business Rock Star Awards, Renaissance Midtown, Atlanta September 25-27: 50th Anniversary Annual Conference, Hyatt Regency Savannah October 21:  Annual Awards Celebration, Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins November 18:  Site Selectors Luncheon, Renaissance Midtown, Atlanta  Update Your Profile Don't be that faceless member. Make sure when you are at these fantastic GEDA events they can find you and put a face with a name.  What if someone is looking for a you because they have a project that would be perfect for your business?  Make sure your contact information is up-to-date.  What if that new member is looking for a contractor but you aren't listed as such in the directory?  Stop what you are doing and add the above events to your calendar and update your profile by clicking "view/edit profile".  It's for your own good.  We are here to help you succeed.   Celebrate 50 years at Annual Conference We have already been having so much fun celebrating GEDA's 50 year anniversary this year and now it's time for the big finale!  It will be big, it will be fantastic, and we want you there! Don't miss the opening of the 25th Anniversary Time Capsule. Here's what you need to know: WHEN:  September 25-27, 2013 WHERE:  Hyatt Regency Savannah WHO:  You, and 400+ of your closest friends WEB:  www.GEDAannual.org Registration is now open, and there are several options you can choose while registering: SPONSOR:  we still have room for gold, silver, bronze, golf tournament  hole sponsorships. Door prizes. With your support we expect to be able to give away tons of caash! Run with us Thursday morning on River Street in the GEDA Gallop. Thursday activities:  golf at The Club at Savannah Harbor, a walking tour of SCAD, or Tybee Island beach excursion. Hotel information:  The host hotel for Annual Conference is the Hyatt Regency Savannah. We have a great rate of $172/night. If you use this link and get an error saying that there are no available rooms, it may mean that only one night is not available. For instance, there are very few Tuesday night rooms available at present. Try the search for just Wednesday and Thursday night stays for best results.  Get Your Grants Here The last round of GEDA Grants is just around the corner.  During this round we have just over $5,000 in available funds to recommend for awarding:  FOUR Annual Conference grants ($600 each), TWO International Missions grants ($1,000 each), and up to $650 in Penn Worden funds which can be used toward any accredited economic development program. The deadline is August 2nd and the application is now online!!  Apply now by clicking here and then click on the grant name to access the online application. Member Spotlight We might be partial but we think our website is pretty awesome and we want to make sure you know all the cool things that are available at your fingertips.  This month we are highlighing one section that you need to know about:  Member Spotlight.  In this section we will keep you updated with jobs, babies and engagements that are submitted to us and that we find out about and confirm.  You can get to the member spotlight from the home page by scrolling down about halfway as shown below. Let us know if you have breaking news and we will add it.  We are as excited for you about your accomplishments as you are and we want to brag about it. Welcome New Members Shelby Perkins, HLB Gross Collins, P.C.  App of the Month ReceiptMatchSM stores and organizes your receipts for you. It helps make managing expenses easier. Using the app, you and your employees can snap and upload photos of your receipts on the go, and ReceiptMatchSM will begin matching them to the corresponding transactions on your online statement.  Now to decide what you will do with all this extra time.  Available for Apple and Android Devices. Back in Time How much did groceries cost in 1963? What about a car? Well here are the dollar figures on a few things from 50 years ago: Jan 7th - 1st class postage raised from 4 cents to 5 cents Bacon - $0.99 for 5 pounds Syrup - $0.27 a pint Potatoes - $0.03 per pound Oranges - $0.29/dozen Beans - $0.13/pound Sausage - $0.49/pound Average new home - $19,300 Ford Mustang 2 door hardtop $2,368 Gallon of gas - $0.30 Eggs - $0.55/dozen Milk - $0.49/gallon Federal debt - $310.3 billion Federal spending - $111.32 billion Minimum wage - $1.00/hour Average teacher’s salary - $5,174

June 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Register for Meet the Brokers Nominating Committee Spring Workshop Wrap ExportGA 2013 A Look Back - 1963 Time Capsule Export GA 2013 App of the Month COI - Logistics It's Almost Time to Open the Time Capsule Buried Since 1988 ... The Georgia Industrial Developers Association created and sealed a time capsule during the 25th Anniversary celebration, September 16, 1988.  On Wednesday, September 25, 2013, those contents will be revealed for the first time in over 9,000 days (or almost 800 million seconds).  This is just one of many exciting treats that you will enjoy at the 2013 Annual Conference.  More details to come soon! But for now, start thinking of what will go into the next time capsule.  That's right!  We will turn right back around after opening the 25th Anniverary time capsule and create a 50th Anniversary version, to be opened in 2038! Photos?  iPods? What objects, fun artifacts and really cool items should be included?  Be thinking about that - we'll come back to you in the coming months to see what your thoughts are.   App of the Month Today we're featuring Vine, an app that lets you create and share beautiful, short looping videos. With Vine, capturing life in motion is fun and easy.  Vine is available for free, worldwide, on the iPhone and iPod touch. Go make a scene. We think you'll love it. COI In Georgia, It's All About Logistics With the nation's fastest growing port, the world's busiest and most-efficient airport, the most rail in the Southeast and a nationally ranked interstate highway system, Georgia is all about logistics. This video showcases the numerous strengths in Georgia's logistics infrastructure and how the Center of Innovation for Logistics serves this key industry. Join us at the June luncheon for an update from Page Siplon. Meet the Brokers - June 17 Join us for the4th Annual GEDA Broker’s eventat the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel on Monday, June 17. Some of our members may not be as familiar with the brokerage community as with some others, and quite frankly, some brokers may not be as familiar with all of the communities in Georgia. GEDA Leadership felt that this was the right time to bring everyone together for yet another "Get to Know You" luncheon. So mark your calendars for June 17th andregister onlinetoday! This year’s event will be BUSINESS CASUAL. It’s hot in the summer so at least we can be comfortable at the luncheon, right? Thank you to this month's sponsor:ROOKER Nominating Committee It is time once again tonominateyour peers for a coveted spot on the GEDABoard of Directors! Immediately following the June luncheon, the GEDANominating Committee will meet to create a recommended slate of Officers and Directors for the coming year. Do you know of a deserving candidate? Someone who has what it takes to lead GEDA into ournextfifty years? Fill out thisformto let us know all about them and why you feel they are ready. The Nominating Committee will be looking to fill five openings: the incoming Secretary-Treasurer and four (4) Directors. According to GEDA policies, the Secretary-Treasurer is the chief financial officer for the corporation, is responsible for general policy oversight of accounting and financial management procedures, serves as the corporate secretary and is the officer responsible for the "Spring Workshop" program. Directors are elected by the Members of GEDA to exercise fiduciary responsibility for the affairs of the corporation, to establish policy and to provide strategic direction and general oversight for GEDA committees and programs, and for the administrative and financial management of the corporation. Sound like someone you know? Spring Workshop Wrap Near record attendance, beautiful new facility, perfect weather ... oh, and a great program too. The 2013 Spring Workshop was entitled "Achieving the Extraordinary" and it did just that. If you are dying to relive some of the magic, follow these links: Photosfrom the week SPONSORS! Speakerpresentations Survey- let us know what you think! ExportGA 2013 Georgia SBDC’s International Trade Center is now accepting applications for the upcoming ExportGA 2013 program. The program takes 15 companies through a series of five workshops in which they are guided through the various areas involving export market development. Any company, big or small, new-to-export or activelyexporting, benefits from this program. Experts from the private and public sectors provide the expertise throughout the workshops. A team of trade outreach specialists are assigned to the companies, as well as an intern from the University of Georgia’s International Business program. The objective of the program is to create new real export opportunities for the participants by the end of the process. Companies interested in the program can apply on-line atwww.exportga.com. Their information is held confidential and not distributed. They do not need to pay at time of application. Payment would not be required until August 5. For more information, please contact Rick Martin, Director of the International Trade Center, The University of Georgia SBDC, at 678-797-2530 orrmartin@georgiasbdc.org.Click herefor the brochure. 2013 Events Calendar June 17. 4th Annual Meet the Brokers' Luncheon at the Renaissance Atlanta Midown.Register today! 2013 Calendar New Members in May Stephanie S Davis, Terracon Consultants, Inc. Charlie Giffen, Putnam Development Authority Alvin Nash, Progress Partners Andrew Smith, RB Baker Construction Back in Time...to 1963 - Sports Champions Football: AFL – San Diego Chargers 51, Boston Patriots 10 NFL – Chicago Bears 14, New York Giants 10 #1 Texas defeated #2 Navy in the Cotton Bowl, 28-7 World Series: LA Dodgers swept the NY Yankees 4-0. Basketball: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics over the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2. NCAA Men: Loyola (IL) 60, Cincinnati 58 No women’s tournament Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings, 4 games to 1 Golf Major Champions: Men Masters – Jack Nicklaus US Open – Julius Boros British Open – Bob Charles PGA Championship – Jack Nicklaus Women Women’s Western Open – Mickey Wright LPGA Championship – Mickey Wright US Women’s Open – Mary Mills Titleholders Championship – Marilynn Smith Tennis Grand Slam Champions: Men Australian Open – Roy Emerson Wimbledon – Chuck McKinley French Open – Roy Emerson US Open – Rafael Osuna Women Australian Open – Margaret Smith Court Wimbledon – Margaret Smith Court French Open – Lesley Turner Bowrey US Open – Maria Bueno

April 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Growing Agribusiness One Jar at a Time CEcD Study Group Small Business Award Sustainability Survey A Look Back - 1963 2013 eNERGy Conference IEDC Awards App of the Month Growing Agribusiness One Jar at a Time When Lauri Jo Bennett decided to start a business, she had just four recipes handed down from her great-grandmother. Now her company has 22 employees and 37 products that are sold in 3 countries and 41 states. “When I first met Donnie Smith, the director for the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, I didn’t have a business plan,” said Lauri Jo Bennett, founder of Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning. “I didn’t have a clue what a business plan was.” Since she began her business, the COI has provided her with business plan preparation, international business opportunities, revenue generation strategies, food analysis for nutrition labels, food label design and marketing resources. “Doing business in Georgia is fantastic. Georgia just really has it going on. And everybody from the governor to the lieutenant governor to the ag commissioner, they are all about helping small businesses grow,” said Lauri Jo. “The Centers of Innovation—I just can’t say enough good about them.”  Sustainability Survey Researchers from Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, the University System of Georgia, and the Technical College System of Georgia are working with GDEcD and several regional economic development authorities to conduct a short survey focusing on the workforce skills that are important to organizations trying to increase their sustainability. By taking the survey, you will help the research team design education and training programs at Georgia’s universities and technical colleges that better suits the needs of the state’s businesses and industries. Take the survey by clicking here. 2013 eNERGy Conference May 14-15, 2013 at Middle Georgia Technical College The 2013 eNERGy Conference is the opportunity to meet face to face with your counterparts in other cities, across the state; from other colleges, universities and technical schools; with the decision makers from your local military installation to explore ways to grow your local economy. Visit the website for to view the full agenda. Registration closes April 24th. Space is limited, so register today! www.TheHGEC.org Spring Workshop Registration is Open GEDA's 2013 Spring Workshop will take place at the brand new (some would say 'extraordinary') Jekyll Island Convention Center May 15-17. We will have a huge audience, a great venue and fantastic programming. The only thing we need to add now is YOU! Help us "Achieve the Extraordinary" in May! Registration is open and rooms are still available at the Beachview Club Hotel (rates $119-199). Just let them know you are with GEDA when you call them at 800.299.2228.  CEcD Study Group and Exam Join us for GEDA's CEcD Study Group. Georgia is home to scores of successful CEcD candidates, several of whom will be on hand this weekend. They will be teaching the Bob Koepke study model, which has helped hundreds of people pass the exam, including many here in Georgia. This training course will take place Saturday (8 hours) & Sunday (4 hours), April 27-28, 2013 at the brand new Hotel Indigo in College Park. GEDA is very pleased to be able to offer this course for only $200 for GEDA members ($300 for non-members). That is an incredible savings and almost certainly saves money on travel to/from training!  Click here to register. What the fee includes: Study materials 2 months of pre-session study Breakfast & Lunch Saturday Breakfast on Sunday Expert facilitation Mock interviews One-on-one mentoring with a GEDA CEcD And more great news: GEDA will host the Certified Economic Developer exam in Atlanta December 14-15!  NOW is a great time to start your planning and studying. Are you a Small Business Rock Star? The August 19th GEDA luncheon will showcase small businesses – that is, the Rock Stars of Small Business. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) have teamed together to recognize the outstanding, out-of-the-box, unique and impacting small businesses in the state of Georgia. Recognizing any type of small business that employs under 50, we want to salute the risks, the innovations, the outreach, the impact, the reasons why…all of these qualities abound in Georgia and we want to make this a special day for our small businesses! Nominate a company, forward to your connections or send this to any company who you believe stands above the rest (companies may also nominate themselves). The DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION is JUNE 1, 2013 and the winners will be notified by July 1, 2013. This will give you enough time to coordinate any travel plans with your winners. We look forward to saluting Georgia’s small businesses with you! The August 2013 Luncheon Committee: Mike Pennington, President, GEDA Eric van Otteran, Entrepreneur SIG chair, GEDA Mary Ellen McClanahan, Director, Entrepreneur & Small Business, GDEcD Ryan Waldrep, Project Manager Region 9, GDEcD Adela Kelley, Project Manager Region 7, GDEcD IEDC's 2013 Excellence in Economic Development International Economic Development Council’s 2013 Excellence in Economic Development awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders in 35 categories.  Georgia certainly has a number of projects that should be considered for entry into this awards program. This is our time to shine! Send your innovative program, promotion, or project in and get the recognition you and your organization deserve. Call for Entries will end on May 17th. Enter before April 12th to receive an early bird discount. Please visit http://www.iedconline.org to learn more and to download the entry packet.   New Members in March Rebecca Coppedge, Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone James Dennis, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber & Development Authority Lidell Greenway, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber & Development Authority Jimmy Kitchens, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber & Development Authority Michael Parkerson, Georgia Public Safety Training Center Rob Ragan, New South Construction Company Adam Smith, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber & Development Authority Erika Smith, Fulton County Economic Development Brian Stockton, City of Woodstock Oscar Street, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber & Development Authority Back in Time...to 1963 Billboard's Top 15 for 1963    1.    Sugar Shack,            Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs     2.    Surfin' U.S.A.,            The Beach Boys     3.    The End of the World,            Skeeter Davis    4.    Rhythm Of The Rain,            The Cascades     5.    He's So Fine,            The Chiffons     6.    Blue Velvet,            Bobby Vinton     7.    Hey Paula,            Paul & Paula     8.    Fingertips, Part 2,            Little Stevie Wonder     9.    Washington Square,            Village Stompers   10.   It's All Right,            The Impressions   11.   Can't Get Used to Losing You,            Andy Williams   12.   My Boyfriend's Back,            The Angels   13.   Sukiyaki,            Kyu Sakamoto   14.   She's a Fool,            Lesley Gore   15.   So Much In Love,            The Tymes  App of the Month Our Facebook friend Kwame suggested this month's App of the Month:  Evernote.  "Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. It lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders--and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go."

March 2013 Newsletter

Featured Articles Register for the March Luncheon! Scholarships have been awarded!! Sustainability Survey   IEDC Salary Survey EDRP Announcement GEDA Scholarships at Work! 2013 IEDC Salary Survey   In 2012, GEDA partnered with the International Economic Development Council to collect data for their bi-annual salary survey. The results have been finalized and GEDA has obtained the Georgia-specific results from this survey. We have arranged to be able to provide these results to our members. You can find the pdf document in the Library of Documents. ANOTHER great benefit of GEDA membership!   EDRP Announcement As we mentioned a few months ago, there is new funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the EDRP program. The program is designed to fund community-based research that will enhance economic development in the state and local communities. The first recipients of these grants are: Liberty County Development Authority – Analysis of the ex-military and military-dependent labor force in Liberty County (and surrounding area). This will be used to assist potential employers and industries in their evaluation of opportunities for utilizing people who have served in the armed forces or are dependent on the military presence in the region. Grady County Joint Development Authority - Economic Impact Analysis of the Motocross Training Facilities in Cairo, GA. This research will help provide an in depth evaluation of the elite-level training facilities that are attracting international athletes to Cairo, and provide a new platform to market industrial expansion to the motocross equipment manufacturing industry. March 18th Luncheon Join us as we celebrate 50 years of GEDA at this special edition luncheon! Joining us as our guest speaker will be Dan Reeves, famed NFL Coach.Georgia born and raised, Mr. Reeves was the only coach to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl. You won't want to miss it! We look forward to see you at the Georgia Aquarium on March 18th. Sponsor this Monthly Meeting Our March Luncheon has only 3 spots left for sponsorship! Check out ourSponsorship Brochureto learn more or emailBrian Dillto secure your spot. Scholarships Awarded for Round 1! We are so honored to be able to award our outstanding and deserving members with multiple scholarships each year. The 2013 season of giving has begun and we are delighted to announce the winners of the first round. And the winners are (based on one or more of the following criteria: participation in GEDA, economic development service in Georgia, and financial need): 1. Georgia Tech BEDC: Andy Camp, City of LaGrange Kyle Fletcher, Thomaston-Upson County Industrial Development Authority 2. CEcD Exam: Roger Harrison, Newton County Office of Economic Development Peter Tokar, City of Alpharetta Andrea Griner, Houston County Development Authority 3. Community Development Institute: Darren Harper, City of Kingsland 4. GEDA Annual Conference: Christy Hammons, Pike Co. Chamber of Commerce & Development Authority Wally Orrel, McIntosh Co. Industrial Development Authority 5. IEDC Courses: Laura Hale, Development Authority of Butts Co. 6. Penn Worden: Meghan Duke, Valdosta-Lowndes Co. Industrial Authority CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners! The next round of applications will be due by March 29. For more information,click here. GEDASends Cal Wray to Europe 2012 European Prospect Trip Summary by Cal Wray In October 2012, I was able to participate in a 17 day marketing/recruitment trip to Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Denmark. By use of the GEDA scholarship I was able to supplement our travel budget to make this trip more economically feasible. As you will see below the trip was successful and met all of its goals. The main portion of the trip was visiting the Volkswagen supplier show in Wolfsburg, Germany. This 3 day event brings major suppliers to the Volkswagen main campus and allows for a high concentration of potential targets for the State of Georgia and Laurens County. With the help of Antje Abshoff and Franz Pastorius, we were able to meet with potential prospects, current active projects, and call upon many future targets in a very quick time. This trip resulted in meetings with 10+ companies directly and contact with an additional 20+ prospects. This is a high amount of potential targets that are seen for a very economical price compared to single visits in our own counties. Further, the German trip allowed me to meet companies at their own facilities in Leipzig, Leisnig, Herzberg, and Austria. This was very important as several had visited Laurens County and were active prospects. These 5 companies represent over $50 million in investment and 350+ jobs for our community. These were an added bonus to the trip. Lessons Learned: Translated materials into German would be a nice touch for added ease for potential executives to have in front of them. While all speak excellent or very proficient English it gives them an added sense of comfort to have something to refer to in their own language. Travel to additional companies in different locations is much easier than anticipated by train, car, and air. Future trips will allow for added visits to other companies. Overall this trip was excellent and the assistance by GEDA is much appreciated. 2013 Events Calendar March 18. 50th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon. Georgia Aquarium. Register today! April 15. Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Registration will open soon. 2013 Calendar New Members in February Hannah Bowles,Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development Darron Cooper Lavette Dow-Jones Barbara Grogan,Americus Sumter Payroll Development Authority Shehzin Jafar,Georgia Department of Economic Development Mabel Jenkins,Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce Kristina Jones,Schiff Hardin LLP Clay Loyd,T.E.L.C.O. Inc Joint Sustainabilty Survey A team of sustainability experts from Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia will soon be conducting a “sustainability” skills survey.Click herefor the full article. App of the Month Google it! Raise your hand if you use the term Google as a verb. We do too! And we have the app for it.Here are some of our favorite features: Speak your search into yourApple device Search and navigate fast, directly from the same box Choose from results that appear as you type "Swipe" between an unlimited number of tabs the way you would fan a deck of cards Long press on the back button to quickly access any page in your tab history Sign in to Chrome to sync your open tabs, bookmarks, passwords, and omnibox data from your computer to your Apple Device. Pick up right where you left off. Send pages from Chrome on your computer to your Apple device with one click and read them on the go, even if you’re offline. Open a tab in Incognito* to browse without saving your history