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SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 16-18, 2015: ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT HYATT REGENCY SAVANNAH.

Make plans to join us for our Annual Conference where we will be talking about "Taking Georgia From Good to Great." Conference Chair Anna Chafin has created an in-depth program featuring an impressive line-up of speakers. Register today.

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AC15 is slated to be a fantastic conference!

You don’t want to miss this year’s Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Savannah September 16–18 where it’s all about “Taking Georgia from Good to Great.” Governor Deal will kick off our conference on Wednesday afternoon and give us his thoughts on “How We Get to Great.” We have top-notch speakers scheduled who will talk about the incentives competition among neighboring states, economic development marketing, and improving our win rates to Georgia’s ports, workforce development with a twist, and leadership reflections from Georgia’s top economic development officials. The conference will provide ample networking opportunities with the Downright Brothers (featuring GEDA’s very own, Benjy Thompson) performing on Wednesday night and the GEDA All Star Band back by popular demand on Thursday night. Optional activities include golf, sporting clays, and a historic district tour. Additionally, we have added a Taste of Savannah tour and a Savannah River tour that features the Port of Savannah. You can learn more about the program, sponsorship opportunities, and more by visiting the 2015 Annual Conference webpage.

Scholarships

Professional development scholarships are still available for GEDA events, including the Annual Conference, and economic development courses.

Events

August 17, 2015 Monthly Luncheon:

Register for the August 17 luncheon program with Ross King, Executive Director of Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG).
Location: Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center

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Member News

Project Announcements

New Members

2015 Annual Conference

GDEcD Launches High Demand Career Initiative Assessment

As a continuation of the dialogue from 2014, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) recently launched the High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) Assessment, an online workforce needs assessment developed to provide the State of Georgia with greater information and data regarding the specific workforce needs of employers. All Georgia businesses are encouraged to participate in the assessment, regardless of their industry, size, or the scope of their needs. The information collected from the HDCI Assessment will enable the state to map the needs of employers by region, thus, further aiding the establishment of workforce development initiatives to better serve communities throughout the state.

Visit Georgia.org/WorkforceAssessment to complete the HDCI Assessment today! View the HDCI Calendar of Events .

Committee News

Professional Development – Saralyn Stafford, Committee Chair, says there is still money available for grants to the GEDA Annual Conference in Savannah in September. Go to the Professional Development Grants page on the GEDA website and submit your application today. Email Saralyn Stafford or call her at 404-679-3166. Plus, Craig Heighton of Georgia Transmission Corporation has provided a scholarship for AC 2015. The funds will be awarded through the Professional Development Committee.

Entrepreneurship/Small Business ROCK STAR Awards – Submit your nominations to be considered for the Small Business ROCK STAR Awards, which are awarded at the GEDA February monthly luncheon. The deadline for submissions is September 30. Contact Mary Ellen McClanahan, Director, Entrepreneur & Small Business / Metro Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development or go to http://www.georgia.org/small-business/connect/how-to-become-a-small-business-rock-star/.

Business Retention and Expansion Committee - will be meeting in the downstairs lobby following GEDA's August 17 Luncheon at the GA Tech Hotel. Jan Melcher will be giving examples of how local economic developers have used Georgia Quick Start to support existing industries. Anyone is welcome to join and we will be done in time for the presentation at the Georgia Power Resource Center.

Georgia Economic Development - Best in Class by Tim Evans, 2015 GEDA Board Chair

Congratulations to GEDA members Odessa Archibald of the Georgia Power Company, Dorie Bacon of the Screven County Development Authority and Kenwin Hayes of the Griffin Downtown Development Authority for recently achieving the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation, due in some small part to GEDA-supported IEDC training and study groups. The CEcD standard is rigorous, and these three have joined 1,100 professionals across the US and Canada to achieve that designation. For 52 years, GEDA has actively supported professional development and networking opportunities for community, state and partner economic development professionals. Read more...