If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time in your vehicle. Driving to and from work, meetings, and all the other events that fill our schedules. When I’m not on the phone, one thing I enjoy doing is listening to podcasts, and there is one I hope you will check out.
Last year, Consultant Connect started a podcast called From The Ground Up and includes interviews with some of the top economic developers in the nation.
The October GEDA luncheon took place at the Crowne Plaza Midtown Atlanta Hotel on Monday, October 17th. Brandt Herndon, Vice President, Business Development, Savannah Economic Development Authority, put together a stellar program that included Walt Farrell, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power, as moderator; and panelists: Alex Frei, Co-Head, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield; Amy Gerber, Executive Vice President, Business and Economic Incentives practice, Jones Lang LaSalle; and Carter Wood, Senior Manager, Location Investment Services Group, Ernst & Young. The panelists covered a number of topics including incentives, workforce, suitable real estate and legislation. They answered questions posed by Farrell and members in the audience. A packed house appreciated their insights, outlining of trends and best practices in the industry. A big thanks to all for their participation, especially Alex Frei for coming such a long way to be with us. Also, a great big thank you to Andrea Taylor and her community-team from the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Development Authority for their sponsorship! To see photos of the event click here.
GEDA Member News
GEDA Member and Ex-Officio Board Member and Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr has been selected to be the next Attorney General of Georgia by Governor Nathan Deal. Chris has done a fantastic job of leading Georgia’s economic development team. We will miss you Chris, but know that you will do a great job in your new position!
Taking over at the helm of GDEcD Commissioner is Pat Wilson. Congratulations Pat on a promotion, well-deserved. We look forward to working with you, Pat, in your new role. Pat will serve on the GEDA Board in an Ex-Officio capacity.
2017 GEDA Leadership: Officers / Secretary-Treasurer - Jonathan Sangster, General Manager, Economic Development, Georgia Power, was elected to the post of GEDA Secretary-Treasurer at the GEDA Business Meeting at the Annual Conference in September at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. Jonathan will officially begin his new duties on January 1, 2017, as will the other officers: Anna Chafin, Chair, and Chief Executive Officer, Development Authority of Bryan County; Missy Kendrick, First Vice-Chair, and President, Development Authority of Polk County; Pat Merritt, Second Vice-Chair, and Vice President, Community & Economic Development, Georgia EMC; and Greg Wright, Immediate Past Chair, and President, Coweta County Development Authority. We thank you, officers, for your tremendous commitment to GEDA and to making GEDA the best economic development organization in the country! Also, thank you, Tim Evans, Vice President - Economic Development, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, for your steadfast support of and involvement in GEDA throughout your years of service on committees, board and through the chairs.
New Board Members elected include: Lee Chapman, Vice President, Marketing, Member Services, and Governmental Affairs, Jackson EMC; Andrea Taylor, President, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Development Authority; Benjy Thompson, CEO, Development Authority of Bulloch County; and Trip Tollison, President, Savannah Economic Development Authority.
Also in Savannah, Chair-Elect Anna Chafin announced her Committee and Shared Interest Group leadership for GEDA in 2017:
COMMITTEES
Business Expansion & Retention, Ashley Miller, Manager of Business & Industry, Macon Economic Development Commission
Business Recruitment, Walt Farrell, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power
Development Authority Executives, Melinda Lemmon, Executive Director, Cartersville-Bartow County Economic Development
Marketing & Communications, John Scott, CEcD, Project Manager, Brunswick & Glynn County Development Authority
Membership Services, Shelley Zorn, Economic Developer, City of Thomasville
Professional Development, Scott Poag, CEcD, Project Manager, Augusta Economic Development Authority
Public Policy, Al Nash, Executive Director, Development Authority of Fulton County
Sponsorship, Jessica Hood, Executive Director, Development Authority of Burke County
Young Professionals, Meghan Duke, Economic Development Director, City of West Point
SHARED INTEREST GROUPS
Education/Workforce Development, Jan Melcher, Director, Eastern Operations, Georgia Quick Start
Entrepreneurship, Mark Farmer, Director – Entrepreneurship, Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development
Natural Resources/Environment, Ralph Forbes, PE, Vice President/Regional Director, Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company
Non-Traditional Economic Development, Niki Knox Vanderslice, Vice Chair, Fayette County Development Authority
Research, Dana Brewer, Director of Research, Georgia Department of Economic Development
Rural Development, Kyle Fletcher, Executive Director, Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority
If you would like to serve on a committee, please contact these Chairs directly or us at the GEDA office at 404-962-4110.
Jennifer Zeller, Director of Research, Georgia Power Company, was appointed to a national workforce board. She is the only economic developer in the country on this board. Congratulations Jennifer, on such a HUGE honor! Read more…Georgia Ranked No. 1 State for Business for Fourth Consecutive Year
Gov. Nathan Deal announced on November 2, 2016 that Georgia has been named the No. 1 state in the nation in which to do business for the fourth consecutive year by Site Selection magazine, a leading economic development trade publication. Read More...
Georgia Enjoys Record First Quarter and Demonstrates Outstanding Economic Growth
The following infographic presents data that is specific to the activities of the Global Commerce teams at the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
Project Announcements
Floor & Decor Announces Expansion in Savannah
September 16, 2016 - Floor & Decor’s Executive Vice President Supply Chain Brian Robbins announced that Floor & Decor will expand their import distribution center in Savannah with the construction of a new facility located at Morgan Business Center. The expansion will include two phases with phase one being a new 1.4 million square feet. This expansion will include the creation of 64 new jobs and the retaining of the current 46 jobs. Phase one, which is a $50 million investment, is expected to be completed in 2017. Phase two will include an additional 1.1 million square feet that would be developed as early as 2019.
A great partnership worked on this project, that included Trip Tollison, President, and Brandt Herndon, Vice President, Business Development, Savannah Economic Development Authority; Joshua Stephens, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Global Commerce Division; Griff Lynch, Executive Director, Bart Gobeil, Director of Statewide Economic Development & Governmental Affairs, and Stacy Watson, General Manager, Economic & Industrial Development, Georgia Ports Authority; Bill Sparks, SIOR, First Vice President, CBRE (represented F&D); and Chris Brown, Senior Vice President, Duke Realty, Georgia and Tennessee region. Read more…
Congratulations to the team of Charlie Moseley, Executive Director, Henry County Development Authority; Joshua Stephens, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Global Commerce Division; Gregg Simon, Vice President, Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Charles Stallworth, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; and Bart Gobeil, Director of Statewide Economic Development & Governmental Affairs, and Stacy Watson, General Manager, Economic & Industrial Development, Georgia Ports Authority. Read more…
Hi-Rez Studios to expand Alpharetta headquarters, create 75 jobs
October 17, 2016 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that Hi-Rez Studios, Georgia’s largest developer of online games, will expand, creating 75 additional jobs at its headquarters in Alpharetta.
Way to go Asante Bradford, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Global Commerce Division; Peter Tokar, Economic Development Director, City of Alpharetta; and Grant Wainscott, Director of Technology Industry, and Bob Kosek, Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber. Read more…
Daniel Defense to Create 75 New Jobs in Bryan County | Small arms manufacturer will invest more than $29 million in facility expansion
October 19, 2016 – Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Daniel Defense, a manufacturer of firearms and accessories, will create 75 new jobs and invest $29.5 million to expand existing operations in Bryan County. The facility expansion is set to be finished by the end of summer 2017.
Kudos to the following team members who worked this project: Anna Chafin, Chief Executive, Development Authority of Bryan County; Alyce Thornhill, Regional Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Global Commerce division; and Georgia Power. Read more…
Deal: Anthem, Inc. to create 1,800 jobs in Midtown Atlanta | Health benefits company to establish IT services hub in Fulton Co.
October 26, 2016 - Gov. Nathan Deal, along with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, announced that Anthem, Inc., one of the nation’s largest health benefits companies, will create approximately 1,800 information technology-related jobs in establishing an IT services hub in Midtown Atlanta. Anthem will invest more than $20 million in the community throughout the next six years.
Congrats to the great team of E. Jane Caraway, Director of Life Sciences and Corporate Solutions, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Global Commerce Division; Randi Mason, Manager, Economic Development, and Kevin Johnson, CEcD, Senior Vice President, Economic Development, Invest Atlanta; Gregg Simon, Vice President, Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Brenda Robbins, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; who worked together on the location of this huge project! Read more…
Join GEDA’s Young Professionals and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Gretchen Corbin for a quality conversation on effective leadership, strategies for success, and intentionally preparing the next generation of economic development leaders to make a tangible impact on Georgia communities.
Monday, November 14 9:15 – 10:30 AM
Centergy One Building – Suite 850, ECG Conference Room
We have several remaining scholarships/grants, and would love to run out of money. The course/event must be held in calendar year 2016 to be eligible.
GEDA 2016 Remaining Grant Opportunities: Status as of Oct 31, 2016
Program/Event
Grants
Application Deadline
Georgia Certified ED Professional
3 remaining at $500
now
Economic Development Institute (EDI)
1 remaining at $1000
now
Penn Worden Grant*
$1400 available funds
now
International Missions Grant
1 remaining at $1000
now
Public Policy
Be sure to contact your Legislators to communicate your areas of interest. From GEDA’s vantage point we anticipate several issues being addressed this upcoming legislative session in the General Assembly, including Development Authority law; Religious Freedom; and other topics. Contact Al Nash, GEDA Chair, Public Policy; Jim Finch, GEDA Legislative Monitor; or Kevin Shea, GEDA President with any questions.
Rural Development SIG
The Rural Development SIG will have a brief informational meeting at the back of the ballroom at the end of the November 14th luncheon. The meeting will be no longer than 15 minutes, and will be a chance to meet each other and plan for the coming year. If you wish to attend you are welcome.
The October GEDA luncheon took place at the Crowne Plaza Midtown Atlanta Hotel on Monday, October 17th. Brandt Herndon, Vice President, Business Development, Savannah Economic Development Authority, put together a stellar program that included Walt Farrell, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power, as moderator; and panelists: Alex Frei, Co-Head, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield; Amy Gerber, Executive Vice President, Business and Economic Incentives practice, Jones Lang LaSalle; and Carter Wood, Senior Manager, Location Investment Services Group, Ernst & Young. The panelists covered a number of topics including incentives, workforce, suitable real estate and legislation. They answered questions posed by Farrell and members in the audience. A packed house appreciated their insights, outlining of trends and best practices in the industry. A big thanks to all for their participation, especially Alex
Frei for coming such a long way to be with us. Also, a great big thank you to Andrea Taylor and her community-team from the 
GEDA Member and Ex-Officio Board Member and Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr has been selected to be the next Attorne
y General of Georgia by Governor Nathan Deal. Chris has done a fantastic job of leading Georgia’s economic development team. We will miss you Chris, but know that you will do a great job in your new position! 
2017 GEDA Leadership: Officers / Secretary-Treasurer - Jonathan Sangster, General Manager, Economic Development, Georgia Power, was elected to the post of GEDA Secretary-Treasurer at the GEDA Business Meeting at the Annual Conference in September at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. Jonathan will officially begin his new duties on January 1, 2017, as will the other officers: Anna Chafin, Chair, and Chief Executive Officer, Development Authority of Bryan County; Missy Kendrick, First Vice-Chair, and President, Development Authority of Polk County; Pat Merritt, Second Vice-Chair, and Vice President, Community & Economic Development, Georgia EMC; and Greg Wright, Immediate Past Chair, and President, Coweta County Development Authority. We thank you, officers, for your tremendous commitment to GEDA and to making GEDA the best economic development organization in the country! Also, thank you, Tim Evans, Vice President - Economic Development, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, for your steadfast support of and involvement in GEDA throughout your years of service on committees, board and through the chairs.
Georgia Ranked No. 1 State for Business for Fourth Consecutive Year
WAYFAIR TO CREATE MORE THAN 150 JOBS IN HENRY COUNTY
Hi-Rez Studios to expand Alpharetta headquarters, create 75 jobs 
Daniel Defense to Create 75 New Jobs in Bryan County | Small arms manufacturer will invest more than $29 million in facility expansion 
Deal: Anthem, Inc. to create 1,800 jobs in Midtown Atlanta | Health benefits company to establish IT services hub in Fulton Co. 
Join GEDA’s Young Professionals and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Gretchen Corbin for a quality conversation on effective leadership, strategies for success, and intentionally preparing the next generation of economic development leaders to make a tangible impact on Georgia communities.
