January Legislative Event, Tuesday, January 23rd, Brunch at the State Capitol, South-Wing, 2nd floor
November GEDA Luncheon – Annual Awards
Congratulations to all the winners at the GEDA Annual Awards luncheon on November 13th at the Georgia World Congress Center. Governor Nathan Deal was on hand to present the awards to our recipients. The Deal of the Year award went to Banks County in the Small Community category for the Diana Food project.
In the large community category, Cherokee County won for the adidas- Oechsler-Site Selection Group project.
The Volunteer of the Year award went to Luke Morgan, Chairman, Douglas-Coffee County Development Authority.
The Rip Wiley Award for Professional Excellence was presented by the 2015 winner, Bill Mitchell, to JoAnne Lewis, Retired President, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Development Authority.
The Committee Chair of the Year award was bestowed on Meghan Duke, Economic Development Director, Development Authority, of West Point, for her year as Chair of the GEDA Young Professionals Committee.
Greg Torre, Deputy Commissioner, Marketing and Communications, Georgia Department of Economic Development, was awarded the Committee Member of the Year for his work on the GEDA Marketing and Communications Committee.
Also at meeting we recognized past leaders of GEDA, including Past Presidents/Chairs, Honorary Life Members, Rip Wiley Award winners and Governor Zell Miller Public Policy Leadership award recipients. It was great to see everyone, especially some of our elder statesmen, such as Bob Evans and Roy Cooper.
Click HERE for photographs (member login required). Click HERE for a list of attendees.
GEDA News
Giving Thanks for a Great Year
As we come to the end of 2017, I would like to take this opportunity to focus on a few key accomplishments and initiatives and thank some very special people who have helped make this a great year for GEDA.
The organization is in a very strong financial position thanks to our hard-working staff, Kevin and Kelly, and our board of directors who have made sound decisions, which was highlighted by the success of Annual Conference this year that was planned by our Second Vice Chair Pat Merritt (Georgia EMC). In addition, the Sponsorship Committee led by Jessica Hood (Development Authority of Burke County), once again exceeded expectations and raised funds to help us produce successful events.
Costas Simoglou has provided an update on a company that presented at the GEDA 2016 Annual Conference. Ruwan Subasinghe, Founder of NanoFarm at Replantable, has provided the following photos and video of his business. They have started shipping their Nanofarms. The first 250 units are out of the door right before the holidays.
GEDA Member News
Congratulations to Gretchen Corbin, formerly Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, who has been nominated by Governor Deal as the President & CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corp. Pending approval of the Georgia Lottery Corp. Board of Directors, this change will take effect on January 1.
A number of GEDA members will be retiring at the end of this year. Thank you, gentlemen, for your many years of service to your communities and the State of Georgia:
Dale Atkins, Executive Director, Development Authority of Appling County Charles Lee, Executive Director, Development Authority of Washington County Pat Topping, Senior Vice President, Macon Economic Development Commission Bill Mitchell, President, Toombs County Development Authority
Hannah Mullins has accepted the role of Executive Director of the Development Authority of Banks County.
GEDA New Members
Nia Z. Harper, MAJC
If you are moving, changing jobs or getting a promotion, please let us know by emailing us at Info@GEDA.org, and we’ll publicize this in the GEDA newsletter.
Project Announcements
Graphic Packaging International to invest $136 million in Macon-Bibb County
December 4, 2017 - The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority (MBCIA) announced that Graphic Packaging International (GPI), a leading company in the design and manufacturing of packaging for commercial products, will invest $136 million in the modernization of its Macon mill. GPI employs more than 1,330 employees in Georgia, and the Macon mill investment will help retain more than 460 manufacturing jobs.
Congratulations to the team of Stephen Adams, Economic Development Director, Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority; Candice Scott, Regional Project Manager, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; Andrea Griner, Vice President for Economic Development, Central Georgia Technical College; and Brett Lacy, Programs Manager, GDEcD Workforce Division; who worked on this project! Read more…
ALCON TO INVEST $97 MILLION IN JOHNS CREEK EXPANSION
November 9, 2017 — Governor Nathan Deal announced that Alcon, a leading eye care manufacturing company and a division of Novartis, will invest $97 million in the Johns Creek community as it initiates the next phase of a multiyear project to expand production capacity for DAILIES TOTAL 1® contact lenses.
Kudos to the team of Courtney Bernardi, City of Johns Creek; Al Nash, Executive Director, Development Authority of Fulton County; Mary Ellen McClanahan, Project Manager Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Greg King, Associate Vice President, Georgia Tech/University System of Georgia; David Hartnett, Senior Vice President, Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Lauren Lambiase, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; Ann Sechrist, Director - Economic Development, Gwinnett Technical College; Pam Griffin, Director, Corporate/Customized Contract Training, Georgia Quick Start. Read more…
GEORGIA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY GENERATES RECORD $60.8 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT - Governor presents tourism industry awards
November 2, 2017 — Governor Nathan Deal recognized several of the state’s top tourism professionals at the 2017 Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference on Jekyll Island. The annual industry event, hosted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (GACVB), brought together more than 400 tourism industry professionals from across the state. Read more…
Plan now to apply for a GEDA Professional Development grant in 2018! The Basic Economic Development Course is earlier than usual (February 27-March 2), so get your applications in today. Check out the Professional Development Committee on the GEDA website, or contact Saralyn Stafford, CEcD, IOM, GEDA Chair, Professional Development & Division Director, Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Rural Development SIG
Rural Development in Georgia has certainly received a lot of attention this year with the creation of the Georgia House of Representatives Rural Development Council and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Rural Prosperity Council. Meetings have taken place across the state to discuss the challenges of rural communities when it comes to issues such as incentives, broadband, education, healthcare and more. These councils hope to boost the economies in rural areas and the efforts have provided opportunities for feedback from economic developers in rural communities. In 2018, Grant Buckley will serve as the chairman of the Rural Development Shared Interest Group. Buckley is the Executive Director of the Cordele-Crisp County Industrial Development Council.
Research SIG
In November, the Research SIG gathered over a breakfast sponsored by Georgia EMC to learn more about all of the Innovation Center activity and plans for the CODA building at Tech Square.
Get involved in GEDA's Committees and SIGs to learn about projects and meet fellow members - visit your profile on GEDA.org to join. View the Committee and SIG 2017 Action Plans
Upcoming Events
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The Deal of the Year award went to Banks County in the Small Community category for the Diana Food project. 
In the large community category, Cherokee County won for the adidas- Oechsler-Site Selection Group project.
The Volunteer of the Year award went to Luke Morgan, Chairman, Douglas-Coffee County Development Authority. 
The Rip Wiley Award for Professional Excellence was presented by the 2015 winner, Bill Mitchell, to JoAnne Lewis, Retired President, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Development Authority. 
The Committee Chair of the Year award was bestowed on Meghan Duke, Economic Development Director, Development Authority, of West Point, for her year as Chair of the GEDA Young Professionals Committee. 
Greg Torre, Deputy Commissioner, Marketing and Communications, Georgia Department of Economic Development, was awarded the Committee Member of the Year for his work on the GEDA Marketing and Communications Committee. 
Costas Simoglou has provided an update on a company that presented at the GEDA 2016 Annual Conference. Ruwan Subasinghe, Founder of NanoFarm at Replantable, has provided the following photos and 
Congratulations to Gretchen Corbin, formerly Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, who has been nominated by Governor Deal as the President & CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corp. Pending approval of the Georgia Lottery Corp. Board of Directors, this change will take effect on January 1.
Hannah Mullins has accepted the role of Executive Director of the Development Authority of Banks County.
