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HURRICANE IRMA UPDATE: The GEDA 2017 Annual Conference is still on! We have talked to representatives at the Hyatt Regency Savannah and they feel that our Annual Conference should be able to go on without a hitch. We will keep you updated on any changes, but as of now, we are proceeding with the planning for a great Annual Conference.
August Meeting – The August meeting was held on Monday, August 14th and focused on Placemaking. Held at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown Hotel, panelists included Ethan Kent, Senior Vice President, Project for Public Spaces; Andrea Taylor, President, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Economic Development Authority; Jerald Mitchell, Director of Economic Development, Atlanta Beltline; and moderated by Jessica Hood, Executive Director, Development Authority of Burke County. See photos here.
GEDA News
Get Ready for Savannah!
It is hard to believe that it is September already! Over two-thirds of the year has passed and we are getting ready for fall. Our GEDA Annual Conference (AC) is less than two weeks away. I trust that you are making plans to attend this great event at the Hyatt Regency Savannah from September 20-22. If you have not done so, you can still register.
Pat Merritt, Vice President, Community & Economic Development, Georgia EMC, GEDA Second Vice Chair and 2017 Annual Conference Chair, and her AC committee has put together a great program that should offer something for everyone. The theme of this year’s AC is “Building on Georgia’s Momentum” with foci on Collaboration, Education, Innovation, Motivation and Elevation.
Small Business Rock Star AWARDS Nominations are OPEN
Click HERE for details. These awards will be presented on March 19th at the GEDA meeting; location TBD. Deadline - Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Our Post Office Box 1776 is going away. We have shared this address with the Georgia Department of Economic Development for some time. They are going to stop using it, and it is too expensive for us to keep, so we will use our physical address (75 Fifth St., NW, Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30308) in the future. Please make a note of this for your checks and other important mailings.
Legislative Update: House & Senate Study Committees
The Senate Special Tax Exemption Study Committee has had two meetings. Jim Finch, GEDA Legislative Monitor, has provided the attached summaries of the proceedings at the first two meetings. Jim's reports and documents provided at the meetings can be accessed HERE. Upcoming meetings are not completely finalized, but here are the tentative dates: September 29th – Southeast/Savannah, October 27th – Southwest & November 14th –Metro/State Capitol.
House Rural Development Council meetings
September 26-27: Darien, GA; October 24-25: Waycross, GA; November 8-9: Albany, GA; November 28-29: Warm Springs/Manchester area, GA; TBD: Milledgeville, GA
Senate Rural Study Committee meetings
Tuesday, October 3 - Bainbridge State College and Coleman Social Services Building, Fort Gaines; Wednesday, October 4 – Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus
GEDA Member News
Keith Barclift, formerly Senior Project Manager, has been promoted to Vice President, Economic Development, at Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority.
Walt Farrell has been promoted to Business Recruitment and Strategy Director of Georgia Power Economic Development.
Mill Graves has been promoted to Director, Economic Development from Senior Manager, Retail-Commercial Business Development at Electric Cities of Georgia.
Tina Herring, Project Manager, Existing Industry And Regional Recruitment Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development, has moved from Region 5 to Region 10.
Tommy Jennings, President, Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, began his term as Chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association (GACCE) in July, and, as such, will be their Representative on the Board of GEDA. Mark Lytle has joined Tim Chason, Randy Cardoza and Charlie Gatlin at The Chason Group. Recently retired from the Board of Regents / University System of Georgia as Vice Chancellor of Economic Development, Mark will be working with communities and organizations who have an interest in developing strategies and initiatives to keep them viable in today’s economy.
Jannine Miller, formerly Director, Center of Innovation for Logistics, Center of Innovation for Logistics, Georgia Department of Economic Development, has joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Senior Advisor for Rural Infrastructure. Lynn Patterson, formerly with b+c Studio, has joined Three Points Planning, LLC as Principal.
Matthew Patterson, formerly with EMJ Corporation, has joined O’Neal, Inc. as Business Development Manager.
Emily Poole, formerly Vice President, Economic Development, Fayette County Development Authority, is now the Director of Economic Development at City of Fayetteville.
Madison Roesel, formerly with The Sack Company has taken a position with ADP as Associate District Manager in Savannah.
Jonathan Sangster, formerly General Manager of Economic Development at Georgia Power, has taken early retirement and will be a consultant in economic development.
Lonnie Smallwood, formerly Senior Project Manager, ECG, has moved to Georgia Electric Membership Corporation as Senior Project Manager.
Ashley Morris Varnum was announced as the Young Professional for the Month of August at the GEDA August program on Monday, the 14th at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown Hotel.
Greg Wright will move to the Coweta-Fayette EMC as the Sr. Director, Community & Economic Development on September 18th from his current position as President of Coweta County Development Authority.
Keith Ziobron, formerly with Resolute Environmental and Water Resource Consulting, has joined Cardno, Inc. as Atlanta Branch Manager.
Sad news: Sandra Long, wife of Jerry Long, a longtime member of GEDA and the retired Executive Director of the Burke County Development Authority, passed away yesterday (Thursday). Details can be seen here. Our thoughts a prayers are with the family at this difficult time.
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.
GEDA August New Members
Pentronia Burch, Fort Valley Utility Commission Steve Chalker, Jefferson Energy Cooperative Ricky Clark, Jr., City of Jonesboro Mandi Cody, City of Metter Trisha Growe, Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce, Inc. William Pennington, Jr., Evergreen Engineering Boyd Pettit, H. Boyd Pettit, III, P.C. Ryan Pratt, King & Spalding, LLP J.W. Twomey, Sumpter County Board of Commissioners Dennis Wood, Greystone Management Solutions
Project Announcements
Meggitt Polymers & Composites to create more than 200 jobs in Rockmart - Military aircraft supplier to invest $30 million in Polk County facility expansion
August 24, 2017 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that Meggitt Polymers & Composites, a manufacturer of environmental components, will create an additional 211 jobs and invest $30 million to expand its facility in Rockmart.
Congratulations to the team of Missy Kendrick, President, Development Authority of Polk County; Stephanie Scearce, Project Manager, Region 1, Existing Industry And Regional Recruitment Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Lisa Adkisson, Region 1 Coordinator, Northwest Georgia, Georgia Department of Labor; and Elyse Davis, Northwest Georgia Manager, Community and Economic Development, Georgia Power; for their work on this project. Read more…
SAFAVIEH TO CREATE 200 JOBS, INVEST $60 MILLION IN SAVANNAH
August 16, 2017 — Governor Nathan Deal announced that Safavieh, a manufacturer and distributor of home goods, will create 200 jobs and invest more than $60 million in a new Chatham County distribution facility.
Kudos to Trip Tollison, President, and Brandt Herndon, Vice President, Business Development, Savannah Economic Development Authortiy; Brittany Holtzclaw, Director of Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness and Food Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce Division; Brenda Robbins, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; and Bart Gobeil, Senior Director of Statewide Economic Development & Governmental Affairs, and John Petrino, Director of Business Development, Georgia Ports Authority; for their work on this project. Read more…
The HON Company to create 60 jobs in Polk County - Office furniture manufacturer to invest $14.5 million in Cedartown facility expansion
August 15 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that The HON Company, a leading manufacturer of office furniture, will create 60 jobs and invest $14.5 million in a Polk County facility expansion.
Way to go Missy Kendrick, EDFP, IOM, President, Development Authority of Polk County; Stephanie Scearce, Regional Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce Division; and Elyse Davis, Northwest Georgia Manager, Community and Economic Development, Georgia Power; for their teamwork on this project announcement. Read more…
Healthy Pet to Invest $9.3 Million in Jesup
August 10, 2017 –The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that Healthy Pet, a global leader in natural fiber processing for use in pet care, will create 15 new jobs at its existing facility in Wayne County. The company will invest $9.3 million in new machinery and equipment that will provide for a new cat litter line.
Kudos to Dell Keith, Executive Director, Wayne County Industrial Development Authority; and Ryan Waldrep, Assistant Director of Entrepreneur and Small Business Development, Existing Industry And Regional Recruitment Team Region 9, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; on this announcement. Read more…
Irving Consumer Products to invest $400 million in Macon-Bibb County - Leading producer of paper products to create more than 200 jobs in Macon tissue manufacturing facility
August 9 - Governor Nathan Deal, along with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, announced that Irving Consumer Products, a leading producer of paper products, will create more than 200 jobs and invest $400 million in a state-of-the art tissue manufacturing facility in Macon-Bibb County.
Congratulations to Stephen Adams, MBCIA; Wylly Harrison, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce Division; William Tate, Industrial Development Manager, Norfolk Southern Corporation; Charles Stallworth, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Power; and Jan Melcher, Director, Eastern Operations, Georgia Quick Start; on this project. Thanks also to local team members, Tony Rojas, Executive Director and Sam Hart, Chairman, Macon Water Authority for their participation and support. Read more…
ASOS to create more than 1,600 jobs in Fulton County - Global online fashion retailer to invest more than $40 million in Union City
August 8 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that ASOS, a leading online global fashion and beauty retailer, will establish an East Coast e-commerce fulfillment center in Union City, creating more than 1,600 jobs and investing more than $40 million in Fulton County throughout the next five years. In the first phase of development, the fulfillment center will have a 10 million-unit capacity with additional room for future growth.
Great work by the team of Al Nash, CEO, Select Fulton; Brittany Holtzclaw, Director of Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness and Food Processing, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce Division; in partnership with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia Power; Georgia Ports Authority; Georgia Tech; Georgia Quick Start, the Technical College System of Georgia; and the Georgia Department of Labor; on this project. Read more…
RINNAI TO CREATE 300 JOBS IN SPALDING COUNTY - Home appliances manufacturer to invest $69 million in Griffin facility
August 4 — Governor Nathan Deal announced that Rinnai, a home appliances manufacturer, will create 150 jobs and invest $69 million with the completion of the company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility in Griffin. Rinnai expects to create a total of 300 jobs with this new facility over the next 10 years.
“Omedetou Gozaimasu” (congratulations) to David Luckie, Executive Director, Griffin-Spalding Development Authority; Joseph Huntemann, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce Division; Georgia Power; Troels Adrian, Senior Director, Supply Chain Ecosystem Expansion, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; and their teams for great work on this project! Read more…
GEORGIA TOURISM LAUNCHES NEW GEORGIA FILM SELFIE SPOT TOUR - New tour puts visitors in the scenes from popular film and television shows
August 3, 2017 — Georgia Tourism, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, announced today the launch of its new program, Georgia Film Selfie Spot Tour. The self-guided tour aims to highlight Georgia’s rapidly growing film tourism sites across the state. The program will run through the end of the year. Read more…
Scott Poag, CEcD, GEDA Chair, Professional Development; & Director of Business Development, Williams & Associates has money to give away. There are at least three grant scholarships to this year’s Annual Conference. Also, Craig Heighton, Georgia Transmission Corp., has for several years offered another $600 scholarship to a worthy candidate and is doing it again this year. Thank you, Craig! To apply, follow the same procedures for the GEDA grants. Apply today! GEDA has other grant scholarships available, whether they be for UGA / IEDC educational courses, training, trade missions, etc. Contact Scott for information today.
Young Professionals Committee
GEDA Young Professional Spotlight
Join GEDA in recognizing Young Professionals throughout 2017 by nominating a young emerging leader in the economic development profession for GEDA’s YP Spotlight. Nominations should provide a detailed application of significant career achievements to date and the impact of those achievements on their economic development organization and the community as a whole, and also explain how these achievements contribute to the advancement of economic development as a profession.
Nominations Open for the September, October and November GEDA YP Spotlight. Contact Meghan Duke, Chair, Young Professionals, & Economic Development Director, Development Authority of West Point, for additional details.
The Entrepreneurship Shared Interest Group will hold its final quarterly meeting of the year at the Annual Conference, at 10am on Thursday, September 21st in a room to be determined at the Savannah Hyatt Regency in the Sloane Room. In addition to all SIG members, anyone interested in enhancing entrepreneurship support in their community is welcome to attend.
Please mark your calendars for our next meeting, which will be during the GEDA 2017 Annual Conference.
From a collection of peer questions throughout the year, comes a facilitated discussion just for Development Authority Executives at the GEDA Annual Conference. Utilizing electronic polling and feedback from peers. Dialogue will range from PILOT matters, On vs. Off Digest Assets, GASB 77 feedback, Development Authority controlled property, compliance reporting, and advice to Young Professionals. Email Committee Chair Melinda Lemmon (Melinda@LocationofChoice.com) by NOON, TUESDAY, 9/12 for additional questions to be considered as part of the electronic polling.
Rural Development SIG
The GEDA Annual Conference in Savannah is weeks away and I hope many of you can attend. I’ve been contacted by Morgan Law of the Georgia Chamber and am excited to announce that he and Chris Clark (President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce) would like to get feedback on rural incentives from us. As you are aware, rural communities in our state have been getting a lot of attention as we struggle with many issues. The Georgia Chamber has established a Rural Prosperity Committee that will be looking into several areas, one being rural incentives. If you are attending the annual meeting and are available on Thursday, Sept. 21st around 1 p.m., we would love to have you join our roundtable. The meeting shouldn’t last more than one hour and the input from rural practitioners will be vital to the efforts of the Georgia Chamber. It’s not every day that we get to have candid conversations on incentives with individuals like Morgan and Chris. I hope that you can take a time to help them understand incentives from rural communities. Please let me know if you would like to participate. Specific details (meeting room) will be sent after we determine the number of participants.
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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Keith Barclift, formerly Senior Project Manager, has been promoted to Vice President, Economic Development, at Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority.
Walt Farrell has been promoted to Business Recruitment and Strategy Director of Georgia Power Economic Development.
Mill Graves has been promoted to Director, Economic Development from Senior Manager, Retail-Commercial Business Development at Electric Cities of Georgia.
Tina Herring, Project Manager, Existing Industry And Regional Recruitment Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development, has moved from Region 5 to Region 10.
Tommy Jennings, President, Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, began his term as Chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association (GACCE) in July, and, as such, will be their Representative on the Board of GEDA.
Mark Lytle has joined Tim Chason, Randy Cardoza and Charlie Gatlin at The Chason Group. Recently retired from the Board of Regents / University System of Georgia as Vice Chancellor of Economic Development, Mark will be working with communities and organizations who have an interest in developing strategies and initiatives to keep them viable in today’s economy.
Jannine Miller, formerly Director, Center of Innovation for Logistics, Center of Innovation for Logistics, Georgia Department of Economic Development, has joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Senior Advisor for Rural Infrastructure.
Lynn Patterson, formerly with b+c Studio, has joined Three Points Planning, LLC as Principal.
Matthew Patterson, formerly with EMJ Corporation, has joined O’Neal, Inc. as Business Development Manager.
Emily Poole, formerly Vice President, Economic Development, Fayette County Development Authority, is now the Director of Economic Development at City of Fayetteville.
Madison Roesel, formerly with The Sack Company has taken a position with ADP as Associate District Manager in Savannah.
Jonathan Sangster, formerly General Manager of Economic Development at Georgia Power, has taken early retirement and will be a consultant in economic development.
Lonnie Smallwood, formerly Senior Project Manager, ECG, has moved to Georgia Electric Membership Corporation as Senior Project Manager.
Ashley Morris Varnum was announced as the Young Professional for the Month of August at the GEDA August program on Monday, the 14th at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown Hotel.
Greg Wright will move to the Coweta-Fayette EMC as the Sr. Director, Community & Economic Development on September 18th from his current position as President of Coweta County Development Authority.
Keith Ziobron, formerly with Resolute Environmental and Water Resource Consulting, has joined Cardno, Inc. as Atlanta Branch Manager.
