January 2011 Newsletter

Featured Articles GEDA Welcomes Chris Cummiskey 2011 Legislative Day Membership Renewals Sneak Peak at the New Website 2011 Job Tax Credit Rankings Annie Hunt Burriss Award 2011 Events Calendar New Members Duane Dodson Farewell Sneak Peak at the New Website! Will be Available February 1 We have been teasing you with the new website for a few months now.  Well, Candice and I are putting the finishing touches on it right now.  At the beginning of February, you will see some changes at geda.org! Click here to see a screen shot of the new Member Portal Page.  (Note: this page is from another group that uses the same system.)  You'll see 6 main areas highlighted that will offer great new capabilities and benefits for our paying members, like: Easy way to update your profile Your current committees Important News List of upcoming events Custom searches Print your own receipts and invoices! 2011 Job Tax Credit Rankings DCA Releases Rankings for 2011 The Department of Community Affairs has released the Job Tax Credit Ranking details for all interested.  There are several links that may be of interest to you: JTC Memo with Less Developed Census Tracts 2011 County Tier Map Additional Information For more information, please contact Brian Williamson at 404-679-1587 or Dawn Sturbaum at 404-679-1585. Annie Hunt Burriss Wins Award Presented at GaBio Annual Awards Dinner - January 20th Past GEDA Chair Annie Hunt Burriss will be presented with the 2011 Georgia Bio Industry Growth Award.  The award will be presented at the Annual Awards Dinner on January 20th at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. From Georgia Bio: The Industry Growth Awards are the highest honors bestowed each year by Georgia Bio (GaBio.)  They recognize individuals in the public and private sectors who have made extraordinary contributions to the growth of Georgia's life sciences industry.  Dr. Burriss is the recipient from the public sector. Congratulations to Annie Hunt Burris!

GEDA Welcomes Commissioner Chris Cummiskey Gov.-elect Nathan Deal announced that he will present Chris Cummiskey as his choice for commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.   Governor-elect Nathan Deal has chosen Chris Cummiskey as his nominee for the post of Economic Development commissioner.  The GCEcD board unanimously approved the nominee at the meeting on December 2, 2010 in West Point.   "Chris brings both private and public sector experience to the table; he knows how the state must balance good public services - particularly education - with the need to maintain a strong business climate," Deal said. "I've said throughout Georgia that I'll serve as the state's chief salesman as governor. That's the vision and talent that Chris will bring to this position. We have an excellent product to sell; Chris is the partner I need to bring industry and jobs to our state and kickstart our economic growth - my No. 1 priority as governor of Georgia."   Cummiskey joined the University of Georgia as the Director of State Relations in 2008.  In this role he represents the university in matters with state government offices and is the primary liaison with state officials.  Chris will begin working with GDEcD on January 10, 2011.   Prior to joining the university, Cummiskey served as the chief of staff for Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson.  In that position, he oversaw House research and communications staff as well as all administrative staff.  Previously, he was the state director for U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson for three years. As the state director, he worked with the Georgia General Assembly, the governor's office, local officials and Georgia businesses on matters relating to the federal government.     After graduating from UGA, Cummiskey worked for eight years with energy companies in Georgia, California and Texas managing their energy trading desks.    Cummiskey and his wife Rebecca live in Sandy Springs.    SPECIAL RECEPTION!  GEDA is co-sponsoring a special welcome reception for Chris.  AND YOU ARE INVITED!  The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will host this reception on Tuesday, January 18 from 6-8PM at the Gwinnett Chamber.  (6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097.)  See the attached flyer or go to the registration page.  The best part is ... registration is FREE for GEDA members!   GEDA Legislative Day at the Capitol Registration is Now Available The GEDA Legislative Day at the Capitol is just a few weeks away.  The registration form is now open and available!  Follow this link to register today.   As a reminder, you are your guests will still register like a normal luncheon (although this is separate from the prepaid meals options.)  The price is $30 per person, however we are going to cover that fee for our legislators.  Many communities are using this opportunity to bring their local leadership team to the Capitol for a mini-Legislative Day.  This event will provide an excellent forum for you to bring your local Board members, County & City Commissioners and other leaders to Atlanta to meet with your Georgia General Assembly representatives.   We encourage you to contact your legislators as soon as you can and personally invite them to the lunch.  Please make sure that they know that the lunch is free for them and they can come for as long or short as they'd like.  It's a drop-in style lunch from 11:30 until 1:30.  Thanks in advance for your help! Membership Renewals Renewal season is in full swing!  As you'll see from the fancy graphic to the left, over half of you have already renewed your membership for 2011.  For that, we say THANK YOU!  That needle is currently in the yellow.  I'd love to see us get into the green by the end of January and tipping up past 100% by the end of February.  Can we do it?? Of course we can!   Tell all of your GEDA friends that they need to renew.  Find some colleagues that may have allowed their memberships to lapse in past years that they need to come back!  GEDA is just going to get better as we approach our 50th Annual Conference.  NOW is the time to get involved and help us be the best Association we can.! Let's move that needle PAST the green!

2011 Events Calendar January 18  Georgia Leadership Welcome Reception for GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey.  Register here.  (Free for GEDA members!) January 26  Legislative Day at the Capitol February 21  Luncheon at Georgia Tech Hotel March 21  Luncheon at Hotel Palomar Welcome New Members Todd Barton, CB Richard Ellis Vicki Coleman, Fulton County Government Mike Donnelly, Georgia Power Company Tommy Guthrie, Atkinson County Winston Haynes, CB Richard Ellis Brittany Holtzclaw, Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development Duane Dodson Retiring Leaving Georgia Power After 42 Years The following is a message from Duane Dodson, who has just retired after over four decades of service to Georgia Power.  GEDA wishes Duane the best in his retirement!   To all my friends at GEDA, Effective January 1, 2011, I will retire for Georgia Power with 42 years of service.  Over the 16+ years I have made many Community and Economic Development friends across the state -- through my association with the Georgia Economic Developers Association.  The professionalism shown and knowledge shared have been greatly appreciated, but most of all I thank you for your friendship! My contact information as of January 1 will be: Duane Dodson 2301 E Doublegate Drive Albany, GA 31721 duanedodson@gmail.com 229-869-5250 Best regards, Duane NEW GEDA Leadership January 1 means that the new slate of Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs have taken office.  Take a look at the updated list online. Also - we are updating Committee pages with the new contact information and Action Plans.  They should all be complete within the next few days, so check those out and find the perfect Committee for you to join.  It's the #1 way to get involved with GEDA!

December 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Letter from the Chairman January Legislative Day Membership Renewals 2011 Sponsorship Opportunities 2011 Legislative Priorities Atlanta Business Chronicle State of the State GEDA Holiday Hours Savannah Harbor Deepening 2011 Events Calendar New Members  2011 Sponsorships Available Act FAST Before They're All Gone! Each year GEDA offers sponsorship opportunities for events. We have sold out of monthly luncheon sponsorships for each of the past three years.  We are almost always full on Platinum Sponsorships at our Conferences.   NOW is the time to contact the Sponsorship Committee to reserve your spot for 2011! Our sponsorship brochure is available online, of course. Pick out your marketing niche for next year and let us know! Legislative Priorities Major Themes for 2011 The 2011 Legislative Session is right around the corner.  it is time once again for GEDA and its members to educate our elected officials as to what our Legislative Priorities are for 2011.  The following is a brief list of what the Board has drafted for 2011.  PLEASE LET US KNOW if you think these are the right issues for GEDA to be pursuing this year: Increased funding mechanisms for transportation (including the port deepening.) New competitive incentives Increased appropriations for REBA, One Georgia, Quick Start and ICAPP. Prospect information and competitiveness.  (Timely release of prospect information) Funding for vital state programs and departments GEDA Partners with Atlanta Business Chronicle EXCITING State of the State Issue Coming Soon Atlanta Business Chronicle is proud to introduce its first State of the State special section, which will be devoted to covering nine key areas of Georgia: Albany/Tifton, Augusta, Columbus/ West Point/ LaGrange, Dalton/ Rome/ Cartersville, Gainesville/ Athens, Macon/ Warner Robins, Savannah/ Brunswick, Valdosta and Metro Atlanta. This section represents a unique opportunity to advance your area's key economic and demographic strengths, positioning it as a major player for for new business attraction and company relocations/ expansions.  With the vast majority of the 210,000 readers being business owners or top management, you can believe all eyes will be glued to this important section.  It's a powerful place to run an ad that positions your company as a player for 2011 and beyond. For more information, click here and contact the Atlanta Business Chronicle.   GEDA Offices Closed Holiday Office Hours GEDA Offices will be closed for the holidays on the following days: Thursday, December 23 Friday, December 24 Monday, January 3   Savannah Harbor Expansion Project Your Comments Needed ASAP The US Army Corps of Engineers has released its study documents for the Harbor Deepening.  (This project must occur to be able to allow for the new larger ships to access Georgia's ports.)  There is absolutely no doubt that this is a VITAL project for all of Georgia. The Army Corps is now open to receiving formal comments on the project.  They need to know why the public thinks that deepening the river to 48 feet is a good idea.  NOW is the time to submit your comments! The deadline for comments is January 10, 2011.  Please send comments via email or snail mail to: Mr. William Bailey ATTN: PD, US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District 100 West Oglethorpe Boulevard Savannah, GA 31401-3640 To read more on the project, click here.

A Look Back at 2010 - Chairman Pat Topping It’s December, 2010 is almost gone and I know you hear this every year, especially when you get to my age, but “Man, where did the year go?” 2010 was another busy year for GEDA as we continue to strive to fulfill our mission to “promote and provide networking and professional development opportunities and to shape public policy issues that relate to economic development” for our 700 members.   Nearly 2,000 of you attended our monthly luncheons, Spring Workshop, Annual Conference and Legislative Reception.  Bob Simmons, Development Authority of Fulton County and Timothy Wang, Alston and Bird conducted the first comprehensive review of our By-Laws in several years.  Substantial changes were made to modernize your org anization and our processes.  Approved by the membership at the May Spring Workshop, the new By-Laws better reflect the corporate world we operate in.  Bob White, Henry County Development Authority, will be your new Chairman, formerly President, in January while Mike Pennington assumes the title of President, formerly Executive Director.  Your new By-Laws are posted on our web site. We bid Chevelle Wilson good luck in her new venture with the Federal Reserve of Atlanta and welcomed Candice Crossfield as our new Manager, Member Services professional.  2010 presented challenges for our state and for our members.  Economic pressures have forced many of us to reconsider how we allocate resources.  Your Officers and Board understand that and pledge to continue tooffer our members value in our programming, events and our activities.  Our fiscal house is in good order, despite declining membership revenues. However, Spring Workshop and Annual Conference continue to be very successful events.  All of the thanks go to JoAnne Lewis, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber and Development Authority, Misti Martin, Cherokee Office of Economic Development, their committees and our sponsors.  The Sponsorship Committee led by Missy Kendrick, Barnesville-Lamar County DA, blew it away this year, thanks to all the many different sponsors for your support this year and in the past.  Your Officers, Board and staff will continue to work next year to make sure our programs and activities are timely, relevant to our profession, provide networking opportunities and are fiscally sound. 2011 will present a unique set of opportunities for GEDA.  Many new General Assembly members and a new Commissioner at the Department of Economic Development make it even more vital that GEDA work with our partners to maintain Georgia’s pro-business posture that will encourage our existing companies and allow us to attract new business and industry to our state.  Now more than ever GEDA needs to reinforce our role as the ‘leading economic development organization’ in the nation. The GEDA family passes along our thanks and best wishes to outgoing Commissioner Heidi Green.  Partnering with Georgia Power, Georgia EMC, Electric Cities of Georgia, our communities and others, Team Georgia, we have added over 18,000 new jobs resulting in over $3.4 billion new investment in the last fiscal year.  The most important thing we do, that which brings us the most amount of satisfaction in our jobs is finding someone a job. I want to personally thank the Officers, Board, staff and the membership for your support during my term as President now Chairman of our great organization.  We do make a difference in Georgia and we should be proud. Pat Topping, soon to be Past Chairman  Legislative Day at the Capitol We have completely changed the format for the GEDA Legislative Day at the Capitol on January 26, 2011 Over the past several years, GEDA has joined dozens of other communities, groups and associations in hosting an Annual Legislative Reception in January.  These events must be planned literally months in advance in order to reserve the prime event facilities.  However, each of the past three years have seen the Legislature go into recess unexpectedly during the time that we host our reception.  Obviously, that has been a major factor in our decreasing attendance at the event in recent years. As such, GEDA has decided to completely change how we handle the event this year!  Instead of an evening reception, we will revert to an event centered around lunch, like we used to do years ago.  This time, we are working to create the BEST opportunities for one-on-one time for YOU and YOUR legislators.  The day will start with some photo opportunities in the Capitol Building as early as 10:00 am (details are still to be finalized.)  ALL GEDA MEMBERS are encouraged to send personal invitations to YOUR legislators between now and the event, inviting them to lunch.  GEDA will provide the food for the event; Legislators will enjoy the meal free of charge; GEDA members and guests will pay a fee to enjoy lunch.  We have a room set up right next to the Capitol that will serve as the luncheon venue.  Instead of everyone descending on that room at once and fighting for food and space, we will encourage people to come on THEIR schedules, so we will be able to accommodate much larger groups of people. This is a drastic change from what we have done in the past and I know that some of it may seem confusing.  But here are the MAIN details to remember: You are encouraged to invite your legislators to lunch,  We will help you deliver GEDA's message to the Legislators, regarding our Legislative Priorities for 2011 (see the article at left),  We will have the ability for photo opportunities that morning in the Capitol and then at lunch as well,  You will register for the event in much the same way that you normally register for luncheons, You are certainly encouraged to bring guests! More information will be coming to you shortly on this event.  But go ahead and mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 26th!  We will send registration information out very soon. Membership Renewals All members should have recently received an e-mail regarding your Dues Renewal.  Renewal is very simple!  Go to the Renewal Page and follow the simple steps.  (You will need to log into the system to do this.  As a reminder, GEDA cannot see your passwords.  If you cannot remember your password, you will need to click the "Forgot Password" link on the login screen.)  Once logged in, you can choose your membership type and whether or not you'd like to prepay for the 7 luncheons in 2011.  (A savings of $25!)   You can either choose to pay online with a credit card or you can choose to "Pay by Invoice."  From this point, you can print an invoice and then mail a check into the GEDA Offices.  We look forward to your continued support of the state's leading professional association dedicated to enhancing Georgia's economic vitality!

2011 Events Calendar January 26  Legislative Day at the Capitol February 21  Luncheon at Georgia Tech Hotel March 21  Luncheon at Hotel Palomar April 18  Luncheon.  Location TBD. May 18-20  SPRING WORKSHOP at Sea Palms - St Simons Island June 20  Luncheon at Georgia Tech Hotel July  NO PROGRAM August 15  Luncheon at Hotel Palomar September 21-23  ANNUAL CONFERENCE at Savannah Riverfront Marriott October 17  Luncheon.  Location TBD.  November 14  Luncheon.  Location TBD.  December  NO PROGRAM Welcome New Members Jeremy Corbett, Evans General Contractors Shayla Harris, City of Union City Eric Nicholson, Filter Innovations New and Improved GEDA.ORG! Big Changes Coming in Early 2011 Be on the lookout for more information about the new and improved GEDA.ORG.  Our web services company is adding a great deal more functionality and YOU will be the beneficiary! The look will not change all that much for now, but we will add a lot more power, better search functions and some new pages that YOU have been asking for! We will add a "Member Portal" page that will have a great deal of your personal GEDA information it, including: Events you have registered for, And payments that are due Receipts for past payments Invoices for events Log in information Biographical information Photographs MUCH more!! This page will be the place to go to answer many of your questions, saving you the time it takes to email or call GEDA.  (Of course, we still welcome that contact from you!) We will also be adding a new store feature, where you can order GEDA-logo shirts, hats, bags - you can do all of your holiday and birthday shopping with us!I know your loved ones will be ecstatic to unwrap a GEDA shirt! All of this (and a great deal more) will be coming your way soon.  Keep watching this space for more details.    Have An Idea? Is there a topic you think we should cover in the Gazette?  Is there something missing from our website?  What can we do to make your membership experience better? Email us and let us know!     HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Candice and Mike would like to thank the GEDA members for what you do each and every day.  You make our world a better place and provide jobs and wealth for Georgians.  We continue to be thankful for all that you mean to us.   Here's wishing you a  WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! We look forward to what should be a fantastic 2011!

November 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Election Day! November Luncheon 2010 Scholarship Recipients Renew Your Membership Economic Development Law Seminar (ICLE) Georgia Work Ready Summit New Members New GEDA.ORG Coming Soon Renew Your Membership! Avoid the Rush - Renew today! DID YOU KNOW that you can renew your membership any time between now and the end of the year and it will count for 2011?  That's right!  If you go online and renew, you won't have to worry about dues again until late 2011!  This can be particularly helpful if you have some budget room remaining in 2010 and would like to go ahead and pay your dues for nest year now. Click on the link and the system will guide you through the process.  As always, let us know if you have any questions! Economic Development Law in Georgia GEDA Partners with ICLE GEDA is excited to announce that we will co-sponsor the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia's (ICLE) "Economic Development Law in Georgia seminar.  On Thursday, December 2nd, ICLE will host this program at the State Bar of Georgia.  Come and hear from industry experts like Brian Williamson, Dan McRae, John Gornall, Bob Simmons and MORE! IMPORTANT NOTE!  This program qualifies for EIGHT HOURS of credit for Development Authority Board Member training. Click here to see the flyer for the program and to see the full agenda. Georgia Work Ready Summit 2011 and Beyond Georgia Work Ready Summit provides a look ahead at Georgia's plan for continued growth and innovation.  It delivers information on the benefits of the Work Ready initiative to job seekers, businesses and communities.  The summit also serves as an opportunity to honor Governor Sonny Perdue for his leadership in building one of the leading workforce development initiatives in the country.  Summit attendees are automatically registered for the awards luncheon. Georgia Work Ready Awards Luncheon is the annual time for the Governor's Office of Workforce Development to honor the partners, businesses and individuals who have achieved success with the initiative. Click here to learn more about the event and to register.  The event is on December 8-9 and will be held at the Atlanta Hilton.

Election Day is Here! November 2nd is election day!  There are so many big stories that could come out of these elections.  The only way to make your voice heard is to get out there and vote!  Federal, State, Local, Constitutional Amendments, Statewide Referendum ... there is so much to decide! First, the Georgia Secretary if State's Office has launched a new voter service called "MVP."  My Voter Page is exactly that - it is a one-stop shop to know everything about your personal election day needs.  Log in to this site and you will be directed to customized information for election day, including: - Your voter information - Your polling place - A list of all qualified candidates that will appear on your ballot - Information on Constitutional Amendments and Statewide Referendums You can't complain about the outcomes if you don't get out there and vote! There are five Constitutional Amendments and one referendum this year.  Click here to read an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article about the different votes.  (As a reminder, GEDA does not favor votes in either direction.  We ask you to make informed decisions about what is best for business and growth in Georgia.) November Luncheon The November Luncheon will take place on November 15th - just two weeks away!  We will be at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, directly across the street from the Centergy Office Building.  This month, we are very pleased to welcome Brad Bryant, Georgia State School Superintendent.   Among other topics, Mr. Bryant will cover the progress Georgia has made in education recently (especially the recent announcement that high school graduation rates are at an all=-time high - over 80%!!)  We can also learn more about Georgia receiving $400 million in the Race to the Top program and what we can expect those funds to go toward.  There are a lot of exciting things going on in Georgia as relates to education, so you do not want to miss this luncheon.  (And, it's the last time we'll get together as a group this year.) Thank you to the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority for sponsoring the November program!   NOTE: For those of you wishing to pay by check, you can STILL register online. When you register online, on the payment screen, you can select "Pay By Check."  This will do two things - it will tell the system that you plan on coming, and it will mark your payment as receivable.  At that point, all you need to do is mail the check and you're done!  No paper forms to fill out! GEDA Scholarship Recipients GEDA has awarded 8 scholarships this year to help support the professional development and continuing education of its members.  Please join us in congratulating the following scholarship recipients: Basic Economic Development Course Scholarship Heath Tippens (Development Authority of Cherokee County) Paul Leath (AGL Resources) David Jones (Macon Economic Development Commission) GEDA Spring Workshop Scholarship Paula Herrington (Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce & Development Authority) International Trade Missions Scholarship Angie Gheesling (Milledgeville-Baldwin County Development Authority) GEDA Annual Meeting Scholarship Jeanie Boland (Brantley County Development Authority) IEDC Training Course Scholarship Yvonne (Susie) Haggard (Georgia Department of Economic Development) J. R. Charles (Thomaston-Upson County Industrial Development Authority)  GEDA still has more scholarship opportunities available including scholarships for Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) courses, the CEcD Exam, International Trade Missions, and the Penn Worden Grant.  *APPLICATIONS* for 2010 awards and scholarships can be found on the Professional Development Committee section of GEDA’s website.  For more information, contact Committee Chair Leah Brown.

Upcoming Events November 15 - Monthly Luncheon at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. December 2 - ICLE "Economic Development Law in Georgia" seminar December 8-9 - Georgia Work Ready Summit Welcome New Members Jeremy Corbett, Evans General Contractors Shayla Harris, City of Union City Eric Nicholson, Filter Innovations New and Improved GEDA.ORG! Big Changes Coming in Early 2011 Be on the lookout for more information about the new and improved GEDA.ORG.  Our web services company is adding a great deal more functionality and YOU will be the beneficiary! The look will not change all that much for now, but we will add a lot more power, better search functions and some new pages that YOU have been asking for! We will add a "Member Portal" page that will have a great deal of your personal GEDA information it, including: Events you have registered for, And payments that are due Receipts for past payments Invoices for events Log in information Biographical information Photographs MUCH more!! This page will be the place to go to answer many of your questions, saving you the time it takes to email or call GEDA.  (Of course, we still welcome that contact from you!) We will also be adding a new store feature, where you can order GEDA-logo shirts, hats, bags - you can do all of your holiday and birthday shopping with us!I know your loved ones will be ecstatic to unwrap a GEDA shirt! All of this (and a great deal more) will be coming your way soon.  Keep watching this space for more details. Have An Idea? Is there a topic you think we should cover in the Gazette?  Is there something missing from our website?  What can we do to make your membership experience better? Email us and let us know!

October 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Annual Conference Wrap October Luncheon Renew Today IEDC Salary Survey Upcoming Events New Members Consultant's Forum Renew Your Membership! Avoid the Rush - Renew today! DID YOU KNOW that you can renew your membership any time between now and the end of the year and it will count for 2011?  That's right!  If you go online and renew, you won't have to worry about dues again until late 2011!  This can be particularly helpful if you have some budget room remaining in 2010 and would like to go ahead and pay your dues for nest year now. Click on the link and the system will guide you through the process.  As always, let us know if you have any questions! IEDC Salary Survey GEDA Partners with IEDC Every two years, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) works with a group called Readex to conduct a nationwide salary survey of economic development practitioners.  Once again, GEDA will work with IEDC and Readex to facilitate the process in Georgia. You will soon receive an email from Readex/IEDC about the survey.  Please go and complete the survey.  After they are complete, we will be able to post the Georgia-specific results of the survey on our website!

Annual Conference Wrap What a great time we had in Savannah!  Over 350 people attended GEDA's 47th Annual Conference in Savannah.  Our breakout sessions on Wednesday were standing-room only in some cases; the Thursday sessions are receiving rave reviews; the GEDA All-Star Band was fantastic again; awards were given to our best and brightest on Wednesday evening and we heard from two gubernatorial candidates on Friday.  By all accounts, this was a very successful conference!!  Congratulations to Misti Martin and her committee! For all conference attendees, make sure you fill out our online SURVEY so we know what you loved and what we need to focus on for improvement. Friday morning of the Conference was also where we conducted our Annual Business Meeting.  Officers & Directors were elected and all of the new Committee Chairs were announced.  (Reminder: GEDA changed our terms of office to coincide with the calendar, so these names will take their new positions effective January 1, 2011.)  Here is the new GEDA Leadership Team: Chair: Bob White First Vice-Chair: Misti Martin Second Vice-Chair: JoAnne Lewis Secretary-Treasurer: Angie Gheesling Immediate Past Chair: Pat Topping Click here to continue reading about GEDA's new leaders and the rest of the Annual Conference ... October Luncheon The October Luncheon is almost upon us (it seems like we just left Annual Conference)!  GEDA is very excited to announce that we will have DOT Director of Planning, Todd Long, to address the membership.  We all know that transportation and logistics are vital to any economic development success.  The new Regional Transportation Tax that was passed in the most recent Legislative Session holds much potential but also has created a host of questions.  Some of them were answered at our breakout session at Annual Conference, but we know that many remain.   In our continued response to your requests to try new and different properties for our luncheon meetings, we will yet again be at a new facility for us.  GEDA is pleased to visit the Marriott Buckhead (this is the former Sheraton across the street from Lenox Mall).  A map to the location is available on the Luncheon Registration Page.  REGISTER TODAY!  And we'll see you on October 18th. NOTE: For those of you wishing to pay by check, you can STILL register online. When you register online, on the payment screen, you can select "Pay By Check."  This will do two things - it will tell the system that you plan on coming, and it will mark your payment as receivable.  At that point, all you need to do is mail the check and you're done!  No paper forms to fill out!

Upcoming Events October 18 - Monthly Luncheon at the Marriott Buckhead. November 15 - Monthly Luncheon at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. Welcome New Members Gary Sanchez, Atlanta Gas Light Cartter Fontaine, Athens Economic Development Foundation Courtney Bernardi, Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce Keith Colgan, Dabbs-Williams Victoria Lee, Georgia Tech Gina Morrison, Student Joshua Pendergrass, Processes Unlimited International Robert Shaw, Development Authority of Fulton County Corinne Thornton, Georgia Academy Consultant's Forum in Savannah GDEcD and others working with Area Development On December 5-7 a Consultants Forum will visit Savannah, Georgia.  The Forum is a "non-nonsense business conference with an outstanding program of topics and speakers."  The Forum will examine different industry sectors and specific case studies, while focusing on best practices and strategies for attracting and retaining companies in this changing economic landscape. Please contact Annie Gregson at 212.579.4469 for more information or to register.

September 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Annual Conference Update State of the Ports Luncheon Update on the Tax Commission Meeting Natural Resources Guide Link to Us Campaign  Natural Resources Guide It's here!!  It's here!! After literally years of work, the Economic Developers Guide to Natural Resources is NOW AVAILABLE!!!!  Big thanks to Natural Resources & Environment Committee Chair Andrew Welch with Georgia EMC.  He logged tons of hours and enlisted the help of numerous groups to make sure the content was correct and thorough. If you are an economic developer and have questions related to natural resources and/or the environment, this is your source!  Al Gore called it, "the single greatest resource I have ever seen - and that includes the internet I created."  Okay, so I made up that quote, but the underlying concept is the same. The Guide can be found at the Natural Resources & Environment Committee page (password protected). Link to Us!! Show Off Your Affiliation with GEDA Have you ever wanted to announce to the world that you were part of the world's greatest economic developers association, but tattoos seemed too painful and bumper stickers didn't seem strong enough?  Well, we have a great opportunity for you!  You can place the GEDA logo on your website (active members only, please) and let everyone know that you are a proud member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.  Email us and ask for the logo - all we ask is that you place our web link, www.geda.org, on the site as well.  Thanks!

Annual Conference Update GEDA's 47th Annual Conference is right around the corner.  Are you registered yet?  We are expecting our biggest crowd in years, thanks in large part to all of the great work put in by Misti Martin and her committee.  The agenda is set; the food (and receptions) are being prepared; the award winners have been selected - it's time to head back to Savannah!!  There is STILL time to register if you haven't done so already.  Go to our Annual Conference page and register now.  There are still a very small number of rooms available at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott, so contact them to stay right in the middle of the action. For those of you already registered, this is a reminder that, with the exception of the Chairman's Awards Ceremony, all session are BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE.  For the opening night reception, awards ceremony and entertainment, the attire is COCKTAIL.  (For those of you who are like me and don't know what that means, cocktail attire usually means a suit and tie for men and a cocktail-length dress for the ladies.) We look forward to seeing you in Savannah! State of the Ports Luncheon in Atlanta  The Georgia Chamber and the Georgia Ports Authority are hosting the second annual “State of the Ports” luncheon on September 17 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta. Registration will open at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon will start at 12 noon. This event, which takes place the day after the annual State of the Ports in Savannah, will educate attendees about the importance and economic impact of Georgia’s deepwater ports, which are a crucial component to international commerce for our state and the entire nation. Anyone who is interested in learning how the ports connect our state’s economy to the markets of the world is highly encouraged to attend this event. Curtis Foltz, Executive Director, Georgia Ports Authority, will be the featured speaker at this event and will provide: * A year-in-review of the Georgia Ports. * Insights as to how the Ports benefit our state and Atlanta, specifically. Click here to purchase tickets. Contact Margaret Bracey at 404/223-2478 with questions regarding this event. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rebecca Jones at 404/223-2473.  Tax Reform Council Meeting Update on the Commission formed by HB 1405 GEDA Chairman Pat Topping presented to the Tax Council on Thursday, September 2nd in Macon.  GEDA will continue to present findings and comments to the Tax Council as they continue their fact-finding mission across the state.  GEDA encourages members to attend these session if possible and even make comments to the Council members when appropriate.  (Please keep in mind that any and all comments can be made public at any time.)  We also encourage you to periodically go to the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians website to see other comments that have been submitted, support documentation and information on upcoming meetings. To read Chairman Topping's comments to the Tax Reform Council, click here.

Upcoming Events September 22-24 - 47th ANNUAL CONFERENCE!  Hotel rooms are available at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  (Mention GEDA to get our special low rate.) October 18 - Monthly Luncheon at the Marriott Buckhead. November 15 - Monthly Luncheon at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. Welcome New Members Pat Wilson, Georgia Department of Economic Development John McKee, American Intercontinental University Greg O'Brien, Grubb & Ellis Brent Moye, Land Engineering & Development David McCulloch, Gwinnett Technical College Erica Rocker, College Park, GA Andrea Taylor, Douglas-Coffee Chamber/EDA Karen Fite, Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute Steven Hendrix, Southern Crescent Technical College Jeff Scruggs, Middle Georgia Technical College Bill Rogers, Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce Add a Photo!!! Say Cheese! We are now up to 92 of you with photos posted online.  We're only 26% of the way to our goal of having 350 member photos online. It's so easy to add a photo ... Just go to Edit Your Profile and scroll about half way down the page to "Personal Image."  Pick one you'd like to display and you're ready to go!

August 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Update from GDEcD Commissioner Heidi Green Register for Our Next Two Programs Update on the Tax Commission Meeting Learn Why They Didn't Locate Social Media Updates Link to Us Campaign  Ideas for Upcoming Issues? Social Media Updates Did you know? GEDA currently has 202 fans of our Facebook Page; there are 243 members of our LinkedIn Group; we have 121 people following us on Twitter.  Don't you think it's about time that you joined at least one of these???  Click any (or all!) of the following icons to go directly to our pages.  This is the best way to get information from GEDA, as well as exchange information with each other! Link to Us!! Show Off Your Affiliation with GEDA Have you ever wanted to announce to the world that you were part of the world's greatest economic developers association, but tattoos seemed too painful and bumper stickers didn't seem strong enough?  Well, we have a great opportunity for you!  You can place the GEDA logo on your website (active members only, please) and let everyone know that you are a proud member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.  Email us and ask for the logo - all we ask is that you place our web link, www.geda.org, on the site as well.  Thanks! Have an Idea for the Gazette? Help Us Help You! What items would you like to see featured in the Gazette?  Email us and let us know what we should be covering.  We want to make this newsletter as useful for you as possible.  To borrow a line from the movie Jerry McGuire, "Help me help you!"

Update from GDEcD Commissioner Heidi Green Greetings!  As you may know, our department has undergone many changes in the recent past.  I am thrilled to be serving as GDEcD Commissioner and I look forward to serving you in my new position.  We are also excited to have Pat Wilson on board as the new Deputy Commissioner of Global Commerce.  Pat will bring great knowledge of state government and excellent relationship building skills to the Global Commerce team and I am certain you will enjoy getting to know him. Our department is moving forward into a new fiscal year after great success in FY10.  With our jobs and investment numbers both coming in higher than FY09, we are proud to say that companies are investing in Georgia and bringing jobs to citizens across the state.  As we begin the new fiscal year, the department is striving to continue our successes as we reach out to companies in Georgia and across the globe. Click here to read the rest of the article.   Register Today for TWO Great Programs! GEDA has TWO fantastic programs coming in the next two months that you do not want to miss! First - our August luncheon is something new and different from GEDA (exactly what you have been asking for from us)!  Our June luncheon brought us the perspective of site selection consultants in what one long-time GEDA member dubbed "the best GEDA luncheon in the past 10 years."  Now it's time to spend more time with the state's brokerage community.  While chomping on chili dogs, onion rings and fried apple pies, we can get to know each other in a laid-back, fun atmosphere.  Make sure you register today for this UNIQUE opportunity to meet the major brokers in the state! And just a few weeks later will be the 47th GEDA Annual Conference at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  Misti Martin and her committee have a great program lined up including: Dr. Jeffrey Rosensweig, Emory Professor, Global Guru and one of GEDA's favorite presenters; both Gubernatorial candidates; some fantastic breakout sessions and much more!  Did I mention that we'll have our Annual Awards Ceremony and the FAREWELL performance by our own GEDA All-Star Band???  That alone should be reason enough to join us in Savannah!  Register today to take advantage of Early Bird Prices. New Tax Reform Council Meeting Update on the Commission formed by HB 1405 The state's new tax reform commission held its first meeting on August 28th. House Ways & Means Chair Larry O'Neal, Speaker of the House David Ralston and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle asked the commission to recommend a "flatter, fairer, consistent, easily understandable, simple to comply with, effective and stable in raising revenue, more job friendly and generating sustainable economic growth" tax system. The commission will be examining the tax code "from top to bottom - all 19 platforms" and explore every tax exemption and preference currently in the code to measure their effectiveness in accomplishing their supposed missions.  A.D. Frazier, former chief operating officer for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, was elected commission chair.  Frazier will lead the commission on fact-finding sessions over the summer and fall to gather input from across the state. Click here to read the rest of the report. Find Out Why That Company Didn't Locate YOU Can Help Create a Session at Annual Conference! There will be a workshop on Wednesday afternoon that will present the economic climate in different states and compare their effectiveness in attracting new businesses as well as retaining existing businesses.  Specifically, the state of Georgia's strengths and weaknesses will be discussed and evaluated in an interactive and data driven approach.  The discussions will be based on Droege & Co.'s Economic Climate Index which provides transparency to the development of labor cost, availability of labor and executives, closeness to customers and suppliers and much more. To broaden the qualitative aspect in these discussions we intend to execute a survey to investigate the reasons why companies have chosen to locate, and the reasons why companies not to locate to the state of Georgia.  Now, for the purpose of this survey, we extend a request that you provide us with company names and contacts that fit into one of these two categories.  If you know of a contact that you would like to suggest as a participant in this survey, please forward that information to Scott McMurray or Mike Pennington.

Upcoming Events REGISTER TODAY for GEDA's August Luncheon! August 23 - Piedmont Park (Greystone Building)  It's a "Meet the Brokers" event catered by The Varsity!  (Sponsored by the Development Authority of Fulton County.) September 22-24 - 47th ANNUAL CONFERENCE!  Hotel rooms are available at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  (Mention GEDA to get our special low rate.) Welcome New Members Kevin Hall, Williams & Associates David Childs, ADP Add a Photo!!! Say Cheese! Out of approximately 700 GEDA members, only 87 of you have added a photo to your profile!!!  It's so easy to add a photo ... Just go to Edit Your Profile and scroll about half way down the page to "Personal Image."  Pick one you'd like to display and you're ready to go!   Governor's Conference on Tourism Stay in tune with today's tourism trends, technology and topics at this annual conference held exclusively for the state's tourism industry.  Year after year, the Governor's Tourism Conference is recognized as a must attend event for the tourism industry in Georgia.  This year's conference will be held in Athens August 30-September 1 and features these keynote speakers: Roger Dow - US Travel Association, Horst Schultze - founding President of Ritz-Carlton and Bill Geist - Zeitgeist Consulting.  Learn about new social media strategies, market segmentation, statewide research and legislative issues facing Georgia's tourism industry. GDEcD is offering GEDA members a $25 DISCOUNT on the registration fee!!!  Register online at www.georgiagtc.com and use the code GATOURISM when prompted. Give It a Try! Visit our FAQ Page We have answers for many of your questions about GEDA, our website and other topics available at our FAQ page.  Forgot your password?  Don't know how to register?  Is there a site map? (Yes!)  Many of your questions may already be answered.  If not - let us know and we'll answer them for you.

July 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles August Luncheon Registration Available GEDA Awards Nomination Deadline Two New IEDC-Approved Courses Closed for the Holiday  Link to Us Campaign  New State Laws Take Effect TODAY!  GEDA Offices Closed for Holiday Just a reminder ... GEDA Global Headquarters will be closed on Monday, July 5th in observance of Independence Day.  Also, we'll be mourning USA's loss to Ghana in the World Cup.   Link to Us!! Show Off Your Affiliation with GEDA Have you ever wanted to announce to the world that you were part of the world's greatest economic developers association, but tattoos seemed too painful and bumper stickers didn't seem strong enough?  Well, we have a great opportunity for you!  You can place the GEDA logo on your website (active members only, please) and let everyone know that you are a proud member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association.  Email us and ask for the logo - all we ask is that you place our web link, www.geda.org, on the site as well.  Thanks! New State Laws From Our Friends at Mathews & Maxwell I'm sure we all know about the new texting while driving ban that begins today.  But what about all of the other new laws that begin July 1?  Click here for a quick rundown!  New laws!

August Registration is Now Available And you thought the June luncheon was spectacular ... just wait until you see what we have in store for August.  (Yes, that means we will not have a program in July.)  Projects today come from all directions and GEDA understands the unique challenges that can present.  Where do you market?  To whom do you market?  Companies do their own searches; some hire consultants (like we saw at our June luncheon); and now real estate brokers are getting more and more involved in economic development.  That is why we are hosting a "Meet the Brokers" event in August.  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 a "Get to Know Ya" luncheon.  So, mark your calendars for August 23rd - and register online today! But wait, there's more!  Because it will probably be very hot in August and because football season is right around the corner, we would like to invite everyone to lose the suits and ties and wear your favorite team's colors to the luncheon!  High school, college, professional, arena ... pick a favorite team and wear their colors to the luncheon.  And to further that great, laid-back atmosphere, our luncheon will be catered by The Varsity!  (Note: this is a BYOA event.  Bring Your Own Antacid.)  We look forward to seeing you in August! This event is sponsored by the Development Authority of Fulton County. Last Chance for GEDA Award Nominations! Have you had a project location in the last 12 months?  Want to be the envy of all of your friends and colleagues and impress your bosses with a trophy?  If you answered yes to both of those questions, apply for a GEDA Deal of the Year Award TODAY!!  We will present awards to winners in three categories: Metro, Rural and Regional.  Apply today!  Contact Andrea Schruijer for more details. We are soliciting nominations for our Volunteer of the Year and Zell Miller Public Policy Award.  Information about all of our awards, as well as nomination information can be found at the Special Service Awards Committee page. Two NEW IEDC-Approved Courses for You! Georgia Tech is pleased to announce two new course offerings For more than 40 years, Georgia Tech has provided professional development courses to serve economic development leaders throughout Georgia.  This year, Georgia Tech is excited to offer two NEW "Tools of the Trade" short courses; How to Conduct Business Intelligence to Gain a Competitive Advantage (Atlanta - July 20) and How to Conduct Performance Tracking to Demonstrate ROI (Atlanta - July 21.) As an added bonus, participation in two "Tools of the Trade" courses will qualify for Level Two recertification points with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC.)  For all of you Certified Economic Developers, here's a great way to pick up a few extra points toward recertification! If you have questions, please contact Hortense Jackson at 229-430-4327 or Joy Wilkins at 404-895-6115.

Upcoming Events REGISTER TODAY! for GEDA's August Luncheon. August 23 - Piedmont Park (Greystone Building.)  It's a "Meet the Brokers" event catered by The Varsity!  (Sponsored by the Development Authority of Fulton County.) September 22-24 - 47th ANNUAL CONFERENCE!  Hotel rooms are available at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott.  (Mention GEDA to get our special low rate.) Welcome New Members Lillian Easterlin, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Sean Mikula, Power 10: Accelerated Fundraising for Non-Profits Jessica Brown, Evans General Contractors Vernae Martin, City of Norcross Roger Boatright, Bacon County Commissioner Nancy Galewski, Enterprise Innovation Institute John D'Anrea, Georgia Power Christopher Nairne, Wells Fargo International Banking & Trade Solutions Felicia Taylor, Georgia Power Ayana Knowles, Generation Mortgage Justice, Center of Innovation for Aerospace Amy Hudnall, Center of Innovation for Aerospace Update Your Profile Say Cheese! Did you know that you can add a picture to your GEDA Membership Directory profile?  It just takes a few seconds to show the world what you look like!  On the other hand, if you prefer, GEDA Management can add a picture for you - but you may not like which picture we choose! Just go to Edit Your Profile and scroll about half way down the page to "Personal Image."  Pick one you'd like to display and you're ready to go!