February 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles New Features on GEDA Website! Award Nominations CEcD Study Group Membership Renewals Legislative Update  Membership Renewals Renew your membership in GEDA today. The 2010 dues invoice/directory update has been sent to all members.  Don't allow your membership to expire.  There's still time to  Renew Your Membership Legislative Update February Legislative Digest  The 2010 Legislative session is underway and in full progress.  Click here for the latest report to track relevant economic development related policy.   Connect with GEDA

New Features on GEDA Website Site Map New website … new look … everything seems to be in a new place ... I can’t find the membership directory!!! I know that the new site can be sometimes confusing. Until you fully experience the navigation of this site, it can be confusing. We have created a SITE MAP to alleviate some of this confusion. Click here and you will see links to all of our main pages. Down the left hand side of the screen are the major subject headers found on our main menu bar, including Membership, Events, News, Committees, etc. Those images are linked to their pages – and to the right are all of the links that can be found in that area. This SITE MAP will be a great way to find whatever you’re looking for at www.geda.org!  Alphabet Soup IEDC, ACCG, IAMC, REAP, SBDC … Economic development is like any other industry group – we have a tremendous amount of alphabet soup! There are so many industry terms and so much jargon, that it can be difficult for newer professionals (and even the seasoned folks) to fully understand all of these terms. Well, GEDA has attempted to compile some of these terms and Acronyms to help you more easily comprehend all of it. Click here to see our list (complete with links to most of the acronyms!)   Special Service Awards Committee Award Nominations Special Service Awards Committee: Committee Chair, Andrea Schruijer would like to be proactive this year in soliciting nominations for special service awards.  So many communities become so heavily involved in their work that they miss out on the recognition that they deserve.  And there are some volunteers who deserve to be honored for their dedication and committment to the economic development of their communities.  Start reviewing the qualifications of Deal of the Year and Volunteer of the Year and consider a deserving project or professional that would be a worthy recipient.  Visit the Special Service Awards Committee page for more information.                                                             Professional Development Opportunity CEcD Study Group, Certification in 2010  Do you have any interest in becoming a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)?  Would you like to learn more about what it takes, how to do it, what the study & experience requirements are?  Do you think you have what it takes?  GEDA is going to provide information to those people that are interested in learning more.  If there are enough people who are ready to sit for the exam - we will create and help coordinate a CEcD study group!  GEDA has had a GREAT deal of success over the years in successfully guiding people through the process.  In fact, only Texas has more Certified Economic Developers than Georgia does! Email us at mpennington@georgia.org to let us know of your interest.

Upcoming Events February - No Program March 15, 2010 - Monthly Luncheon, Hotel Palomar - Registration Available Soon April 19, 2010 - Monthly Luncheon, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre May 19-21, 2010 - Spring Workshop, Jekyll Island, GA Welcome New Members Keith Barclift, Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority Mary Beth Bass, UGA Archway Partnership Benjamin Brooks, Smith Gambrell & Russell Joseph Brown, Southwest Georgia United Tedra Cheatham, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Jeff Dudley, Winter RLG Industrial Construction Jason Fritz, Electric Cities of Georgia Chase Grogan, Student-Georgia Southern University Sarah Harrison, Municipal Consulting Serivices Kevin Johnson, Georgia Power Tino Mantella, Technology Association of Georgia Kirk Mathews, Benning Construction Company Leneva Morgan, Georgia Power Edward Outlaw, Outlaw Consulting, Inc. Shirley Sherrod, USDA Rural Development

January 2010 Newsletter

Featured Articles Your Opinion Counts! 2010 Job Tax Credit Rankings GEDA Scholarships Available Jekyll Island Revitalization Showcase Membership Renewals 2010 Census Membership Renewals Don't wait.  Renew your membership in GEDA today. The 2010 dues invoice/directory update has been sent to all members.  Thank you to those of you who have already renewed and provided updates.  There's still time to  Renew Your Membership 2010 Census! Georgia's Complete Count Committee wants you!   The Georgia Census Complete Count Committee, appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue in October, has just launched a comprehensive Census 2010 website at www.census.georgia.gov, and invites all local Complete Count Committees to visit the Local Communities page and let DCA know who you are and what you're doing.  If your community or special interest group has formed a complete count committee, please let DCA know about it and check out the rest of the website for resources and other information of interest. The Georgia Complete Count Committee is co-chaired by Mike Beatty, Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, and Debra Lyons, Director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development. For further information, please contact the Georgia CCC at census@dca.ga.gov or call 404.679.3147.

Your Opinion Matters What would you like to see in 2010? Happy New Year!  GEDA would like to start the year off by offering you the opportunity to provide feedback and ideas about YOUR association.  What would you like more/less of in 2010?  What did you like about 2009 or previous years.  We plan to offer these surveys frequently and hope that you will take the time to answer the questions honestly and thoughtfully.   The survey should take only a few minutes of your time.  Your input and suggestions are valuable and we look forward to hearing from you.   Click Here to take the survey.  2010 Job Tax Credit Rankings The 2010 Job Tax Credit Rankings and Less Developed Census Tract Listing are now available and may be accessed at: http://www.dca.ga.gov/economic/TaxCredits/programs/documents/2010MemoandRankingdetail.pdf Additional information on the Job Tax Credit Program, including regulations and forms, may be found on DCA’s Job Tax Credit web page at: http://www.dca.ga.gov/economic/TaxCredits/programs/taxcredit.asp Please feel free to contact DCA at (404) 679-1587 or brian.williamson@dca.ga.gov, or Dawn Sturbaum at (404) 679-1585 or dawn.sturbaum@dca.ga.gov, with any questions or for further information.     GEDA Scholarship Opportunities  Are you a GEDA member in good standing who is interested in professional development and continuing education?  If so, deadlines for several GEDA scholarship opportunities are approaching.  Don’t miss out!  GEDA scholarship application deadlines for International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) courses are 30 days prior to the course.  If you are interested in taking IEDC or EDFP courses in February or March, please get your scholarship applications submitted soon. Also, the deadline for the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development Course scholarship is March 5, 2010.  The dates of the course are March 23-26, 2010. *APPLICATIONS* for all awards and scholarships can be found on the Professional Development Committee section of GEDA’s website. IEDC Upcoming Courses February 17-19, 2010 Economic Development Finance Programs Lansing, MI March 3-5, 2010 Economic Development Credit Analysis Los Angeles, CA March 18-19, 2010 Economic Development Strategic Planning Springfield, MO EDFP Upcoming Courses March 22-26, 2010 ED 300: The Art of Deal Structuring Charleston, WV                                                             For more information, contact Committee Chair Leah Blasingame. Jekyll Island Revitalization Showcase Attention Hospitality Developers and Investors Discover the unique hospitality development opportunities associated with the revitalization of Jekyll Island! January 20-21, 2010 Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island, Georgia.For more information and registration, Click Here

Upcoming Events January 14, 2010 - Legislative Reception, Rail Depot. REGISTER! February - No Program March 15, 2010 - Monthly Luncheon, Hotel Palomar Upcoming Committee Meetings The following committees have upcoming meetings via conference call.  Please contact committee chiars for call instructions and details. Public Policy - Friday, January 8th at 11am.  Committee Chair Andrew Schutt Business Retention & Expanson - Monday, January 11th at 3pm.  Committee Chair Brian Dill Member Services - Tuesday, January 12th at 2pm.  Committee Chair NIki Knox   Connect with GEDA Easiest Way to Receive Updates Real Simple Synidcation (RSS) feeds are now available for this new version of the GEDA Gazette.  At the very bottom of this screen, you will seen several words - one of them is "RSS."  Click on RSS and you will go to a sign up page for the RSS feeds.  Once there, you can name the feed, place it in a folder, etc.  Once you have finished this - whenever a new Gazette is published, it will automatically appear in your RSS Feed folder (which is in Microsoft Outlook for many people.)  This is the easiest and quisckest way to get the LATEST updates from GEDA!

December 2009 Newsletter

Featured articles Review of 2009 Accomplishments Membership Renewal 2010 Legislative Session Dubai Air Show Report Happy Holidays On behalf of the Staff and Board of Directors of GEDA, we wish you a happy, healthy and joyous holiday season.  In observance of the upcoming holidays, please note that the GEDA Office will be closed on December 24-25, 2009 and January 1, 2010.  Connect to GEDA Easiest Way to Receive Updates Real Simple Synidcation (RSS) feeds are now available for this new version of the GEDA Gazette.  At the very bottom of this screen, you will seen several words - one of them is "RSS."  Click on RSS and you will go to a sign up page for the RSS feeds.  Once there, you can name the feed, place it in a folder, etc.  Once you have finished this - whenever a new Gazette is published, it will automatically appear in your RSS Feed folder (which is in Microsoft Outlook for many people.)  This is the easiest and quisckest way to get the LATEST updates from GEDA!

A Look Back at 2009 As we approach the end of another year, let us take a look at the positive accomplishments of 2009. The members and volunteers of GEDA have continued to make GEDA a strong and vital association.  Our valued members are key in continuing to make us THE  premiere economic development association in Georgia.   We can proudly say that we have survived and thrived during an economic downturn.  An upgrade to luncheon programs resulted in an overall increase of attendance.  An increase in sponsorship revenue allowed us to have a financially successful Spring Worship and Annual Conference.  Our willingness to be flexible and revelant has proven to bring us beneficial relationships and partnerships.  Unfortunately, we lost members due to budget restraints, however we have creatively approached ways to still recruit, retain and re-gain members.  There were also many other behind-the-scenes adminstrative endeavors that allowed the staff to be more efficient in bringing the best updates and  information to our members by utilizing technology trends.   And now, as we approach another year, GEDA officers, directors and committee chairs have been charged with focusing on significant goals that will continue to make the association even better.  Please continue to support GEDA programs and give us constructive input regarding what you would like to see in 2010. Membership Renewals All members should have recently received an e-mail entitled 2010 Dues Invoice and Directory Update.  The e-mail includes your membership status (as indicated in our files), the four types of membership,  and all of your contact information as it is now listed in the membership directory.  This is a process that we conduct annually and it is to be used as a method of invoicing for renewals AS WELL AS confirming and updating your contact information.  Although some members have already paid 2010 dues or have special arrangements or situations regarding dues payment, we ask that you please review the docudment to make sure our records reflect the most accurate information.  Please contact the GEDA office if you have any corrections or questions.  We value your membership and we hope that your renewal and continued participattion in GEDA will be beneficial to your professional development and networking experience.  Report from the Dubai Air Show Morgan Law received one of the International Missions Scholarships and shares his experiences while in Dubai Thanks to the generosity of GEDA, the Houston County Development Authority (HCDA) was able to participate in its first ever international trade mission to the Dubai Air Show in November 2009. As the home of the United States Air Force Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, aerospace is a key industry sector and target for Warner Robins and Middle Georgia which makes the Dubai show an extremely attractive marketing opportunity. Participating in aerospace trade shows is a standing component of the HCDA’s marketing plan. We have previously exhibited cooperatively with Bibb and Dodge Counties at three domestic aerospace trade shows and this was our first opportunity to join an international trade show.  Click here to read the full article. Legislative Session Begins Soon! Mark your calendars for the GEDA Legislative Reception on January 14, 2010 The Georgia General Assembly will reconvene on January 11, 2010 for the second year of this two-year cycle. As you know – the General Assembly works on a two-year calendar for bills and resolutions. Any bill or resolution brought forth last year can still be discussed in 2010. One of the main focal points in GEDA’s Mission Statement is that of Public Policy in Georgia. We develop a new list of goals and priorities each year and strive to ensure that all members of the General Assembly are aware of the wants, needs, issues and concerns of Georgia’s economic development community.  Click here to read the full article.

Upcoming Events January 14, 2010 - Legislative Reception, Rail Depot. REGISTER! February - No Program March 15, 2010 - Monthly Luncheon, Location TBD Welcome New Members E. Jane Caraway, GA Dept. of Economic Development Robert Bennett, Augusta Economic Development Authority Judy Madden, Eastman-Dodge County Chamber of Commerce Committee Updates Scholarships Available Professional Development Committee: A key part of GEDA’s mission is the professional development and continuing education of its members. To promote this effort, GEDA will award $15,000 in scholarships, sponsorships and grants during 2010.  Visit the Professional Development Committeepage to view scholarship opportunites as wel as applications and deadlines. Award Nominations Special Service Awards Committee: Committee Chair, Andrea Schruijer would like to be proactive this year in soliciting nominations for special service awards.  So many communities become so heavily involved in their work that they miss out on the recognition that they deserve.  And there are some volunteers who deserve to be honored for their dedication and committment to the economic development of their communities.  Start reviewing the qualifications of Deal of the Year and Volunteer of the Year and consider a deserving project or professional that would be a worthy recipient.  Visit the Special Service Awards Committee page for more information.