Featured Articles
Legislative Update!First News from the Capitol for 2012We have our first updates on bills and resolutions of interest from the Capitol. There is a lot of information here, so please take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with these newsworthy items. As you know, we have increased ths size and scope of our legislative coverage this year; you will receive reports from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and from our monitor, Jim Finch. There has been a lot of work on the Amended FY2012 and FY 2013 budgets this week. Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee approved an amended FY12 budget that included a $200,000 reduction in REBA funding. This will now move to the Senate for their consideration. If you have opinions on this development, you are urged to contact your Senators immediately. Here are links to the proposed amended FY2012 budget and the FY 2013 budget. You can also find the most recent reports from Jim Finch and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Also - you can view pictures from our Legislative Day at the Capitol on the GEDA Photo Gallery Page! Spring Workshop Room BlockHurry Before the Rooms Are Gone!Spring Workshop 2012 will be here before you know it. The This year's conference agenda is almost 100% set - we're going to GO FOR THE GOLD in 2012! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
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Georgia Competitiveness Initiative
This report represents the culmination of a strategic, year-long process by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and a 23-member steering committee, and incorporates the input of you and more than 4,000 business leaders from every region of the state. We hope you also are pleased with the results of this partnership and the opportunities the Competitiveness Initiative creates for jobs and business to thrive in Georgia. So many GEDA members took part in the survey and the 12 regional listening sessions. Thank you for your participation. You will find the report on www.georgiacompetitiveness.org.
Quick! Let Me Give You a Pile of Cash!Deadline for the first of our three rounds of scholarships for the year is on MONDAY! The GEDA Professional Development Committee is prepared to give away several thousand dollars of scholarship money next week. And yes, ALL GEDA members are eligible to apply for the funds. Some of the programs that are eligible in this first round of scholarships include:
Do you STILL need convincing? Read about our own Stefanie Dye and her recent achievement, paid for through GEDA scholarships! Email GEDA or Joy Wilkins with any questions about the process ... IGNITE!The 2012 GEDA Spring Workshop planning is well underway - and this year, we're changing things up. We have heard you loud and clear ... many of you have asked for something besides just "Optional Activities" on Thursday afternoon at our conferences. We are listening and we have a super-fun idea for our Thursday afternoon. (Thanks to Tim Martin for bringing this to us.)
Ignite is a fast-paced geek event started by Brady Forrest, Technology Evangelist for O'Reilly Media, and Bre Pettis of Makerbot.com, formerly of MAKE Magazine. Speakers are given 20 slides, each shown for 15 seconds, giving each speaker 5 minutes of fame. The first Ignite took place in Seattle in 2006, and since then the event has become an international phenomenon, with gatherings in Helsinki, Finland; Paris, France; New York, New York; and many other locations. GEDA will host our first ever Ignite session on THURSDAY AFTERNOON at Spring Workshop! We are now asking for presenters. Do you have something you'd like to share with the world in 5 minutes? Would you like to practice your presentation skills? Do you want to hear people discuss 10 new ideas in just one hour? We are looking to fill 10 speaker slots. Please email us if you would like to be a part of this extremely exciting new idea!! |
Upcoming EventsFebruary 20th Luncheon. International Trade Representatives! Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. March 19. Monthly Luncheon at the Kia Training Center in West Point. April 16. Monthly Luncheon. Details to be confirmed. May 16-18. Spring Workshop at Brasstown Valley. Make your room reservations today! New Members!Welcome to GEDABilijack Bell, WIlson Hull & Neal Pedro Cherry, Georgia Power Harold Coffey, Georgia Power Sharroll Fanslau, Downtown Development Authority of Pembroke Clint Mueller, ACCG Terry Schwindler, Macon Economic Development Commission SIX New Members from the Department of Labor! Congratulations, Stefanie!Newest CEcD in Georgia!The City of Roswell can now boast the newest Certified Stefanie just went to San Antonio to take the exam and was successful! As you know, Georgia has the second highest number of CEcDs in the nation (and we're coming after you, Texas!) "GEDA is the world's greatest association. I never would have been able to accomplish this if it weren't for GEDA's wonderful support," said Dye. Ok ... she didn't really say that, but I think she would say that the scholarship helped. Congratulations to Stefanie!!!
iPad for Economic DevelopmentWant One? Have One? Haven't Decided Yet?Don't make any plans after the April 16th GEDA Luncheon. The GEDA Young Professionals Committee is planning an
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time is NOW to reserve your room for the Conference! We will once again be in beautiful 
Congratulations to Tim Evans and his wife Killian on the birth of their baby boy. Banks Robert Evans joined the world at 1:30 am on Thursday, February 2. He was born at 8 lbs, 22.25 inches long - most importantly, mommy and baby are doing great!
As many of you have heard by now, Governor Deal recently released the results of the year-long Governor's Competitiveness Initiative. 
About Ignite ... Imagine that you’re in front of an audience made up of your friends, family, and people from your community, about to present a 5-minute talk on the thing you’re most passionate about. You’ve brought 20 slides, which advance every 15 seconds whether you’re ready or not. You have a few last-minute butterflies, but off you go—and the crowd loves it. Welcome to Ignite.
Economic Developer (CEcD) in Georgia!
'iPad for Economic Development" course after our luncheon.