GEDA : News Releases

Second speaker added for August program!

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

We were already looking forward to a great program with Governor Sonny Perdue speaking about transportation in Georgia. Now, we have added a second great speaker who will address the same issue from the private side. Home Depot’s Global Supply Chain Senior Vice President Mark Holifield will offer a private sector perspective and talk about how his company is capitalizing on Georgia’s transportation network. Mark Holifield was appointed this year by Governor Perdue to serve on the Commission for a New Georgia’s Freight and Logistics Task Force, which released its findings last month. Holifield has over 30 years experience in the supply chain, logistics and transportation field and has worked for Office Depot, Frito-Lay and H.E. Butts Grocery. He is responsible for the Home Depot’s inventory management, transportation, domestic distribution and international logistics operations.

If you haven’t registered already, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? Early bird registration deadline is tomorrow. Don’t delay! You’ll be disappointed if you miss this program.

GEDA Mentor Program

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The GEDA Development Authority Executives Committee has taken on the task of creating a Mentor program for GEDA! This is something that has been discussed for a very long time by GEDA leadership. You, the members, have been asking for a way to tap into the decades of knowledge possessed by GEDA members.

That hope and request is no longer a hope or request – it is a reality!

Here are some examples of the topics that this esteemed group of economic development professionals are prepared to discuss with you: • Advice on setting professional priorities

• An understanding of how to build a circle of friends and contacts both within and outside of GEDA

• Introduce the person to top authorities in the field

• Act as a sounding board for ideas and concerns of the economic development professional

• Provide vision and insight, advice and counsel

• Provide support and encouragement

• Give encouragement for building self-confidence and stronger self-esteem

• Constructive feedback and critical analysis

The list of the ten members of the Mentor Group are listed in a file in our Document Center, in the Development Authority Executives Committee. Please do not hesitate to contact any of these ten professionals with questions/requests for advice or feedback/support/advice, etc.

HUGE THANK YOU to Bob Simmons and the rest of the Mentors for agreeing to take on this task and presenting this wonderful opportunity to the GEDA Membership.

Georgia Water Planning Council Nominees Needed!

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In accordance with the new Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue in February, Georgia is creating a plan to guide Georgia in managing water resources in a sustainable manner to support the state’s economy, to protect public health and natural systems, and to enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

Work is now underway to nominate the 28 members that will serve on each of the 10 Regional Water Planning Councils. The time is NOW to nominate local officials to serve on these councils. We all know that there will likely be groups that see this as an opportunity to nominate people who are against further economic growth in Georgia. It is imperative that we nominate people who are friends of economic development to serve on these Councils. 28 names in 10 regions means that it is likely that these 280 individuals will play a HUGE role in the future of economic development in Georgia. Do NOT sit and assume that others will nominate the “right” people. It is up to YOU to find and nominate those in your community that understand the need for continued and sustained growth on our great state.

More information can be found at Statewide Water Planning. Also there are the Call for Nominations, Nomination Form and Map of the Water Planning Regions.

The Department of Natural Resources needs this information soon, so send in those nominations!

We're Giving Away MONEY!!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

GEDA has literally THOUSANDS of dollars available in Scholarships to various events. Are you eligible? Yes. Is it easy to apply? Yes. When is the time to apply? NOW!! There are four categories of scholarship to awarded within the next few months. Deadlines are just weeks away. So, make sure to get your application in today. Your Board will be so happy when you tell them that you just saved hundreds of dollars.

1) Planning to take the CEcD exam in conjunction with IEDC’s Annual Conference in Atlanta? The deadline for this Scholarship application is August 19, 2008. There are TWO$1,000 scholarships available.

2) Going to GEDA’s Annual Conference in Savannah? We’d like to pay for it! We have ONE Annual Conference Scholarship available worth $475. Deadline for this one is August 22, 2008.

3) Do you know of a County in Georgia not currently represented in GEDA? Is there someone in that County that you think would benefit from GEDA membership and programming? Does that person just now know what they are missing and don’t think they can afford membership? We’ll take care of it. Through the Penn Worden Scholarship, GEDA will pay for up to $2,000 worth of GEDA membership dues, meeting fees and travel expenses for an entire year! This is the BEST way to showcase GEDA to some of our rural communities who have not been traditionally active. Help one of your neighbors fill out this application. Deadline is August 29, 2008.

4) GEDA also has Scholarship money available for upcoming IEDC events. Deadlines vary as the IEDC schedule has several courses. Please speak with Nathan Sparks, Professional Development Committee Chair for more information.

So – now that you know all about the MONEY we’re trying to give away, how do you apply? Simply go to our Document Center and print out any applications you’d like. Send those to Nathan Sparks or the GEDA Offices and cross your fingers!

2008 GEDA Annual Conference

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

It’s time for Annual Conference in Savannah! This is part two of our two-year “Global Georgia” theme. This promises to be a great response to last year’s conference (and your evaluation forms said that you loved that one.) Rest assured, there is PLENTY of great content and some changes we think you will like. Remember the President’s Awards Banquet? It has been greatly modified to allow you more networking time and a whole lot more fun with each other. Gone is the two-hour dinner; it has been replaced by an Awards Ceremony, followed by … CASINO NIGHT! That’s right – GEDA is bringing Las Vegas to River Street in Savannah with gaming tables. This is for fun only, of course, but you have the opportunity to “win” raffle tickets which can be used to win prizes that night. As for the Awards Ceremony, come and see who the next Rip Wiley, Zell Miller, Honorary Lifetime and Volunteer of the Year recipients will be. And you can also say you were there for the first ever Deal of the Year Awards!

Fabulous speakers, Savannah activities, networking with your friends, golf, Port tours, Casino action, great sponsor exhibits, professional development opportunities galore – all rolled into one three-day conference! Register now for GEDA’s 45th Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah. Also – make sure to get your room reservation in our Headquarters Hotel so you’ll be right next to the action all week.

We’ll see you in Savannah in September!

August Luncheon Registration

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Transportation is one of the most important public policy issues being discussed in Georgia this year. From new leadership at the Georgia Department of Transportation to exciting announcements by Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia’s leaders are tackling the transportation needs of the state head-on. In June, Governor Perdue announced Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today (IT3), a bold, comprehensive effort designed to bring the Department of Transportation, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, the General Assembly, local partners and the executive branch together to formulate strategies that will improve transportation infrastructure throughout the state. Come hear Governor Perdue as he discusses his latest initiatives to ensure that Georgia’s transportation infrastructure is poised to meet the economic development challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

Register for lunch today! It should be a great program.

2009 GEDA Meeting Dates

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Dates for all GEDA meetings in 2009 have just been released. We are doing this much earlier this year to make sure that everyone has ample time to plan to attend! We will continue with our newer schedule (six luncheons and the three special events) and will not have regularly scheduled meetings in April, July or December 2009.

Please read the attached flyer and put these dates in your calendars NOW. Plans are already in place to make 2009 a great year for GEDA. But, we cannot have great programs without you there.

Also – please make sure to reference this list when you begin planning your own events for 2009. We have been careful about not scheduling out meetings as competition for any economic development meetings that we know of. We are sending this list to you early this year, to hopefully avoid any overlapping events.

We look forward to seeing you at ALL of these events next year!

Annual Conference is approaching

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

We’re just three months away from our 2008 Annual Conference, which will be held September 24-26, 2008 at the Savannah Hyatt. You will not want to miss the continuation of the 2007 theme – Go Global. Pat Topping, GEDA’s 2nd Vice-President and Chair of this year’s conference, has a great team in place and is working toward some big name speakers and some VERY different and creative activities while in Savannah. I promise you that you will see things this Fall that you have NEVER seen before at GEDA!

While conference registration is not available yet, hotel reservations are! Contact the Hyatt Regency Savannah on the web or at 912.238.1234. Make you sure you mention that you’re coming with GEDA and you’ll get our specially negotiated rate of just $169!

Also – if you have a stellar idea for a program or wish to help out with the conference planning, please contact Pat Topping in Macon via email or at 478.621.2030.

And stay tuned for information on GEDA’s August luncheon, which will be on August 18 at the Sheraton Atlanta.

Look Up Top!!

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

GEDA has a new logo! It took a long time to decide on the right design. This process started long before we even thought about updating the website. However, the time effort and patience have paid off with a new face for GEDA. We were hoping to have this ready in time for the new website launch. We needed just a few more tweaks in the end and now have what you see above, obviously incorporating the new State of Georgia Peach. Many thanks go to the Department of Economic Development for their help on creating this logo.

Upcoming Events Calendar

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

While transitioning to the new website, some of the information that you are accustomed to seeing has not been there. We are adding it as quickly as we can. However, as a quick update, here are the dates for our next few events. Please keep checking back to this NEWS Section for more GEDA updates, more great features on the website and for registration information for these events!

JULY. No Meeting in July. Enjoy your summer vacations!

AUGUST 18, 2008. Transportation Meeting at the Sheraton Atlanta. Registration & program information will be available in July.

GEDA Annual Conference – September 24-26, 2008 at the Savannah Hyatt. Rooms will be available at the Hyatt starting on Monday, June 23.

OCTOBER 20, 2008. IEDC Annual Conference in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. GEDA members receive a discounted registration. Go to IEDC for more information.

NOVEMBER 17, 2008. Final GEDA Meeting of 2008. Location still to be determined. Topic will be related to Edcuation & Workforce Development. Stay tuned for details …

And one quick sneak preview into 2009: We are tentatively holding Tuesday, January 27, 2009 as the date for our Annual Legislative Reception.