Check out the NEW GEDA website, GEDA.org! Please note, the old GEDA website link will no longer be operational as of next week so please update your bookmark to go to http://www.geda.org.
Please take a moment to update your profile. Your login information will change for the new website, and the directions to set up your new password are as follows:
Please enter the email address that we have on file for you and submit the password reset.
Check your email for a password reset and follow the instructions. (Don't forget to check your spam folder!)
If you have any trouble with this process please call Kelly McLendon at 404-962-4110.
When you are able to login please update your profile information so that we have the most up to date information about you in the new system.
Register today for the GEDA Annual Event / Luncheon on Tuesday, January 29th at the Georgia State Capitol. The program is still being finalized, but we will have something similar to last year’s. We plan to have presentations from our government leaders in one of the Capitol Committee Rooms, hopefully a photograph with our new Governor, Brian Kemp, and a luncheon (11:00 am -1:00 pm) on the Capitol’s second floor, south-wing to allow for our legislators to stop by, say hello and have a quick bite to eat.
Congratulations to all our winners (listed below) who were recognized at the November GEDA Annual Awards Luncheon! Thanks to all of our past Leaders who were able to join us for this great event. We appreciate your past efforts and your taking time to be with us in November. (link to a list) Governor Zell Miller Public Policy Leadership Award - Governor Nathan Deal Volunteer of the Year Award - Ralph Forbes, Thomas & Hutton Rip Wiley Award for Professional Excellence - Patrick Topping, Macon-Bibb County Deal of the Year – Small Size Community - Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County / Taurus USA Deal of the Year – Mid Size Community - Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission / Georgia-Pacific Deal of the Year – Large Community - Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority / Hanwha Q CELLS Deal of the Year – Regional Award - Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties / Facebook Committee Chair of the Year - Jessica Hood, Chair, Sponsorship Committee; & Director of Economic Development and Existing Industry, Effingham County Industrial Development Authority Committee Member of the Year - Dorie Bacon, Annual Conference Committee; & Executive Director, Screven County Development Authority Honorary Life Member - Ron Robinson
Click HERE for a list of attendees. Click HERE to see photos.
Chair's Column
Season of Giving
Although Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier, December is my favorite time of the year. It is a time of giving - both personally and in our communities – that really starts at the end of November. We begin to look around us to identify needs in our communities and work on ways to fill those needs. We see it in food drives and clothing drives. We adopt children and families for Christmas and we donate our time and resources to our churches, shelters, non-profits and the homeless.
Matthew Gambill, Executive Director, Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education, has been elected as the Republican who will succeed retiring State Rep. Paul Battles. Congratulations, Representative-Elect Gambill!
Al Hodge, Jr, Rome Floyd Chamber President and CEO announced his retirement, effective April 19, 2019. Al is a Past Chair of GEDA (2005) and a Rip Wiley Award-winner (2012) and has done a great job as President in Rome for 21 years. Click here to read more about Al’s career.
Nikki Yu, Project Manager, Global Commerce, has accepted a new role at the Chick-fil-A headquarters in Atlanta where she will be involved in the development and construction of new restaurants. Her last day at GDEcD was Friday, November 30th. Best of luck to you, Nikki!
Morgan Law, previously the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives for the Georgia Chamber, and the Executive Director of the Georgia Travel Association, has been promoted to the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Economic & Community Development with the Georgia Chamber. He now serves as the organization’s primary point of contact for economic development, as well as working with local chambers across Georgia to strengthen their organizations and membership.
GEDA New Members
To view the new GEDA members clickHERE.If you are moving, changing jobs or getting a promotion, please let us know by emailing us at kshea@georgia.org, and we’ll publicize this in the GEDA newsletter.
Project Announcements
Wayfair to create 1,000 jobs in Chatham County - E-commerce retailer to open new facility in Savannah
November 29, 2018 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that Wayfair Inc., one of the world’s largest online destinations for the home, will create 1,000 jobs and open a new 1,164,800-square-foot facility in Savannah. New jobs will include supervisory, administrative and warehouse positions. Wayfair and its landlord plan to invest approximately $45 million in the project over the next five years.
Kudos to the team members who worked on this project, including: Trip Tollison, President & CEO, Matt Poyner, Vice President - Business Development, Jesse Dillon, Business Development Project Manager, Savannah Economic Development Authority; Alyce Thornhill, Region 12 Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Jason Coley, Georgia Power; Georgia Quick Start; and the Georgia Ports Authority; and Blaine Kelley, SIOR, Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain Practice, CBRE. Read more… (waiting on more names from Alyce & SEDA)
Toyo Tire North America to create more than 150 jobs in Bartow County - Manufacturer and seller of tires to invest over $138 million in Cartersville facility November 20, 2018 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer and seller of radial tires for passenger vehicles and light trucks, will create more than 150 jobs and invest over $138 million in Cartersville. New jobs will include positions in production, support and administration.
A shout out to the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority and Melinda Lemmon, Executive Director, & staff, Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development; Stephanie Scearce, former Region 1 Project Manager, and Lindsay Martin, Director, Existing Industry & Regional Recruitment, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; and Elyse Davis, Northwest Georgia Community Development Manager, Georgia Power; for their work on this project. Read more…
Korean battery manufacturer to create more than 2,000 jobs in Jackson County - SK innovation to invest $1.67 billion in new manufacturing plant
November 28, 2018 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that SK innovation, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles, is estimated to create more than 2,000 jobs and invest $1.67 billion in a new manufacturing plant in Jackson County in the long term.
Congratulations to a great team who worked this project, including: Jim Shaw, President, and John Scott, Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson County Industrial Authority, Jackson County and the City of Commerce; Yoonie Kim, Senior Project Manager, and Scott McMurray, Division Director, Recruitment and Retention, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; and Charles Stallworth, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power. Read more…
MundoHispanico.com to create approximately 30 jobs in Atlanta
November 14, 2018 - The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that MundoHispanico.com, a U.S. minority-owned media company, will create nearly 30 jobs with the expansion of the platform and content offerings on MundoHispanico.com.
Way to go, Asante Bradford, Project Manager, Digital & Emerging Media, Global Commerce Division, GDEcD; the Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Georgia Power; for their work on this project! Read more…
AssetMark, Inc. to create 13 jobs in Fulton County
December 4, 2018 - The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that AssetMark, Inc., an independent provider of investment and consulting solutions for financial advisors, will create 13 jobs in a new East Coast software development office in Atlanta.
Way to go Randall Toussaint, Senior Project Manager, and Dana Brewer, Research Director, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; Rebecca Jordan, Associate Project Manager, the Metro Atlanta Chamber; Randi Mason, Director of Economic Development, Invest Atlanta; and MaryBeth Flournoy, Business Recruitment Associate, Georgia Power; all of whom were involved in this project. Read more…
Check-Mate Industries to create 230 jobs, invest $16 million in Thomasville
December 4, 2018 - Governor Nathan Deal announced that Check-Mate Industries, Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of metal stampings, assemblies, tools and dies, will create 230 jobs and invest more than $16 million in a new manufacturing location in Thomasville. New jobs will include positions throughout all levels of the organization including management teams and administrative personnel, as well as skilled positions such as computer numeric controlled machinists and tool and die makers.
Congratulations to the large cast that worked to locate this project, including: Shelley Zorn, Economic Developer, Thomasville Payroll Development Authority (PDA); Dr Craig Wentworth and his team at Southern Regional Technical College, City of Thomasville and County leaders, PDA Board Members: Mayor Greg Hobbs, Mark NeSmith, Stephen Chaney, Ali McKay, and Rodney Deese; Lynn Jones, Regional Coordinator, Georgia Department of Labor; and the PDA Economic Development team of Andy Godwin, Lynn Williams, Chris White and April Norton. Developers from the state included Mike Grundmann, Director, Advanced Manufacturing, and Tina Herring, Region 10 Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Grant Cagle, Business Development, Electric Cities of Georgia; Rodger Brown, Director of Strategic Communications, Georgia Quick Start; Tom Sammon and Hank Hobbs, Engineering Project Manger, Georgia Tech Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Darrell Moore, Executive Director, Valdosta State University Center for South Georgia Regional Impact, also contributed to bringing Check-mate to Georgia. When he was President of the Moultrie Colquitt Development Authority, Darrell was the first Georgia Economic Developer to connect with Check-mate and introduce them to the idea of locating / relocating to Georgia (about 8 years ago when he first met them at the Georgia Allies-sponsored Shot Show). He later hosted Check-mate on two visits to Georgia and Moultrie before they zeroed in on the CAT building in Thomasville. Read more…
Apply today for a GEDA Professional Development grant.
We have four scholarships available for the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC), which is from March 19-22, 2019. Check out the University of Georgia’s Certified Economic Developer courses; as well as ones sponsored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Check out the Professional Development Committee on the GEDA website, or contact Kevin Shea, President, GEDA at 404-962-4109. Be thinking about your professional development for next year and plan to apply for a GEDA scholarship to assist you in 2019.
Get involved in GEDA's Committees and SIGs to learn about projects and meet fellow members - visit your profile on GEDA.org to join.
