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Just a note to let you know, if you are using the P.O. Box 1776 address to send us mail, please discontinue using that box. That P.O. Box has been closed and we can no longer use that address. Please use 75 5th Street, NW, Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30308.
Upcoming Event
GEDA Day at the State Capitol is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28th from 7:30-11:00. We will host a breakfast for our State Legislators from 7:30-9:00 in CAP 216 (2nd floor, south-wing), then have State political leaders come and talk with GEDA members CAP 450 (4th floor, south wing); afterwards, we will have a photograph with Governor Brian Kemp on the second floor, north-wing steps of the capitol. Invite your legislators to come and have a Chick-fil-A biscuit, coffee and shake a few hands. Thank you to our Sponsor, Seyfarth LLP! Register by clicking here.
Georgia Department of Economic Development Personnel Changes:
Global Commerce Division Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team
Michelle Shaw, formerly Assistant Director, Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, has been promoted to the Director of this team.
Amanda Fields, formerly Existing Industries Manager, Coweta County Development Authority, is now Region 4 Project Manager. Amanda has also worked for the Fayette County Development Authority. Prior to that, she was with Electric Cities of Georgia.
Kristen Miller is the new Regional Project Manager for Region 5. Kristen most recently was at the Archway Partnership but is a returnee to GDEcD, having previously served on the original Small Business regional team. Kristen also worked at the Henry County Development Authority and at Southern Crescent Technical College in Griffin.
Barbara Fiedor is the new Regional Project Manager for Region 2. Barbara came from Florida where she founded her own international business consulting company. Additionally, she served for many years as an instructor at the US Naval Academy. Barbara’s background includes international trade and US and Foreign Diplomatic Governmental Relations.
Elizabeth McLean is the new Regional Project Manager for Region 9. Elizabeth has been working as the City Manager for McRae-Helena in Telfair County since 2015. She also has experience in public relations at Athens-Clarke County. Elizabeth is a certified Georgia Firefighter, as well.
Marketing and Communications Division
Daniel Youmans, formerly Senior Global Account Manager, Marketing & Communications Division, has resigned from GDEcD to pursue studies at Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.
Marie Hodge Gordon, formerly Press Secretary, Office of United States Senator Johnny Isakson, is now Director of Communications for GDEcD.
Small Business
Lindsay Martin, formerly Director, Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, is now the Director of the Entrepreneur, Small Business Team.
Research
Len Berg recently joined GDEcD as a Research Analyst for the Global Commerce division. In addition to providing research support to project managers, Len administers Site Selector, GDEcD’s online database of available industrial and commercial buildings. Before joining GDEcD, Len earned a B.S. in Public Policy from Georgia Tech in 2018 and was a Policy Fellow for Southface Institute.
Chair's Column
Happy New Year GEDA!
I hope you all are rested and ready for a great 2020. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being on the board of directors the last several years and consider it an honor to chair the association this year. I want to give tremendous thanks to all of the chairs I’ve served alongside these past few years. I believe each year we have made great progress for the association. Missy Kendrick is in the most coveted seat now of being past-past chair and will handle nominations for new board members. And now Pat Merritt gets to sit in the passenger seat as immediate past chair. Job well done in 2019 Pat!
For my first newsletter of the new year I’m going to fall on the sword of being cheesy and talk about “clear” vision and mission for 2020! My hope is that this will be a year of clarity for you and your organizations. It’s important that we can clearly communicate our mission as economic developers to our constituents which ultimately builds trust and buy-in. There are tons of opportunities that we face daily that we often have a hard time saying “no” to. One of my personal goals for 2020 is to stay focused on my why and say no to opportunities that don’t align. That will drive success for 2020, clarity on your why. It’s also a charge that I’m putting to our board this year, let’s be clear about our mission and align our priorities accordingly.
If you are moving, changing jobs or getting a promotion or have other news to share, please email us at kshea@georgia.org, and we’ll publicize your news in the GEDA newsletter.
Project Announcements
** Names highlighted in green below are GEDA members with hyperlinks to their email addresses.**
Grocery Retailer Lidl US to Build Regional Distribution Center, Create 270 Jobs in Newton Co.
January 3, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Lidl US, a leading grocery retailer, will build a regional distribution center in Covington, Georgia. Lidl is investing $100 million in the project which will create 270 new full-time jobs.
Congratulations to Serra Hall, Senior Project Manager, and Dave Bernd, Vice President of Economic Development, Newton/Covington Economic Development Office; Nico Wijnberg, Director, International Investment Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Global Commerce Division; Charlie Moseley, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; and Ralph Forbes, Vice President/Regional Director, and Matt Dunagan, Statewide Project Manager, Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company; all of whom were involved in locating this project! Read more…
Mitsui Kinzoku Die-Casting Technology America, Inc. to build new facility, create more than 30 jobs in Spalding County
December 26, 2019 —The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced that Mitsui Kinzoku Die-Casting Technology America, Inc. (MKDA), a Japanese-based automotive parts manufacturer, will build a new manufacturing facility in Griffin, creating over 30 new jobs and investing $20 million in the project.
A shout out to the following team members, who worked this project: David Luckie, Executive Director, Griffin-Spalding Development Authority; Joseph Huntemann, Project Manager, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; and Lonnie Smallwood, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation! Read more…
Zummit Plastics to open new facility in Muscogee County, create 50 new jobs
December 23, 2019 —The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced that Zummit Plastics, a manufacturer of plastic stretch film, will expand its Phoenix, Arizona, facility to Columbus with the opening of a new manufacturing facility. The company will create 50 new jobs and invest $25 million in the project.
Way to go, Brian Sillitto, Executive Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce; Tony Greene, Project Manager, Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace Team, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; and Doug Coffey, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; on locating this expansion project! Read more…
GreenView Floors International, Inc. to Create 238 Jobs in Adairsville-Bartow County
December 18, 2019 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that GreenView Floors International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of vinyl and laminate flooring, will establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Bartow County. The China-based company will create 238 jobs and invest $26 million in Adairsville.
Kudos to the team members, who worked to locate this project, including: Melinda Lemmon, Executive Director, Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development; Sandra Yang, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division! Read more…
Ace Electric, Inc. Expanding Footprint in Lowndes County adding 15 New Jobs
December 18, 2019, Valdosta, Georgia - At their regularly scheduled monthly board meeting, the Valdosta Lowndes County Development Authority (VLCDA) Board of Directors voted and approved the development agreement that benefits the growth of a local existing industry.
Kudos to Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director, Stan Crance, Project Manager, and Meghan Barwick, Marketing Manager, Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority for their work on making this project happen! Read more…
Plastic recycling plant, Marglen Industries, reveals plans for major expansion in Rome-Floyd County – Company will invest $17 million and add approximately 20 jobs
December 17, 2019 - Marglen Industries plans to add two new lines to its recycling operations — expanding its existing facilities by 20,000 square feet — and will extrude materials for new textile fibers and plastic beverage or food containers.
Congratulations to Missy Kendrick, President/CEO, Heather Seckman, Project Manager, Rome-Floyd County Development Authority and their team on this significant expansion! Read more…
Georgia Council for the Arts Announces Theatre Project to Raise Awareness of Domestic Sex Trafficking Project is aimed to serve as a preventative educational tool for middle- and high-school audiences
December 17, 2019 —The Georgia Department of Economic Development's Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) today announced the recipient of a new theatre commission, Art as Power: Theatre in Response to Georgia’s Domestic Commercial Sex Exploitation of Minors Crisis. GCA has partnered with the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, the Georgia Department of Education, Wellspring Living and Street Grace to use theatre arts as an educational vehicle for prevention of the sexual exploitation of minors. Georgia-based Out of Hand Theater has been selected to develop the script for late middle school/high school audiences. Read more…
Explore Georgia Awards Grant Funding to Eight Regional Visitor Information Centers New grant is aimed at assisting local communities with attracting new visitors
December 16, 2019 – Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced today the recipients of the new Regional Visitor Information Center (RVIC) Grant Program. Eight entities from across the state received more than $14,000 in financial assistance for visitor marketing. Read more…
Thirty-six Georgia companies named GLOBE Award winners for entering new international markets
ATLANTA, December 6, 2019 —Today the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) International Trade division and GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson joined Governor Brian P. Kemp to announce the winners of Georgia’s sixth annual GLOBE Awards at an event at the Capitol. This state-led awards program highlights companies that entered into a new international market in the previous year. The 36 companies who were honored collectively exported to 90 new countries in 2018. Read more…
Daniel Youmans, formerly Senior Global Account Manager, Marketing & Communications Division, has resigned from GDEcD to pursue studies at Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.
