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GEDA 2019 Regional Meetings - Summer of 2019
Monday, July 8, Northeast Georgia Good News Gathering, Chateau Elan, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM, hosted by Rope Roberts, Community Development Manager, Georgia Power, and sponsors. Register by contacting Rope, JERobert@SouthernCo.com.
Wednesday, August 28, Coastal Georgia Good News Gathering, Coastal Regional Commission, 11:00 AM-1:30 PM, hosted by Jason Coley, Community Development Manager, Georgia Power, and sponsors. Register by contacting Jason, JFColey@SouthernCo.com.
If other regions are planning an event, please let the staff of GEDA know. Thanks!
GEDA August 2019 Luncheon: Transformation of a Downtown Through Public-Private Partnerships August 19, 2019 | 11:00am - 1:30pm Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center | Columbus, GA Learn more and register by clicking here.
Thank you to all who attended the GEDA 2019 Spring Workshop at The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens. A special thanks to Sean McMillan, Spring Workshop Chair; GEDA Secretary-Treasurer; and Director, UGA Office of Economic Development; and his team, who provided an excellent program. Rennie Curran, Author, Personal Development Coach & Entrepreneur, and Wednesday Keynote Speaker, inspired us; and Jason Broadwater, Founder and President of RevenFlo, an Internet Marketing Company, and Keynote Speaker on Thursday morning, shared insights about how to reinvigorate communities. We were educated and entertained by some great panelists and speakers! Thanks to our door prize Three Amigos, Matt Forshee, Scott Poag and Brian Sillitto, for their help giving out cash and prizes. Congrats to the winning team at the Golf Tournament: Grant Buckley, Grant Cagle, Abhi Chandreskhara and Shaun Dodson. See all the golf -winners here. Also, a record crowd had a great day shooting Sporting Clays at the Big Red Oak Plantation, and the winners were: Females: Jessica Hood-winner and Amanda Herrit-honorable mention; Males: Brad Campbell-winner and Mike Fisher-honorable mention. Lastly, and certainly not least, thank you to Jackson EMC, our Platinum Sponsor, and all of our sponsors at this year’s Spring Workshop at Callaway. Click here to see who attended and here for photos.
GDEcD News
Scott McMurray, newly-minted Deputy Commissioner, Global Commerce Division for the Georgia Department of Economic Development recently announced the following staff changes:
Hank Evans was promoted to Senior Project Manager, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food (LEAF) Team.
Randall Toussaint, formerly Senior Project Manager, is now Director, Corporate Solutions and Cyber Security. Cyber Security was added to the Corporate Solutions Team, now known and marketed as the CS2 Team.
Ashley Varnum, formerly Senior Project Manager, is now Director, Automotive, Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing (ADAM) Team.
Chair's Column
GEDA Summer Events
I can think of no better way to start off this monthly column than by thanking Sean McMillan and his team of volunteers for organizing a wonderful Spring Workshop! Kudos to Sean for giving us a fun and exciting conference at Callaway Gardens. We are very thankful and lucky to have Sean in our leadership rotation, and we are excited to see what he has in store for us in the future.
As many of you know, GEDA will not meet in June or July. That said, there are plenty of ways to stay involved with peers in your region. Plan to attend one of the following sessions in your respective region…
Dale Atkins has officially retired as Executive Director of the Development Authority of Appling County and Keri Crosby Orvin, Executive Director, Baxley-Appling County Chamber of Commerce, has taken on this additional responsibility.
Ralph Staffins III, CEcD, formerly with the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce, has accepted the position of President, Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce.
Stacy Watson, formerly General Manager, Economic and Industrial Development, Georgia Ports Authority, has been promoted to Director of the same department at GPA.
GEDA New Members
To view the new GEDA members, clickHERE.If you are moving, changing jobs or getting a promotion, 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.**
Invesco to Expand Atlanta Global HQ with 500 Jobs and $70 Million Investment
May 30, 2019 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Invesco, one of the world’s leading investment managers, plans to significantly expand its global headquarters in Atlanta, adding 500 jobs and investing $70 million as part of a major expansion of its business.
Congratulations to the team members, who worked on this project, including: Emily Poole, Regional Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Gregg Simon, Vice President, Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Bob Kosek, Senior Project Manager, Business Attraction, Invest Atlanta; and Charlie Moseley, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power! Read more…
Plethora to Open Manufacturing Facility in Cobb County
May 29, 2018 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Plethora, a leader in on-demand manufacturing of quality custom prototypes and end-production parts, will create 250 jobs and invest more than $17 million in a new production facility in Marietta.
High-fives to the members of this winning team: Amanda Blanton, Economic Development Director, Nelson Geter, Executive Vice President, Internal Operations and Dana Johnson, Executive Vice President, Economic Development and Executive Director of Select Cobb, Cobb Chamber and Development Authority of Cobb County; Ashley Varnum, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Rodger Brown, Executive Director, Marketing and Strategic Media, Quick Start; and Grant Cagle, Senior Project Manager, Industrial Development, Electric Cities of Georgia! Read more…
Ideas United expanding operations in Atlanta, creating 30 jobs
May 20, 2019 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced that Ideas United, an award-winning creative studio, will create 30 new jobs in Atlanta after receiving a commitment of $15 million in growth and equity funding from Kayne Partners.
Way to go, Asante Bradford, Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division on this project! Read more…
Hitachi Automotive Systems America to Expand in Walton County
May 17, 2019 - Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., a Tier 1 supplier of world-class products to the global automotive market, is planning to create 100 jobs and invest at least $100 million - with potential up to $330 million - in an expansion at its existing facility in Monroe, Georgia.
Kudos to Shane Short, Executive Director, Development Authority of Walton County; Tammy Caudell, Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Walton EMC; and Beth Eavenson, Region 5 Representative, Georgia Department of Community Affairs; who worked to locate this project! Read more…
Baker & Taylor to Expand Operations in Georgia
May 7, 2019 - Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Baker & Taylor, a leading provider of books and services to public libraries nationwide, will expand operations and create 115 jobs at its distribution facility in Jackson County.
A shout out to Jim Shaw, President & CEO, and John Scott, Vice President & Director of Economic Development, Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce; Wylly Harrison, Director, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food Team, and Daniel Dobbins, Region 5 Project Manager, Existing Industry & Regional Recruitment Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce; and MaryBeth Flournoy, Business Recruitment Manager, and Rope Roberts, Northeast Georgia Community Development Manager, Georgia Power; who were involved in this project! Read more…
Spanish Company to Establish North American Headquarters in Richmond County
May 6, 2019 - Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Acoustics & Insulation Techniques (AIT), an audio insulation supplier to the automotive and construction industries, will create 45 jobs and invest $12 million in its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Augusta. Newly created jobs will include highly skilled positions in manufacturing.
Congrats to the team that worked to announce this project, including: Cal Wray, EDFP, President, Augusta Economic Development Authority; Nico Wijnberg, Director, International Projects Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; and Charles Stallworth, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power! Read more…
Going to the GEDA 2019 Annual Conference (AC19)? Apply today for a GEDA Professional Development grant. You can receive up to $600 in scholarship money as reimbursement for expenses associated with the AC19. It takes place at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa on September 18-20. Three scholarships are available.
For additional information on the Professional Development scholarships, look on the GEDA website, or contact Kevin Shea, President, GEDA at 404-962-4109.
2019 Deal of the Year Nominations now open
Application forms and a complete description of awards criteria are included below. Application Deadline: July 31, 2019 at Midnight. NO EXTENSIONS.
Criteria The Deal of the Year Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the location or expansion of new businesses in the state of Georgia that meet community economic development goals and involve significant community program support, such as financial or permitting assistance, workforce development, state financial support, etc. The categories of award are:
I. Population Category: a. Over 100,000 b. 50,001-100,000 c. 50,000 and under
II. Regional - any multi-county initiative
Eligibility Any economic development organization employing a current member of GEDA is eligible to enter a deal for consideration. To qualify, the community must have publicly announced the deal after June 30, 2018.
Nomination Procedure Members of GEDA may submit nominations. The application should include the entry form, supplemental information and photographs. The judges may request additional information from the organization as needed.
Judging Criteria Awards will be evaluated based on the following criteria: • Economic impact • Degree of expertise needed to create the deal • Obstacles and challenges that were overcome during the course of the deal
Awards Ceremony The Deal of the Year Awards will be presented at the GEDA November Monthly Luncheon, November 18, 2019.
GEDA Education/Workforce Development Shared Interest Group (SIG)
Show your support for Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE)
Dr. Barbara Wall, Director of CTAE, Georgia Department of Education, and Chair, encourages GEDA members to show their support and encourage other business & industries to show their support by clicking this link. (Donations are not solicited, just support for Career and Technical Education (CTE).) There is a campaign for Georgia to secure 1,000 signatures from Georgia business & industry by this July to show their support. This is a way to help to secure double the funding for Career Technical Education for Perkins V. The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act in July 2018. Perkins is a federal education program that invests in secondary and postsecondary CTE in all 50 states and all U.S. territories. CTE programs rely upon this investment to continually update their programs as the needs of the workforce evolve, cover expenses such as career guidance and advisement, build industry partnerships and more. Perkins also supports states’ efforts to foster innovation, offer technical assistance and provide professional development. The federal investment in Perkins is essential for increasing learner access to high-quality CTE programs. With a focus on program improvement, this investment has been critical to ensuring that programs meet the ever-changing needs of learners and employers.
Apply for the Georgia Partnership’s 2019-2020 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) by Friday, June 14. You have an additional week to complete your application, and possibly join the ranks of some of Georgia's most influential education policy leaders.
EPFP is a unique professional development opportunity that you are encouraged to share with friends and colleagues in your network who may be interested. Questions should be directed to Robert W. Gaines, II.
Get involved in GEDA's Committees and SIGs to learn about projects and meet fellow members - visit your profile on GEDA.org to join.
