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Upcoming Event
Our topic will be Georgia Innovation.
Featured Speaker: G.P. "Bud " Peterson
Currently President Emeritus and Regents Professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. Peterson will speak about Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan’sGeorgia Innovates Task Force to enable Georgia to be the “Technology Capital of the East Coast.”
He served as the 11th president of Georgia Tech from April 1, 2009 through August 31, 2019. Under his leadership Georgia Tech exceeded the $1.5 billion goal for Campaign Georgia Tech by 20%, grew innovative collaborations and strategic partnerships, expanded the campus infrastructure, and increased national and global visibility. Notably, in that decade the total research awards more than doubled exceeding more than $1 billion in new awards in 2019; undergraduate and graduate appplications and enrollment increased by 24% and 159%, respectively; ethnic and gender diversity of the undergraduate student population increased from 13.5% to 17.2% and 30% to 42%, respectively; and the six year graduation rate and first year retention reached all time highs of 87% and 97%, respectively.
After Dr. Peterson, we will have a panel that will discuss the Georgia Smart Initiative. The Georgia Smart Communities Challenge (“Georgia Smart”) is a funding and technical assistance program for local governments within the State of Georgia. Georgia Smart is a first-of-its-kind opportunity for communities of any size in Georgia to receive grant funding and support that enables them to envision, explore, and plan for their “smart” future. Communities will be given financial assistance, a partnership with a Georgia Tech research team, networking opportunities, and access to additional, unique resources to execute their projects. These resources include connections to industry experts and access to technology solutions provided by our provider-partners.
Join us at the Georgia Aquarium on April 20th, as we and the Georgia Department of Economic Development announce this year's Small Business ROCK STARS and celebrate all small businesses across Georgia.
Christa Pitts, Co-CEO of Elf on a Shelf will participate in a "fire-side chat" interview with our moderator and emcee Crystal Edmondson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Christa Pitts is the co-CEO of Creatively Classic Activities and Books, LLC, the Atlanta-based products and entertainment company that launched the internationally renowned brand The Elf on the Shelf®. A strategic business visionary, she oversees the company’s operations (sourcing and production, sales, marketing and supply chain) and is the co-founder and executive producer of Scout Elf Productions™. Pitts has guided the company to its status as an internationally recognized resource for children’s holiday toys, traditions, and entertainment. The company currently carries 150 products. It’s also globally recognized for the brand Elf Pets®. She has directed movement of the company’s product lines into 12 international markets.
The GEDA February program featured a panel of speakers who addressed several potential new business opportunities for GEDA members. We were pleased to welcome representatives from the following sectors: Industrial Hemp, Medical Cannabis and Casino Gaming, including Rob Lee, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer and Managing Partner, GA Xtracts (a vertically integrated industrial hemp company focused on creating pure, tested, and proven products); Stuart Wilcox, COO, Curaleaf, (engages in the production and distribution of cannabis products); Jeff Hamling, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs (CGA), who provided an update on Casino Gaming potential; and Camila Knowles, Principal and Counsel, CGA, who provided a legislative update from this year’s General Assembly legislative session. See photos here.
Steve Hearn joined the Marketing and Communications Division of GDEcD as Director of Account Management. Steve is an expert in marketing and branding strategies and comes from the agency side. He has worked with several brands over the years that include Emory Decatur, Avanos Medical, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Halocarbon, Proctor & Gamble and Nissan. Steve has been in a senior role for several years now and has a tremendous amount of experience in successfully managing account teams. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia – BBA Marketing.
Congratulations to the following members who have been approved to receive GEDA Professional Development scholarships to the Georgia Tech Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) on March 17-20: Caroline Davis, Economic Development Specialist, City of Sandy Springs
Madison Hopkins, Gainesville-Hall Chamber of Commerce Timothy McFalls, Manager, Commercial & Retail Development, Augusta Economic Development Authority
Janet Parker, Director of Economic Development, Wilkes County
Congratulations also to Kathy Oxford, Executive Director, Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority, who was approved to receive a Professional Development scholarship to the GEDA Spring Workshop on Jekyll Island!
Chair's Column
Commitment to Purpose
This past weekend I had to pleasure to travel to Montgomery, AL and Selma, AL. The trip was initiated by Rev. Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I have the pleasure of being a part of the 2020 Leadership Atlanta Class, which happens to be the 50th class, and Dr. King is a fellow classmate. Our year began with a 2-day session focused on issues of race which was led by Al Vivian, son of the great civil rights activist, Dr. C.T. Vivian. After that session, a revelation came to Bernice that we needed to visit these two cities and dive deeper into the history of slavery and economic injustice that African Americans have faced for centuries in our nation. The trip was sponsored by The Atlanta Falcons and Truist Bank. It was an amazing weekend where the stars were truly aligned for all of our class members and their guests.
Sarah Carnes is the newest member of Georgia Power’s Statewide Economic Development team where she will work as a Business Recruitment Associate. Sarah began her career with Georgia Power in May 2016 as a Research Intern and transitioned to a fulltime analyst position in 2017. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics from the University of Georgia and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Tech.
Ryan Thornton, Manufacturing and Industry Specialist, Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department, is the Interim Director, after Michelle Nguyen, former Director, resigned last December.
Sydne Smith, formerly Director of Government Relations and Policy for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is now the State Director for the Office of U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler.
Justin Strickland, President, Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, has resigned his position to pursue other interests.
Garrett Wiley, left Jackson EMC in January to join Garrard Group (Garrard Construction) as Vice President of Business Development.
Valdosta Named a Top Metro Area for Economic Development
Site Selection Magazine has named Valdosta-Lowndes County as one of the country’s top 10 metro areas with the most economic development projects.
Site Selection, an internationally circulated business publication covering corporate real estate and economic development, recently notified the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority (VLCDA) that Valdosta-Lowndes County had been placed on its top 10 list for regions with populations of less than 200,000 people.
In 2019, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority announced the creation of 389 new jobs with a total capital investment of $181,050,000 into our community. Investments and new job creations came from two new industries including Arglass Yamamura and Better Way Products. READ MORE...
Project Announcements
** Names highlighted in green below are GEDA members with hyperlinks to their email addresses.**
Toyota Financial Services to Establish New Service Center in Alpharetta, Create 150 Jobs
February 27, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Toyota Financial Services will open a new office in Alpharetta to become the company’s East Dealer Service Center. The investment of more than $8 million will bring 150 new jobs to Fulton County. Kudos to Matthew Thomas, Economic Development Manager, City of Alpharetta; Randall Toussaint, Director of Corporate Solutions and Cybersecurity, and John Soper, Research Analyst, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Rebecca Jordan, Senior Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Doug Coffey, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; who worked together to locate the Toyota Financial Services Service Center project! Read more…
Mannington Mills to Expand, Create 268 Jobs in Gordon Co.
February 20, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced a $22 million expansion by flooring manufacturer Mannington Mills, Inc. in Gordon County due to increased customer demand for domestically produced luxury vinyl flooring. Mannington Mills purchased a 10.5-acre site in Calhoun that will expand upon the company’s manufacturing presence in the state and create 268 jobs.
Congratulations to Kathy Johnson, President, Development Authority of Gordon County and their local elected leadership; Taylor Kielty, Region 1 Project Manager, Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Scott Cooper, Economic Development Specialist, the Tennessee Valley Authority; and Harriette Stokes, Director of Executive Account Management & Economic Development, North Georgia EMC; for their efforts to locate the Mannington Mills project! Read more…
Sonic Automotive, Inc. to Locate Regional Headquarters in Gwinnett Co., Create 130 Jobs
February 24, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Sonic Automotive, Inc., (NYSE:SAH), a Fortune 500 Company and one of the largest retailers of new and pre-owned vehicles in the United States, will locate a dealership and regional headquarters for EchoPark Automotive in Duluth, creating 130 new jobs and investing $20 million in the project.
Way to go Megan Wing, Project Manager, Technology & Life Science, Partnership Gwinnett; Sunny Anderson, Project Manager, and Dana Brewer, Director of Incentives and Special Research Projects, and Susan Contreras, Director of Research, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Brenda Robbins, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; and Rebecca Jordan, Senior Project Manager, Metro Atlanta Chamber; the team who worked together to locate Sonic Automotive. Read more…
Macy’s, Inc. $14 million Atlanta technology hub to locate at T3 West Midtown, Johns Creek
February 14, 2020 — The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced that Fortune 500 company Macy’s, Inc. will open a new office at Atlanta’s T3 West Midtown facility to create the innovative technology hub recently announced as part of the company’s three-year strategic plan, while maintaining its current Johns Creek facility. The $14 million project will create 630 new jobs.
Congratulations to the following team members, who located this project: Samir Abdullahi, Deputy Director of Economic Development , Select Fulton (Development Authority of Fulton County); Kristi Brigman, Senior Project Manager, Corporate Solutions and Cyber Security Team, and Dana Brewer, Director of Incentives and Special Research Projects, Global Commerce Division; Gregg Simon, Senior Vice President, Project and Partner Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; Bob Kosek, Senior Project Manager, Business Attraction, Invest Atlanta; and Brenda Robbins, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power! Read more…
February 12, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp joined Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Pat Wilson, state officials, and Georgia companies to celebrate Georgia Made Day at the State Capitol. The event featured an exposition of products from Georgia manufacturers as well as the launch of the Georgia Made logo. Read more…
Gov. Kemp: 2019 Another Record Year for Georgia Exports
February 10, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Georgia has set another record, this time in exports and global trade, as the state’s diverse industry base and global connectivity continue to drive competitiveness. In 2019, the State of Georgia tallied $41.2 billion in exports and $143.3 billion in overall international trade. Read more…
Debra Lam, Managing Director, Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation, Georgia Tech
Tom Sever, P.E., Deputy Director for Traffic Engineering, Operations & Maintenance, Gwinnett County
Christine Primmer, Smart Cities Program Manager, Georgia Power
Steve Justice, Executive Director, Centers of Innovation, Georgia Department of Economic Development
Christa Pitts is the co-CEO of Creatively Classic Activities and Books, LLC, the Atlanta-based products and entertainment company that launched the internationally renowned brand The Elf on the Shelf®. A strategic business visionary, she oversees the company’s operations (sourcing and production, sales, marketing and supply chain) and is the co-founder and executive producer of Scout Elf Productions™. Pitts has guided the company to its status as an internationally recognized resource for children’s holiday toys, traditions, and entertainment. The company currently carries 150 products. It’s also globally recognized for the brand Elf Pets®. She has directed movement of the company’s product lines into 12 international markets.
Congratulations also to 
