| Please join GEDA on Monday, March 21, 2022 at The ROOF at Ponce City Market for a discussion on Adaptive Reuse of Existing Facilities. Our program will feature JLL team members Catherine Bisson, Adaptive Reuse Director, and Rainey Shane, Vice President & Special Projects Director. Register today to hear some of the projects that Catherine and Rainey have been involved in, and learn about their challenges and successes. |
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THANK YOU TO OUR MARCH 2022 PROGRAM SPONSORS
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GEDA's February luncheon focused on the EV industry, EV-erywhere. On Monday, February 14th, GEDA members met at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center. Our distinguished panelists included:
- Thomas Frey, APR, Director, Global Communications, Ascend Elements, Inc.
- Jeff Pratt, President, Green Power EMC
- Virginia Sengewald, Project Manager, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness, and Food, Georgia Department of Economic Development
And our panel was moderated by:
- Matt Colvin, Director, Office of Economic Development, University of Georgia
 Thank you again to the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government and the UGA College of Engineering for their sponsorship of the February luncheon! |
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2022 GLOBE Awards
Do you know of any companies in your community that exported to a new country in 2021? The State of Georgia wants to recognize them!
GDEcD is currently accepting applications for 2022 GLOBE Awards. If any businesses in your community made a sale in a new country during calendar year 2021, we encourage you to let them know about the GLOBE Awards.
The GLOBE Awards were established in 2014 to recognize local businesses that engage in global trade and export development. GLOBE winners will be officially recognized by the State of Georgia for their important contributions to our state and will also have the chance to be named an Exporter of the Year. The 2022 winners and Exporters of the Year will be recognized during World Trade Month in May 2022.
Click here for more information and to apply!
Applications close on March 21, 2022 at 6:00 pm ET. |
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| If you have received a promotion, taken a new job, started a new business, or even moved on to another state, let us know. We would like to let your fellow GEDA members know about you. |
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 Meghan Duke Richardson, EDFP, formerly Economic Development Director for West Point Development Authority, is now the Senior Director of Economic Development with the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Meghan also has a new last name as she recently got married. Congrats, Meghan! |
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 Odessa Archibald, EDFP, CEcD, formerly the Area Manager for the Metro West Region, supporting the customer service, operational, sales, external and philanthropic needs of more than 30K customers in three counties, has been promoted to the Manager of the Statewide Community Development Team for the Georgia Power Company. Congrats Odessa! |
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Welcome new GEDA members, approved by the board at its February 2022 meeting:
| Otis Aleman |
Atwell, LLC |
| Margaret Beckley |
Metro Atlanta Chamber |
| Tim Bono |
Georgia EMC |
| Kortney Cena |
Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Caitlin Dye |
Athens-Clarke County Economic Development |
| Cole Inman |
ARCO Design/Build |
| Madeline Lester |
City of Doraville |
| Nadya Pramaputri |
Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Rick Walker |
Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association |
| Stephanie Watkins |
Walker County Development Authority |
| Blair Westmoreland |
Deloitte Tax LLP |
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Family.
Sometimes I feel like I’m just about “economic-developed” out. As February draws to a close, I’d kind of like to call a timeout – just a few days to do nothing but breathe. But we all know that our jobs don’t really allow for that very often.
Recently, our community was fortunate to announce a great industrial project location. The story is much the same as those that all of you have worked and successfully landed – a contact that came almost out of nowhere; a scramble to put together information; coordination of dozens of local experts and decision makers for meetings; negotiations, phone calls, Zoom calls, prayers, etc. Thank goodness for Rachel, and Alyce Thornhill, and Bradley Harris, and so many others who helped keep everything together.
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 Gov. Kemp: High-end Furniture Company Serena & Lily to Create 75 Jobs at New Distribution Facility in Rincon
February 24, 2022 | During his remarks at the Savannah State of the Port, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Serena & Lily, a high-end furniture company, will create 75 jobs as they locate their first East Coast operation in a 1.2-million-square-foot distribution facility in Effingham County.
Commendations to Brandt Herndon, Chief Executive Officer, and Jessica Hood, Vice President, Economic Development, Effingham County Industrial Development Authority; Alyce Thornhill, Region 12 Project Manager and Assistant Director, Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Stacy Watson, Director, Economic & Industrial Development, Georgia Ports Authority; Jason Coley, Community Development Manager, Georgia Power; Chance Raehn, Senior Vice-President, Development, Chesterfield, LLC; and Stephen Ezelle, SIOR, CCIM, Gilbert & Ezelle/Cushman & Wakefield in Savannah; for their efforts in recruiting Serena & Lily! Read more… |
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 Kemp Applauds Carvana for Expanding Georgia Presence to Create Up To 3,500 Jobs
February 22, 2022 | Governor Brian Kemp applauded Carvana’s expansion in Georgia, as the industry pioneer for buying and selling cars online continues to grow its presence in the state through new jobs and an expanded footprint in metro Atlanta. The Fortune 500 company currently employs more than 1,500 people in the state, and with a continued focus on its customers, technology and innovation, Carvana plans to bring an additional 3,500 during the coming years through its growing operations.
Kudos to the following team members: Sunny Anderson, Business Attraction Manager, Decide DeKalb; Michael Starling, Director of Economic Development, the City of Dunwoody; Barton Lowrey, Assistant Director of Corporate Solutions and Cyber Security, and Kristi Brigman, Division Director, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Doug Coffey, Business Development Director, Georgia Power; and Gregg Simon, Senior Vice President, Project & Partner Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; who joined together to assist Carvana on this project! Read more… |
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 Aspen Aerogels to Open Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Bulloch County
February 17, 2022 | Governor Brian Kemp announced that Aspen Aerogels (NYSE: ASPN), a technology leader in aerogel-based sustainability and electrification solutions, plans to construct an advanced manufacturing facility at Bulloch County’s Southern Gateway Commerce Park. Aspen intends to invest a minimum of $325 million and to create more than 250 advanced manufacturing jobs at their new site near Statesboro, where production is expected to begin in late 2023.
Congratulations to a large number of committed individuals, who all worked diligently to land this long-developing project, including: Benjy Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Barnwell, Manager of Economic Development Programs, Development Authority of Bulloch County; Alyce Thornhill Region 12 Project Manager and Assistant Director, Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, Global Commerce Division, Sara Gershon, Associate Counsel, and Marie Gordon, Director of Communications, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Rodger Brown, Executive Director, Marketing and Strategic Media, and Susan Williams, Director, Eastern Operations, Georgia Quick Start; Bradley Harris, Manager, Economic Development, Georgia EMC; Jennifer Fordham, Region 12 Representative, Georgia Department of Community Affairs; Debra Smith, President, Allen-Smith Consulting, Inc.! Thanks also to Wylly Harrison, Business Development Manager, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, who worked the original project when he was with GDEcD! Read more… |
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 Georgia-based Outdoor Recycled Furniture Company SoPoly to Expand in Dodge County
February 16, 2022 | Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia-based, post-consumer recycled furniture manufacturer SoPoly will create approximately 200 jobs in expanding operations in Dodge County as they celebrate their first anniversary. SoPoly has already begun hiring for new positions and plans to invest $5 million in their Eastman operations due to demand for their outdoor furniture products.
A shout out to Andrea Taylor, Region 9 Project Manager, Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; and Charles Williams, Executive Director, Dodge County-Eastman Development Authority; for their hard work on this project! Read more… |
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 Ryder System, Inc. to Open Distribution Center in Locust Grove, Create 250 Jobs
February 8, 2022 | Governor Brian Kemp announced that Ryder System, Inc., a leader in supply chain, dedicated transportation, and commercial fleet management solutions, will invest $44 million in a new, high-tech third-party distribution center in Locust Grove. The project is expected to create more than 250 jobs.
Way to go F.J. “Josh” Fenn, Executive Director, Henry County Development Authority; Bob Kosek, Director of Industrial Projects, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Rebecca Jordan, Director of Project Management, the Metro Atlanta Chamber; Stacy Watson, Director, Economic & Industrial Development, Georgia Ports Authority; Rodger Brown, Executive Director, Marketing and Strategic Media, Georgia Quick Start; and Charles Stallworth, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; for your great work on this project! Read more… |
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 Kemp Announces Record-breaking Job Creation from Economic Development Projects in First Half of FY22
February 16, 2022 | Governor Brian Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced that economic development projects secured in every region of the State of Georgia resulted in record-breaking job creation for the first half of the fiscal year (July 1 and December 31, 2021). These 160 locations or expansions supported by GDEcD’s Global Commerce division will result in the creation of nearly 24,400 jobs and $9.8 billion investment in the state. Read more… |
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Georgia Announces Record Year for International Trade
February 15, 2022 | Governor Brian Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the State of Georgia achieved a record-breaking year for international trade. In 2021, Georgia’s total trade reached $166.11 billion across 223 countries and territories. As reported by GDEcD’s International Trade team, Georgia set a record for exports of $42.36 billion in 2021. Read more… |
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Governor, First Lady Announce Recipients of Arts & Humanities Awards
February 10, 2022 | Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp announced the recipients of the 10th annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities to honor outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia through their work in these fields. The awards are presented in partnership with the Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Humanities. Read more… |
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| Nearly 100 registrants signed up for the webinar sponsored by GEDA's Professional Development Committee: Crypto-Currency from the ED Pro’s Perspective. Thank you to Jason Dunn and Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority for moderating and sponsoring this great event!
The following panelists provided great insight into these projects:
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Scholarship Grants for Professional Development
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| Take a few minutes to apply for scholarship grants from GEDA. These grants can deepen your job understanding and enhance your career! They can be used for many Professional Development enhancements, including: the University of Georgia’s Certified Economic Developer (GCED) courses, as well as ones sponsored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) or the OU Economic Development Institute. They can also be used for the Penn Worden Grant and the International Missions Grant. For additional information on the Professional Development scholarships, look on the GEDA website, or contact Kevin Shea, President, GEDA at (404) 962-4109. |
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Marketing Account Manager - Georgia Department of Economic Development
POSTED ON: MAR 2
Location: Atlanta, Georgia | Category: State Government | Position Type: Full-Time
Project Manager, Existing Industry - Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce
POSTED ON: FEB 24
The Project Manager, Existing Industry is responsible for pursuing and obtaining commercial and industrial development for the Forsyth County economy. Responsibilities include working with economic development contacts to provide all information necessary regarding projects seeking expansion opportunity in Forsyth County...
President & CEO - Waycross-Ware Development Authority
POSTED ON: FEB 22
Location: Waycross, Georgia | Category: Development Authority | Position Type: Full-Time
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