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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
We are currently evaluating whether we will host the June monthly luncheon on Monday, June 15th. We will be making this decision sometime in the month of May. Following are some details about the luncheon.
Our featured speaker will be G.P. “Bud” Peterson, who will speak about the Lieutenant Governor’s Georgia Innovates Task Force to enable Georgia to be the “Technology Capital of the East Coast.”
Currently President Emeritus and Regents Professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Dr. Peterson 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.
Also, 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.
Panelists to discuss Community Innovation: Georgia Smart Program.
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.
Spring Workshop 2020 Canceled
We are sorry to have had to cancel the GEDA 2020 Spring Workshop (SW20) on May 20-22 at the Westin Jekyll Island and the Jekyll Island Convention Center, but under the circumstances we thought it the best thing to do. The Westin Jekyll Island Hotel decided that it was going to close for May, which then made our decision easier, since we didn’t have to worry about contract obligations. Please let Benjy Thompson, GEDA SW20 Chair, Secretary-Treasurer and CEO of the Development Authority of Bulloch County (DABC), and his lieutenants, Dorie Bacon, Executive Director, Screven County Development Authority, and Rachel Barnwell, Manager of Economic Development Programs, DABC, that we appreciate all of their hard work and planning for what would have been a fantastic SW20! They and others were hoping to show us a great time with an exciting, informative and fun-filled baseball-themed program. Thank you to all of our sponsors who had lined up to make sure that we would have had a successful and profitable SW20, especially our Presenting Sponsor, the Georgia Realtors!
GEDA/GDEcD News
Sunny Anderson, formerly Project Manager, Corporate Solutions and Cybersecurity Team, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), is the new Business Attraction Manager with Decide DeKalb (Development Authority) (DDDA). Her last day at GDEcD was Thursday, April 30th and her first day at DDDA was Monday, May 4th.
Nico Wijnberg, former Director, International Investment Team, Global Commerce Division, GDEcD, is now the Chief of Protocol and Director of International Relations in the new Marketing, Communications, and International Engagement Division at GDEcD.
Sara Gershon is an attorney, working with General Counsel Andrew Capezzuto of the Commissioner’s Office at GDEcD. She started Friday, May 1st.
Hank Evanshas beenpromoted to Director of the Logistics, Energy, Agriculture and Food team. Hank joined GDEcD originally as a researcher in 2016 and from there went on to become a project manager on the LEAF team.
Kevin Dodsonhas been promoted to Senior Project Manager.
Chair's Column
The New Norm… Self-Care
Normally the May Chairman’s Column would be focused on building excitement for our Spring Workshop. But as you all know, we have had to cancel this year’s event, which is the temporary new norm. I was looking forward to laughing with friends old and new, building new bonds and learning from all the content Benjy Thompson and his team had planned for us. I would ask that each of you reach out and congratulate Benjy for all the hard work that he and his committee put forth to making the 2020 Spring Workshop a memorable one.
Dr. Ilka McConnell, formerly Manager, Office of Strategic Development, of the Gwinnett County Office of Economic Development, was recently appointed as the new Director of Athens-Clarke County’s Economic Development Department.
Tyler Garrison, former Economic Development Manager, Macon-Bibb County Industrial Development Authority, is now Client Development Manager, GEC (Geotechnical & Environmental Consultants, Inc.), A Terracon Company.
Molly Giddens, formerly the Regional Manager for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in Tifton, has accepted the position of Economic Development Project Manager at the Coweta County Development Authority. Read more…
Matt Reed, Founder and CEO of Georgia CEO, has been named the Interim President of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission as a search is ongoing for a permanent executive.
Khalfani Stephens, formerly Executive Director of the Development Authority of Clayton County, left in February to be the Director of Economic Development for the City of Flint, Michigan.
Project Announcements
** Names highlighted in green below are GEDA members with hyperlinks to their email addresses.**
Sunland Logistics Enters Growing Savannah, GA Market to Expand Panasonic Support
SAVANNAH, GA – Sunland Logistics Solutions, Inc (“Sunland”) expands their network to the Savannah, GA market after being selected to manage a 100,000 SF fulfillment center for Panasonic Corporation of North America. This fulfilment center, located at the Georgia International Trade Center in Effingham County, will also provide excess capacity for Sunland to serve additional customers. “Our team is excited to serve Panasonic in the growing Savannah market and to become an active member of this vibrant community,” shares Elijah Ray, Chief Customer Officer for Sunland.
A shout out to those GEDA members involved in making this deal happen, including: Brandt Herndon, Chief Executive Officer, and Jessica Hood, Director of Economic Development and Existing Industry, Effingham County Industrial Authority; Stacy Watson, Director, Economic and Industrial Development, Georgia Ports Authority; and Chance Raehn, Senior Vice President, Development, Chesterfield LLC.
RWDC Industries to Invest $260 Million in Athens-Clarke County Expansion, Create 200 Jobs
May 5, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that biotechnology company RWDC Industries will invest $260 million in expanding its operations into Athens-Clarke County. This innovative development will create 200 jobs.
Congratulations to the following team, who worked to help this company to expand: Ryan Thornton, Interim Director, Athens-Clarke County; Hank Evans, Director, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food Team, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Grant Cagle, Business Development, Electric Cities of Georgia; and Rodger Brown, Director of Strategic Communications, Georgia Quick Start! Read more…
SK Innovation to Begin Construction on Second Georgia Battery Facility in July
May 4, 2020 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that SK innovation, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), will begin construction in July on their second electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Jackson County. This announcement is part of the company’s announced $1.67 billion investment in Georgia. When both facilities are complete in 2023, SK innovation will have the capacity to produce batteries for 310,000 electric vehicles per year to help meet consumer demand.
Way to go, John Scott, Director of Economic Development, the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority; Yoonie Kim, Director of Korean Investment, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; and Charles Stallworth, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; for their hard work on this great project! Read more…
Batter Up Foods Invests $34M in Fulton Co. Waffle Plant, Creates 162 Jobs
April 29, 2020 - Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Batter Up Foods’ sister company, SatisPie, will invest up to $34 million as it expands its product offerings to include waffles and pancakes for businesses across North America. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, this marks the company’s first location in Georgia, which will ultimately create 162 jobs.
Kudos to the following team: Al Nash, Chief Executive Officer, the Development Authority of Fulton County; Hank Evans, Director, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food Team, Global Commerce Division, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD); Rodger Brown, Director of Strategic Communications, Georgia Quick Start; Charles Stallworth, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; Gregg Simon, Senior Vice President, Economic Development, and Josh Stephens, former Director, Project Management, the Metro Atlanta Chamber (now back with GDEcDas Director, Policy & Government Affairs); who worked together to make this project a reality! Read more…
Amazon Announces New Fulfillment Center, Creating 800 New Jobs in Columbia County
April 27, 2020 –Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Amazon will further expand its Georgia presence with a new fulfillment center planned in Appling, Georgia. The new, multi-level operations facility will feature innovative Amazon robotics technology and create 800 new, full-time jobs.
Congratulations to the team members who worked to locate this competitive Amazon project: Robbie Bennett, Executive Director, Development Authority of Columbia County; Hank Evans, Director, Logistics, Energy, Agribusiness & Food Team, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; and Bradley Harris, Manager, Economic Development, Georgia EMC! Read more…
Applications Now Being Accepted for the 2020-2021 Education Policy Fellowship Program Class!
Applications are now being acceptedfor the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education's 13th Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) cohort, which will begin in August 2020 and conclude in May 2021.
More information about the program, including critical dates for the next class, can be found in our application. Applicants should complete and return the application via email with all required materials no later than Friday, June 12, 2020.
Dublin Highway 257 Rail Property Certified As ‘Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development’ (GRAD) Site
April 15, 2020 — The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced with the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority that the county’s Highway 257 Rail Site is officially a “Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development” (GRAD) Certified property, with the new “Select” status. Along with its ideal location in Laurens County, the site’s new “GRAD Select” status provides an additional seal of approval that makes it attractive for future industrial development. Read more…
Governor Kemp, University of Georgia's SBDC Provide Overview of CARES Act Funding
April 2, 2020 –Today Governor Brian P. Kemp and the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provided an overview of the funding allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This critical funding will help small businesses keep workers employed during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Read more…
We are grateful to Cornerstone Government Affairs for providing regular updates from Washington during this novel coronavirus pandemic. Click here to access the federal Legislative and COVID-19 Updates.
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Our featured speaker will be G.P. “Bud” Peterson, who will speak about the Lieutenant Governor’s Georgia Innovates Task Force to enable Georgia to be the “Technology Capital of the East Coast.”
