**In order to read many of the GEDA articles linked to in this newsletter you must be logged into the GEDA website using the instructions above.**
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.
Chris Schastok is the one of the national leaders of CBRE's Location Strategy & Incentives practice. This advisory group assists clients globally with site selection and economic incentive negotiations, in conjunction with the overall strategy and execution of corporate real estate initiatives. With over 12 years of aligning location decisions with business strategy Mr. Schastok has negotiated more than $1.2B in incentives and has vast experience representing clients on corporate headquarters, back-office strategy, food production/processing, manufacturing and distribution center projects. Chris is familiar with Georgia and a number of our Project Managers and communities in Georgia. Chris will be interviewed by Charlie Moseley, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power, and GEDA Chair of the Business Recruitment Committee.
Recent Event
What a great Annual Conference! Congratulations, Andrea Schruijer, AC19 Chair, and her committee, on a tremendous AC19! We had a huge crowd attend, fantastic speakers, a very nice hotel in the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, tasty food, as well as wonderful weather while in Savannah. Click here to see the list of attendees and click here to see the photos from the AC19. You can access the speakers’ presentations by clicking here. Thank you to SEDA for being our Presenting Sponsor, and to Evans General Contractors and Georgia Realtors for being our Platinum Sponsors, as well as all of our sponsors for the AC19!
Click here for details about optional activity and Cornhole awards and GRAD Site recipients. Congratulations to all the winners!
Chair's Column
October 2019 Chair's Column
I have to start this column by thanking you all for making our 2019 Annual Conference a tremendous success! Congratulations to Andrea Schruijer for planning a wonderful conference, as well as the members of her planning committee. You can find a photo gallery from the conference by clicking here.
With the GEDA Annual Conference behind us and only 12 weeks until 2020 is upon us, I can’t help but think about the amazing year we have had so far.
Our state once again earned the “Top State for Business” by Area Development Magazine for the sixth year in a row.
Georgia companies created 28,960 new jobs and captured more than $7.4 billion in investment by attracting 332 projects.
339 productions were filmed in Georgia, resulting in $2.9 billion invested in the state
Communities continue to invest in the GRAD Certified Site program, and 64 sites are now qualified
Tammy Caudell, formerly Region 2 Senior Project Manager, GDEcD Existing Industry and Regional Recruitment Team, is now in Business Development with Carroll Daniel Construction.
Wylly Harrison, formerly Director of the LEAF Team, GDEcD Global Commerce, has joined Kajima Building and Design Group as a Business Development Representative.
Alan Schuetze, Business Development, Carroll Daniel Construction, is moving to South Carolina with the company.
Congratulations to the most recent Georgia Certified Economic Developer program graduates, announced at the GEDA August monthly luncheon held in Columbus.
Matt Carter, Executive Director, Pierce County Industrial Development & Building Authority Jana Dyke, Executive Director, Waycross and Ware County Development Authority Kevin Ellis, Executive Director, Bacon County Development Authority Angel Jackson, Operations Coordinator, UGA Archway Partnership Sharon Liggett, Operations Coordinator, UGA Archway Partnership Holly Lynde, Fiscal Analyst, Carl Vinson Institute of Government David Milliron, City Manager, City of Hogansville Jessie Owensby, Community Development Manager, City of Cornelia Kathy Papa, Region 2 Representative, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Amy Parker, Director of Communications, Gordon County Schools and CEO, Gordon County College and Career Academy
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.**
US Elogistics Service Corp. establishes new distribution center in metro Atlanta
September 26, 2019 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced that US Elogistics Service Corp., a global logistics solutions company based in New Jersey, will open its first facility in the Southeast, investing $4 million and creating 150 new jobs in Austell.
Congratulations to Amanda Blanton, Economic Development Director, Cobb Chamber; Hank Evans, Senior Project Manager, GDEcD Global Commerce Division; and David Denison, Project Manager, Georgia EMC; who were involved in locating this project! Read more…
RAI Industrial Fabricators to Build New Facility in Banks County, Create 30 New Jobs
September 19, 2019 — Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that RAI Industrial Fabricators, LLC will build a new state of the art steel fabrication facility, creating 30 new jobs and investing $20 million in Martin Bridge.
Kudos to the following team members, who worked to locate this project: Hannah Mullins, Executive Director, Development Authority of Banks County; the Banks County Board of Commissioners; Tammy Caudell, former Senior Project Manager, Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division; Russell McMurray, Commissioner, Brandon Kirby, District Engineer, and Kelvin Mullins, Local Grants Administrator, the Georgia Department of Transportation; Rope Roberts, Community Development Manager, Georgia Power, and Brandon Ashley, Commercial/Industrial Marketing Representative, Jackson EMC; and Kathy Papa, Region 2 Representative, Georgia Department of Community Affairs! Read more…
Georgia set to host 42nd Annual SEUS-Japan 2019
September 26, 2019 — The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced that Georgia will host the 42nd Annual Joint Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association and Southeast U.S./Japan Association in Savannah, October 20-23, 2019. SEUS-Japan is a prestigious gathering of global business leaders celebrating economic and cultural ties. Read more…
Gov. Kemp: Georgia Named "Top State for Business" for 6th Straight Year
September 10, 2019 — Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Georgia has been named the “Top State for Business” by Area Development, a leading publication covering corporate site selection and relocation, for the sixth year in a row. The results are determined by the publication’s poll of site consultants. Read more…
