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GEDA 2021 Annual Conference
The GEDA 2021 Annual Conference (AC21) is almost here, so register today for either in-person or virtual attendance. Dorie Bacon, Executive Director, Screven County Development Authority, and GEDA AC21 Chair, and her committee, have put together an intriguing program with the theme, Cirque Du GEDA – Balancing Act. Dorie has planned the sessions to present best practices to take home to your communities and that the fun touches of the theme help create memories for all attendees. Thank you to the Georgia Realtors, Presenting Sponsor, and to all of our sponsors for making this event possible.
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GEDA August Monthly Meeting
GEDA met at the Mill on Etowah in Canton/Cherokee County on Monday, August 9th for a truly educational, enjoyable, and fun luncheon! The Mill on Etowah, an adaptive re-use development in downtown Canton spearheaded by Penn Hodge and Grant Schmeelk, Partners/Developers, did not disappoint. This project was awarded the Deal of the Year by the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) in the large community category in 2019. We heard from Grant Schmeelk, Spencer Nix, Co-Founder & CEO, Reformation Brewery, which is headquartered at the Mill, and Misti Martin, CEcD, President of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED).
A tour of the Mill was offered after lunch. The beer tasting at the Reformation Brewery was a hit, for those who were able to partake. Thank you so much to Misti Martin, Heath Tippens, and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, our sponsor for the day! Click here for photos.
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GEDA Chair’s Column for September 2021
Hello everyone! Welcome to the last month of the third quarter of 2021. September brings us cooler weather, football (back to in-person and full attendance), shorter daylight hours, and the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) 2021 Annual Conference (AC21), of course! Yes, the COVID Variant is still with us and trying to cause problems, but we are going to be in Savannah on September 15-17 for mostly in-person attendance. The Mayor of Savannah and the Hyatt Regency both are requiring that we wear masks indoors unless actively eating or drinking. We want to make this experience as safe as we possibly can for everyone. We will also offer a virtual option for those who can’t or don’t want to be present in Savannah.
This COVID will probably be with us forever, so it is up to us to take precautions to keep ourselves and others safe. However, we should not be fearful of living our lives. Helen Keller has some great advice for us. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. So, be careful, but be bold.
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| GEAR Awards applications are now OPEN. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is now accepting nominations for the 2021 GEAR Awards! These awards are designed to recognize forward movement in the automotive and mobility industries through innovation and emerging technologies. For more information, visit georgia.org/GaGEAR. The deadline for applications is Friday, September 17th. |
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 Jana Dyke, President & CEO, Albany Dougherty Economic Development Commission, was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), beginning on January 1, 2022, at its board meeting preceding its 75th Annual Conference last month in Tampa, Florida.
 MaryBeth Flournoy, formerly Business Recruitment Manager, was promoted to Business Recruitment Manager & Film Coordinator at Georgia Power.
 Scott Poag, Director of Business Development, W&A Engineering, was elected to the position of First Vice-Chairman of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), beginning January 1, 2022, at its board meeting preceding its 75th Annual Conference last month in Tampa, Florida.
 Len Berg was promoted to Senior Research Analyst on the Corporate Solutions and Cyber Security team. Len was previously a Research Analyst.
 John Soper was recently promoted to be a Project Manager on the Corporate Solutions and Cyber Security team. He joined GDEcD as a Research Analyst for the Global Commerce Division. Before that, John worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government while earning a Master of Public Administration from UGA.
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State Fiscal Recovery Funds Application Extension
The deadline for submission of State Fiscal Recovery Funds grant applications has been extended from August 31, 2021 to October 31, 2021. Learn more
GeorgiaForward
GeorgiaForward’s flagship program is the Young Gamechangers, a young professionals leadership action program which brings together rising leaders from across the state to develop community and economic development recommendations for a single community. We are currently seeking applicants for our next program, starting January 2022 in Dalton.
Applications are now open for GeorgiaForward’s 9th Young Gamechangers Program. This program brings together 50 young professionals ages 25-41 to work on the persistent challenges of one Georgia community. In 2022 the Host Community will be Dalton. Dalton will provide the class with four “challenge questions” addressing a significant need or opportunity, and the Young Gamechangers will spend six months developing recommendations to present back to the community.
Read More... |
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Innovate for All Project Applications Due Oct. 11
The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation’s Innovate for All Program (formerly PIN Pilot Program) is now accepting applications for the up to $500,000 statewide inclusive innovation grant funding program!
Innovate for All is looking for Georgia innovators, entrepreneurs, schools, and organizations with project proposals that fulfill the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation’s mission to improve access and opportunities that enable shared economic success for all Georgians. These innovative projects should help increase socioeconomic opportunities in urban, suburban, and rural centers of Georgia, with a focus on the places that are often overlooked as hubs of innovation.
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ADVISORY: OPEN MEETINGS IN 2021 FOR GEORGIA LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) MEASURES
The 2021 amendment to Georgia’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) made by HB 98 actually codified some of the practical responses that development authorities and other public bodies had adopted in order to operate in the COVID-19 environment.
The OMA already allowed virtual (teleconference) meetings under circumstances necessitated by emergency conditions, subject to certain requirements. These requirements were (and are)-
- The emergency condition must involve public safety or the preservation of property or public services;
- The meeting notice required by the OMA must be given; and
- The public must be afforded means to have simultaneous virtual (teleconference) access to the meeting.
The underlying justification for a virtual meeting is an emergency condition. HB 98 defined that to include-
- Declarations of federal, state, or local states of emergency; and/or
- An emergency condition found by an agency (such as a development authority or a downtown development authority) to exist and to necessitate meeting virtually.
Read more... |
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EDO feedback needed for FEMA!
Leigh Hopkins, Senior Project Manager, and her team at the Center for Economic Development Research are looking to get comments from EDO’s regarding several economic recovery courses that they’re developing for FEMA. They will deliver these courses to EDO’s across the country on behalf of FEMA, but would like to get initial feedback on the courses, lessons, learning objectives and topics. They are:
- Creating Economic Resilience - Part I, is a 3-hour live webinar to communicate the basics of disaster related risks and economic impact for local/regional/state EDOs
- Preparing Business Community for Disasters - Part II, is a 5-hour live instructor course that builds on Part I and has 2 different tracks for EDOs:
- domestic version (local/regional/state EDOs)
- international (for state EDOs and commercial services in Embassies that help US businesses with international trade) – similar content just different operating contexts and resources.
- Crisis Leadership - Accelerating Economic Recovery provides the crisis leadership base course, then covers case studies and has one or more practicums where EM/EDOs can apply the Community Lifeline toolkit to stabilizing and restoring the local economy.
Please take this brief interest survey to assist Leigh and Georgia Tech in obtaining feedback on recovery training.
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| ** Names highlighted in orange below are GEDA members with hyperlinks to their email addresses.** |
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American Trailer World Creates 225 Jobs at Expanded Franklin County Carry-On Trailer Facility, Hiring Immediately
August 17, 2021 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that American Trailer World (ATW®) has invested $20 million in expanding advanced manufacturing operations at its Franklin County Carry-On TrailerTM facility. The company is hiring for all positions at the Lavonia facility, including welders, painters, and assemblers.
Way to go, Tonya Powers, Economic Developer, Franklin County Industrial Building Authority; and Barbara Fiedor, Region 2 Senior Project Manager, Existing Industry And Regional Recruitment Team, Global Commerce Division, GDEcD; for their great work on this expansion! Read more… |
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Gov. Kemp Announces Vanderlande Industries Expanding in Cobb County, Creating 500 Jobs
August 12, 2021 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that global material handling and logistics company Vanderlande Industries Inc. ("Vanderlande") will invest $59 million in expanding its North American headquarters in Cobb County. This expansion will create 500 new jobs in Marietta, bringing the company’s total employment to more than 1,250 people in Georgia.
Kudos to the following team members: Dana Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Cobb Chamber and Executive Director, SelectCobb, and Amanda Blanton, Economic Development Director, Cobb Chamber; Kristi Brigman, Director, Corporate Solutions & Cyber Security Team, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Gregg Simon, Senior Vice President, Project and Partner Development, and Ben Harris, Director, Supply Chain, Advanced Manufacturing and Bioscience, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Brenda Robbins, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; who worked together on this headquarters expansion! Read more… |
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Gov. Kemp Announces Medical Technology Company Intuitive Expanding in Gwinnett County, Adding Approximately 1,200 Jobs
August 4, 2021 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced plans by Intuitive, a pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery and a global leader in minimally invasive care, to invest more than $500 million in its current campus in Gwinnett County, creating approximately 1,200 jobs in Peachtree Corners.
Congratulations to the following large cast of characters: Andrew Carnes, Vice President of Economic Development, and Randall Toussaint, Director of Economic Development, Partnership Gwinnett; Kristi Brigman, Director of the Corporate Solutions and Cybersecurity Team, Susan Contreras, Director of Research, and John Soper, Research Analyst, Global Commerce Division, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Brian Johnson, City Manager, City of Peachtree Corners; Gregg Simon, Senior Vice President, Project and Partner Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber; and Brenda Robbins, Business Recruitment Director, Georgia Power; who worked collaboratively on this competitive project! Read more… |
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Governor Kemp Directs $5.8 Million to Aid Georgia’s Tourism Industry
September 2, 2021 – Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the allocation of $5.8 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Kemp shared the news with tourism industry professionals from across the state at the Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference, an annual industry event. During the event, the Governor applauded the industry’s success and recognized the impact of travel and tourism on the state. Read more… |
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Applications Now Open for ‘GEAR Awards’ Recognizing 2021 Automotive, Mobility Leaders in Georgia
August 18, 2021 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is now accepting nominations for the 2021 GEAR Awards. These awards are designed to recognize the forward movement in the automotive and mobility industries through innovation and emerging technologies. Additional information and applications are available at georgia.org/GaGEAR. Read more… |
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Gov. Kemp Announces Record-Breaking Jobs and Investment in Georgia
August 11, 2021 - Governor Brian P. Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) to announce record-setting jobs and investments from economic development projects across the state during the fiscal year 2021. Investments increased by 46%, while job creation increased 5% above prior state economic development records. Read more… |
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Governor Kemp, Georgia Department of Economic Development Announce Leadership of Electric Mobility and Innovation Initiative
August 6, 2021 – Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) held the official launch of the Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance (EMIA), announcing chairs for each of the five committees. Read more… |
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| Committee & Shared Interest Group (SIG) News |
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To sign up for a Committee or Shared Interest Group (SIG) click here.
Professional Development Committee – The next webinar in the series will be on Media Relations, featuring Chata Spikes, Director, Public Affairs, Atlanta Police Department on Thursday, September 30th from 10 - 11 AM. The cost is $25. Click here to register.
Professional Development - Scholarship-Grants
Apply today for scholarship grants from GEDA in 2021. Scholarships can deepen your job understanding and enhance your career! They can be used for many things, including attending 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.
Existing Industry & Workforce Committee
Through the 2021 year, our workforce development partnership with UGA Carl Vinson Institute has been outstanding! We are bringing the year to a close with our fourth webinar of the GEDA-CVIOG Workforce Pipeline Webinar Series. Save the date for October 29, 2021, at 1 pm. The next webinar will be a recap of the year and a look to the future.
Thank you Convergent Nonprofit Solutions for your sponsorship of this October event!
Title: The Workforce of the Future
Sponsor: Convergent Nonprofit Solutions
Link to Register: https://www.geda.org/events/webinar-the-workforce-of-the-future |
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATA ANALYST - ATLANTA BELTLINE, INC.
Posted On: SEP2
This position will be posted until November 2, 2021. Location: Atlanta, Georgia Position Type: Full-time Education Requirement: Bachelor's...
BUSINESS CONSULTANT - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Posted On: SEP1
This position will be filled by November 1, 2021 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Category: Consulting Position Type: Full-Time Education Requirement:...
VICE PRESIDENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - CARROLL TOMORROW
Posted On: AUG26
This position will be posted until October 4, 2021. Location: Cartersville, Georgia Category: Development Authority Position Type: Full...
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