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Bus Tour Rolls Through North Georgia
The ECG Bus Tour rolled through North Georgia this Spring to shed a spotlight on eight ECG Communities. This Regional Bus Tour carried state project managers from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the ECG Economic Development Team to:
Lawrenceville, Buford, Norcross, Acworth, Cartersville, Calhoun, Dalton, & LaFayette.
The purpose of the ECG Bus Tour is to expose state project managers to ECG communities and give the communities a chance to show off their assets: available sites and buildings, economic incentives, skilled workforce, and access among other things.
The E&CD Team spotlights each community and provides an opportunity to show state project managers why the next business that is considering Georgia should consider an ECG community.
GDEcD project managers are faced with the task of being updated on 159 county and 500+ city assets. The ECG Bus Tour allows them to experience a group of ECG communities in only one or two days, and helps keep ECG in the front of their minds.
The Bus Tour is also an excellent opportunity for project managers, community leaders and the ECG team to build relationships and establish the lines of communication.
Thank you to Lawrenceville, Buford, Norcross, Acworth, Cartersville, Calhoun, Dalton & LaFayette, for opening your doors to the ECG Bus Tour.
And a big thanks to the folks from GDEcD who took the time to let us show them around: Tony Greene, Nico Wijnberg, Blair Burns, Renee Rosenheck, Bill Dobbs and Joseph Huntemann.
ECG is proud to celebrate the success of a sixth bus tour. Keep your eyes peeled - we will be headed South in the Fall!
ED Victory for Elberton
ECG's Economic & Community Development is proud to announce that Hailo USA is locating its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Elbert County. Hailo will bring 200 jobs and invest $10 million in Elberton.
"It is energizing to have a company of the caliber of Hailo join our business community," said Elberton Mayor Larry Guest.
EcCD: Morneau Shepell Expansion
ECG is proud to announce the newest project locate in Georgia. Morneau Shepell is an expansion project that is expected to create 90 jobs and a $2 million investment.
Earlier this year, Morneau Shepell, a Canadian-based benefits and consulting firm acquired SBC Systems Company, Inc., an Atlanta-based “employee benefits” consulting firm. As a result of the acquisition, Morneau Shepell needed to expand its call center operation which required them to determine which of their current operations would be the best fit for expansion.
With offices in Pennsylvania, Toronto and Montreal, the company’s options were varied; ECG Economic & Community Development coordinated with senior management from Morneau Shepell, and with the research analysis of our own Technical Services, the company faced compelling reasons to expand in the State of Georgia.
Retail Project Announcement
Dollar General Market Lands in Fort Valley
ECG's Economic & Community Development Team is proud to announce a Retail project locate. In early November, Fort Valley celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony to welcome a new Dollar General Market to their downtown. The store will be about 20,700 square feet and employ around 40 people.
This development is only the fourth Dollar General Market in Georgia. The Market is the concept of Dollar General to expand its selection to grocery, frozen and dairy items, fresh produce and fresh meat. Construction is slated to begin in Fort Valley in the coming weeks.
Jason Fritz, ECG's Retail-Commercial Development Associate, attracts retail businesses exclusively to ECG Communities. "Our retail focus on economic development is a unique advantage for ECG Communities," said Fritz. "This project is a great example of people on the national, state and local level working together to find a great location for a great company."
Click on the picture to view a slideshow of the groundbreaking.
West Georgia Bus Tour
ECG hosted an Economic Development Bus Tour to display the great opportunity that the city could provide potential businesses interested in locating in Georgia. The Bus Tour visited ten ECG Cities in West Georgia: Fairburn, Grantville, Hogansville, LaGrange, West Point, Thomaston, Barnesville, Griffin, College Park and East Point. All cities are members of ECG as Georgia public power providers.
The Bus Tour brought project managers from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and business developers from ECG (Electric Cities of Georgia) to see the city and its infrastructure firsthand. It is a unique opportunity for economic development project managers on a statewide level to visit the city personally, be hosted by city personnel and learn what makes the community a desirable location for businesses. State project managers link business owners that are looking to relocate with communities across Georgia that fit the needs of the businesses. This exposure for Economic Development opportunities only heightens the potential economic and business growth for these cities.
As a public power providers, the cities on the tour own and operate an electric utility, making the utility a financial and infrastructural asset to the community and an attractive location for potential business owners.
Read where the City of LaGrange and the City of Thomaston shared this story with their local news outlets.
Project Announcement: Home Depot locating in Cobb County
Caterpillar lands in Northeast Georgia
ECG's Economic & Community Development Team is proud to announce that Caterpillar will locate a new manufacturing facility in Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. Caterpillar expects the new facility to include 1,400 new employees and a total investment in Georgia of $200 million.
Governor Nathan Deal and Doug Oberhelman, Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar, Inc., made this announcement at the Georgia State Capitol this morning. "Georgia is proud to have built a business climate that provides the logistics, workforce, speed and efficiency that global industry leaders like Caterpillar are looking for," said Gov. Deal. "We appreciate Caterpillar's continued investment in our state."
Caterpillar will locate its new one-million-square-foot facility on more than 250 acres of an industrial site that spans Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. Caterpillar already has several facilities in Georgia including Griffin, LaGrange and Thomasville.
"We are proud that our partnerships with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), the leadership of Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties, and Caterpillar, have led to a project that will so significantly contribute to the community and to Georgia," said Annie Baxter, ECG Project Manager.
ECG Project Manager Annie Baxter worked with GDEcD Senior Project Manager Chip Mitchell, who led the state's project team, and regional partners from Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties.
Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the GDEcD, closed the announcement at the Capitol with thanks to regional leadership, partners at the State, and Electric Cities of Georgia's Charlie Gatlin and Annie Baxter without whom "the project would not have been possible."
ECG expects this ED announcement to become a Customer Choice opportunity facilitated through our Major Accounts Service. We look forward to the opportunity to continue working with these industry partners.
Covington ED Vestar
Project Announcement: Outdoor Network in Albany
ECG's Economic & Community Development Team is proud to announce that Outdoor Network, one of the largest online suppliers of parts and accessories for marine and powersports enthusiasts, will relocate its internet fulfillment center to Albany. Outdoor Network will create 112 jobs and invest $3.2 million.
"Albany-Dougherty County's telecommunications infrastructure, low cost-of-doing business and four-lane highway connectivity make the community an ideal location for Outdoor Network's Internet fulfillment center," said Ted Clem, CEcD, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission.
From Albany, Outdoor Network will be able to obtain customer orders and fulfill and service those orders for shipment around the world. It will also provide customer service assistance to its global customer base.
"In my 35 years doing business, I have never encountered such a warm, inviting business climate as I have in Georgia," said Tom D'Azevedo, owner of Outdoor Network.
Work force training for Outdoor Network will be provided by Georgia Quick Start through Albany Technical College.
"The location of Outdoor Network is a great example of the success strong partnerships between ECG, the local development commission and the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) can bring to life," said Annie Baxter, ECG Business Development Associate.
Annie Baxter worked closely with Justin Strickland, vice president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, and Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) director of the corporate solutions and data centers team, Blair Lewis, on this project.
Athens-Clarke & Oconee Counties Welcome Caterpillar
E&CD Project Announcement
Read the latest on the Caterpillar Project: it has been cited for Honorable Mention in Business Facilities’ 2012 Economic Development Deal of the Year competition.
ECG's Economic & Community Development Team is proud to announce that Caterpillar will locate a new manufacturing facility in Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. Caterpillar expects the new facility to include 1,400 new employees and a total investment in Georgia of $200 million.
Governor Nathan Deal and Doug Oberhelman, Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar, Inc., made this announcement at the Georgia State Capitol this morning. "Georgia is proud to have built a business climate that provides the logistics, workforce, speed and efficiency that global industry leaders like Caterpillar are looking for," said Gov. Deal. "We appreciate Caterpillar's continued investment in our state."
Caterpillar will locate its new one-million-square-foot facility on more than 250 acres of an industrial site that spans Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. Caterpillar already has several facilities in Georgia including Griffin, LaGrange and Thomasville.
"We are proud that our partnerships with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), the leadership of Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties, and Caterpillar, have led to a project that will so significantly contribute to the community and to Georgia," said Annie Baxter, ECG Project Manager.
ECG Project Manager Annie Baxter worked with GDEcD Senior Project Manager Chip Mitchell, who led the state's project team, and regional partners from Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties.
Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the GDEcD, closed the announcement at the Capitol with thanks to regional leadership, partners at the State, and Electric Cities of Georgia's Charlie Gatlin and Annie Baxter without whom "the project would not have been possible."
ECG expects this ED announcement to become a Customer Choice opportunity facilitated through our Major Accounts Service. We look forward to the opportunity to continue working with these industry partners.
ECG Economic & Community Development
is here to help your community attract businesses like Caterpillar.
Contact us or visit LocationGeorgia.com to learn more!
ED Announcement Jackson County BBB
ECG Bus Tour: North Central Georgia
The Economic & Community Development (E&CD) Team hosted Project Managers from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) on an ECG Bus Tour of North Central Georgia.
The Bus Tour is a unique opportunity for State Project Managers to visit available sites in ECG communities and meet city officials. The Bus Tour made stops in 11 communities in two days:
Jackson Monticello Sandersville Sylvania Washington Elberton Commerce Monroe Lawrenceville Buford Norcross
Project Managers learn about the assets that each community would offer to prospective businesses interested in locating in Georgia. The Bus Tour offers a 'hands on' experience in areas of the state that offer desirable locations for business development.
A big thanks to the communities that hosted our E&CD Team so warmly.
To learn more about ECG Bus Tours or to ask about the next one, contact Amanda Fields.
Osmotica Pharmaceutical in Marietta
GEDA Award Winners
The Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) recently presented the Winners of several Professional Development Awards at their 47th Annual Conference in September. Four ECG Communities were recipients of these prestigious awards from GEDA.
Congratulations to the Award Winners!
Deal of the Year Rural Winner – Douglas-Coffee County
Deal of the Year Regional Winner – Cairo-Grady County JDA
Volunteer of the Year – Chuck Dobbins (Dalton-Whitfield County)
Rip Wiley Award for Professional Excellence – Nancy Kinsey (Monroe-Walton County)
Electric Cities of Georgia celebrates with our Participant municipalities that are part of such vibrant communities. These counties represent areas of Georgia that are eager and prepared for coming economic growth.
Acworth Receives Opportunity Zone Designation
The City of Acworth is the latest ECG City in a significant and growing list of cities that have received an Opportunity Zone designation from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Acworth enjoys the growth potential of this designation as an Opportunity Zone along with other Georgia cities served by ECG: Griffin, Marietta, Monroe, Norcross, Quitman and Washington.
As a result of this designation, local businesses will qualify for enhanced state job tax credits when they create new jobs that are located within the Opportunity Zone.
In showing the initiative to pursue these incentives, Acworth is investing in business growth as well as employment opportunities. City Manager Brian Bulthuis said, “I am excited about the possibilities of using this new incentive tool to create new jobs so that our community will reap tremendous economic benefits.”
ECG is eager to partner with other ECG Cities to capitalize on the distinction that the OZ designation brings to its Participants.
Bulthuis went on to say, “ECG played a significant role in facilitating our approval as an Opportunity Zone. They have been an invaluable resource.”
In response to the comments about ECG’s role in facilitating Acworth’s approval as an Opportunity Zone, ECG CEO Keith Bass says, “That is why we are here. Our purpose is to ensure that ECG is a useful and beneficial resource for the cities we serve.”
Augusta, Cherokee County, Cornelia, Cuthbert, Darien, Eatonton, Hawkinsville, Kingsland, Milledgeville, Ocilla, Payne City, Perry, Tifton, Union City, Valdosta, Walton County, and Whitfield County each have areas of their city or county designated as an Opportunity Zone.
For more information about applying for an area of your city to be considered an Opportunity Zone, please contact Charlie Gatlin, Director, Economic & Community Development, (cgatlin@locationgeorgia.com; 770-563-0408).
Marietta Welcomes Centrotherm Photovoltaics USA Inc.
CENTROTHERM PHOTOVOLTAICS USA INC. (www.centrotherm-pv.com) has located it’s US Headquarters in Marietta, GA, in the American Business Center. Centrotherm Photovoltaics is a German-based company and a market leader in manufacturing turnkey production lines for solar cells. It has supplied production lines to major solar cell manufacturers around the country, including Georgia’s own Suniva, a manufacturer of high-efficiency silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells, which is based in Norcross.
Centrotherm Photovoltaics has moved its office from Massachusetts to Georgia, and after a detailed search, they were paired with the city of Marietta. Centrotherm Photovoltaics sees Marietta as a viable market and an ideal place to relocate their employees, says Dr. Frank Faller, the Managing Director. With this relocation, the Marietta office is the U.S. Headquarters for Centrotherm Photovoltaics with Administration, Sales and Customer Service.
At the office Grand Opening, Faller thanked the organizations that facilitated the company move from the northeast to Marietta. He thanked the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC South) for making introductions to Jim Blair of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and Walt Farrell (ECG), who managed the site selection process. Both organizations were instrumental in providing accurate research on locations, liaising local relationships, and managing the progression of Centrotherm Photovoltaic’s search.
Marietta welcomes Centrotherm Photovoltaics and considers the company an asset and investment in alternative energy sources for the City of Marietta. The move is timely, with Marietta’s initiative towards attracting GreenTech companies. Centrotherm Photovoltaics is located just outside the newly designated GreenTech corridor; which has a marketing focus on establishing a synergy of research and innovation in the area of green technology and sustainability. This is an advancement toward the economic and employment growth that Marietta anticipates even in the midst of this economic environment.
Coats & Clark Distribution Hub in Albany
In July, Albany welcomed the North American distribution hub for Coats & Clark to be a part of their community. The Coats & Clark Grand Opening was held on July 23, member of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Electric Cities of Georgia, and city officials in Albany, came together to welcome Coats & Clark.
This expansion of Coat’s & Clark’s distribution hub is expected to create 25 new jobs.
From the Albany-Herald:
"Coats & Clark has been a member of Albany-Dougherty County's industrial family for decades, and we are honored that the company has chosen to relocate its North American distribution hub to our community," said Ted Clem, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. "In expanding here, Coats & Clark takes further advantage of the affordability of doing business in Albany-Dougherty County as well as of its skilled work force. We don't take their trust in us for granted."
Electric Cities of Georgia is proud to participate in economic development across the State of Georgia. Michelle Cooper of ECG and Michelle Shaw of GDEcD assisted the company with this project.
New Business in Forsyth
Encore Plastics Corporation has officially closed on the Trane Building in Forsyth. Encore Plastics is an Ohio-based injection molder and thermoformer, and will locate a distribution and manufacturing operation in Forsyth which will be operational in the first quarter of 2011. The plant will hire 25 employees immediately and expects to hire up to 100 in the near future.
When Governor Sonny Purdue announced the Forsyth location, he said, "Communities throughout Georgia are seeing that our progressive business climate reaps tangible benefits when companies like Encore Plastics decide to locate here. Our skilled workforce and advanced logistics network provide the competitive edge every company seeks."
Congratulations, Forsyth, for being the kind of Georgia community that attracts new business.
Read more about Encore Plastics Corporation in Forsyth.
Certified Work Ready Communities of Excellence
Governor Sonny Perdue announced five new Certified Work Ready Communities of Excellence, a designation communicating a county has the skilled workforce needed to meet business demands and drive economic growth, as well as the educational foundation to build a pipeline of workers ready to create ongoing success.
Seven ECG cities are a part of the Communities that were awarded this designation: Covington, Doerun, Douglas, Forsyth, Mansfield, Moultrie, and Oxford.
To earn the Certified Work Ready Community designation, counties must demonstrate a commitment to improving public high school graduation rates through a measurable incrase, and show a specified percentage of the available and current workforce have obtained Work Ready Certificates.
Congratulations to those cities that are part of Certified Work Ready communities!
Retail Development in Dalton
The City of Dalton is eager to develop more retail opportunities. The recent economic downturn affected Dalton along with the rest of the country, and retailers scaled back on any plans for expansion.
Dalton's local newspaper, The Daily Citizen published an article defining the hurdles and opportunities that Dalton faces as it looks toward retail development. Jason Fritz, Retail Development Associate for ECG, was a source for the article due to his expertise in the field.
Follow this story and read more about ECG's contributions to Dalton's retail development.
Genesis 10 Grand Opening
ECG's Economic & Community Development Team is proud to announce that Genesis 10, a business and technology firm with 18 offices across the country, is locating its fourth domestic delivery center to handle process outsourcing for businesses in Sandy Springs. Genesis 10 will generate 200 high-paying jobs.
Senator Saxby Chambliss and Founder and CEO of Genesis 10, Harley Lippman, participated in the ribbon cutting this week.
"The location of Genesis 10 is another economic development success bred through the strong partnership between ECG and the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)," said Walt Farrell, ECG Project Manager. "This project is a great example of ECG's strategy and commitment to statewide economic development."
Farrell worked with statewide project manager Glen Whitley with the GDEcD on the Genesis 10 project.
The implications of statewide economic development have both direct and indirect benefits to ECG communities. The ripple effect spurred by job creation and local resource investment leads to community vitality well beyond the borders of one city, one county or one region. At the same time, ECG communities can enjoy direct benefit through the attention of our Community Development arm of the ECG Economic & Community Development Team.
ECG Economic & Community Development Team
is here to help your community attract businesses like Genesis 10.
Contact us or visit LocationGeorgia.com to learn more!
Big Tex Trailers chooses Cordele
Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing has begun operating its sales and distribution operations facility on a fifty-acre campus near I-75 in Cordele. They purchased the former Cavalier Manufactured Home facilities, a 42,000 square-foot building for distribution and retail and a 136,000 square-foot facility for manufacturing.
"Cordele's local Tech School is right down the street from our facility. For them to train people for us is very appealing," explains Michael Pittman, Vice President of Operations East Coast for Big Tex Trailers. Pittman is interested in labor since he has 130 jobs to fill for the new manufacturing and distribution center. They plan to be manufacturing trailers by April 2010.
NationalNet's choice is Marietta
"With the assistance of ECG's economic development group, we were able to secure a 10-year contract with NationalNet," explains Barry Echols, Marketing Director with Marietta Power. "We were contacted by both the owner of the building and ECG in regards to the possibility of NationalNet locating in a building on Powers Ferry Road in Marietta. It was a seamless process working with not only ECG, but also the owner of the building and Mr. Tony Morgan, CEO of NationalNet."
NationalNet is an internet technology organization that offers fully managed and dedicated web-based hosting solutions and services. Both their headquarters and data/network operation center are located in the new facility.
ECG provides economic and strategic services to community-owned utility systems that sell public power.
