Q3 Economic Development Newsletter

3 things we learned at the Northeast Good News Gathering

What started as a way to bring hope during challenging economic times, the Good News Gatherings (GNG) have grown into an annual celebration of community and collaboration. A few weeks back, the GNG torch for the Northeast region was passed to Community Development Manager, Andrew Carnes.

Our team has had the opportunity to see many of these through the years, and while some things never change- like the comradery of our partners – we learn something new with each one. From the Northeast, here are a few take-a-ways that we had to share statewide:

1. The Redevelopment or re-imagining of what is possible at existing facilities or industrial parks is leading to the transformation of spaces and encouraging new development. Examples shared included the redevelopment of the Georgia Square Mall, the acquisition of land for a mixed-use town center in Dawsonville, and the sale of the final site at an airport business park.
2. Growth is not limited to new attraction- While we heard about new businesses such as SS Lumber's facility in Barrow County and Meissner Corporation's investment in Athens-Clarke County, updates also highlighted the key role that local expansions play, like BTD Manufacturing in Dawson County and Novelis in Greensboro.
3. Workforce development and talent retention initiatives have communities looking inward for solutions. For example, Dawson and Lumpkin County were at their Regional Education and Economic Development (REED) tour which brought together industry, community leaders, and educational institutions to raise awareness on existing workforce programs and highlight local career opportunities. Greene County highlighted its mentorship program that invites professionals from the greater community to work with students at the College and Career Academy on goal setting and skill development.

Celebrating 25 years on the top

By now, we hope you have seen that Site Selection Magazine has named Georgia Power a Top Utility in Economic Development for the 25th consecutive year. This is an incredible achievement, and we could not have done it without our partners and our commitment to innovation and the state we call home (thank YOU!).

Our partnerships have been instrumental in reaching this milestone. We are grateful for their dedication, support, and commitment to helping us improve the economic landscape of Georgia.

Our obsession with innovation has been a guiding force throughout our journey. We have pushed the boundaries of what is possible, always striving for more. Our team has honed their skills to an exceptional level, and we are proud to have contributed to historical wins for the state and local communities.

This recognition from Site Selection Magazine is a testament to the excellence that exists in Georgia and is a recognition for all of us. We are thrilled to contribute to the economic development of our state, and proud of the work that we have done to create opportunities for our citizens. We are excited to see what the future holds for Georgia Power and the economic growth of our state. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the years to come.

Growth is sprouting in our rural communities.

At Georgia Power Community & Economic Development, we are proud to support the growth of rural communities across our great state. Through our CREATE (Cultivating Rural Entrepreneurs and Transforming Economies) initiative and other rural programs, we help local areas plan sustainably for a brighter future.

This two-year CREATE Cohort culminated in a session hosted in Gainesville, GA, where we discussed funding opportunities for rural entrepreneurs with ACE (Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs) and learned more about the incredible FLEX entrepreneurship program for high schoolers. Additionally, we had the pleasure of hearing from an all-star City of Gainesville panel which brought together a group of passionate city employees to share success stories in the city's entrepreneurship scene. The discussion covered topics from an open-container district to the vast growth in residential housing in the downtown area.

The highlight of the program was hearing updates from the participating communities on their growth strategies. The cohort, which was made up of six communities including Baldwin, Bleckley, Hart, Pickens, Polk, and Toombs County have spent the past two years learning more about entrepreneurship and developing growth strategies tailored to their regions. In this time, they have had access to subject matter experts, resource providers, and the community development team from Economic Development.

“We must help rural communities be more competitive and position them for future opportunities, attracting talent to their towns, and improving their quality of life. Supporting entrepreneurs and small business is one proven way to support our small towns and cities,” shared Scott Purvis, Community Development Manager.

His earlier comments about rural Georgia also still ring true. “The way of life is a bit different. But that doesn't mean success and growth aren't possible here, in fact it's just the opposite. Something big is growing in rural Georgia, the seeds are planted, and now we continue sowing the seeds and looking forward to the harvest.”

Scott and team didn’t take a long break, heading off to Athens for the Georgia Chamber’s Annual Rural Prosperity Summit. Presented by Georgia Power, the summit brought together hundreds of business leaders and elected officials who are passionate about creating vibrant, robust rural communities. This year's event focused on topics that are vital to rural communities such as transportation and freight, healthcare, agriculture, education, and economic development.

Walt Farrell, VP of Economic Development for Georgia Power took part in the economic development panel sharing insights on the growth taking place across the state. He also pointed to the tools and resources that are available from C&ED to help rural communities make informed decisions about their plans for growth using the latest data and industry trends.

At Georgia Power Economic Development, we are committed to supporting rural communities' growth and helping them thrive through various initiatives such as CREATE and the Annual Rural Prosperity Summit.

We can't wait to see how the CREATE Cohort and other rural communities use the information and ideas from these past events in the coming months and years. As always, our commitment to supporting and creating vibrant economies throughout our state still is unwavering. Contact your community development manager to talk about revamping your growth strategy, or how entrepreneurship development can work for your region.

In case you missed it

• Nominations open until October 30 for this year’s GDCeD Small Business Rockstars
• 2023 Paris Air Show Recap from Lonnie Smallwood
• Vogtle Unit 3 Goes into Operation
• Georgia named #1 State for Infrastructure by CNBC 
• 13th Annual Energy Roadshow Recap
• Partners thank Georgia Power after being named a Top Utility for Economic Development
• Area Development recognizes Georgia as the Top State for Business for the 10th consecutive year

Save the Dates

• November 14-15: UGA to host Innovating Georgia’s Workforce Pipeline Conference in Athens, GA. Check out the C&ED team members presenting on research and entrepreneurship. Learn more.
• October-April: Classes from the Georgia Academy are available on their website. From essentials to incentives these programs are designed to support elected officials, educators, and community leaders. Learn more.