News Archive
September 27, 2021 | INNOVATION IN MIDDLE GEORGIA
INNOVATION COMMUNITY
Middle Georgia is an exciting place to innovate and create.
The Middle Georgia Innovation Corridor has been launched and this consists of an innovation community which brings together and connects elements of the Middle Georgia region into both a geographic and conceptual space. These elements include defense, manufacturing, industry, education and healthcare.
The Middle Georgia Innovation Corridor is a concept which will unite and link individuals and entities from within the 11 county Middle Georgia region. These individuals and entities will all be connected to innovation and emerging/accelerating technologies via industry, research, education, workforce, Robins Air Force Base and local communities. The corridor will continually evolve as innovation is always evolving. The corridor will be dynamic, proactive and progressive as new technologies accelerate. As a regional corridor, the corridor will be collaborative, inclusive and agile in adapting to new technologies, sharing information and attracting new talent/retaining talent for the workforce that is needed now and into the future. The ultimate aim of the Middle Georgia Innovation Project is to build an innovation ecosystem and position Middle Georgia as a “Software Center of Excellence”.
I pledge to support the concept of the Middle Georgia Innovation Corridor. This pledge is my commitment to actions that will develop from the launch of the Middle Georgia Innovation Corridor. Initial actions include:
- Commit to working with the Innovation Corridor ecosystem to share and promote examples of best practice in local innovation.
- Commit to the cross promotion of innovation success stories of entities involved within the Innovation Corridor, in order to maximise publicity and tell the story of innovation across the region.
- Identify the innovation capacity in my company which will build the existing and future workforce, and work to connect to like-minded innovators in the region.
- Tell the story about the liveability appeal, affordability, educational assets and the beauty of the Middle Georgia region to help develop our current talent, and attract new people and their families.
Learn More at 478innovates.com
(READ MORE)September 20, 2021 | Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Select Sites Recognized at 2021 GEDA Conf.
ATLANTA – September 21, 2021 – During the 2021 Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) Annual Conference in Savannah, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced new ‘GRAD Certified Select’ sites across the state. Economic developers representing each newly recognized and newly renewed ‘GRAD Certified Select’ property were presented with a special certificate.
Completing the GRAD certification program with GDEcD is a proactive way both community planners and land owners can help catalyze economic growth and industrial development in their regions. To qualify for GRAD status, available sites must meet the program’s due diligence standards, be reviewed by a third party and earn the final approval of a board of advisors comprised of public and private sector economic development professionals. The ‘GRAD Certified Select’ status is an indication that a site has met or exceeded more rigorous certification requirements.
“Since starting this program, thousands of Georgia jobs have been created on GRAD Certified sites,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “I commend all of our communities across the state that have taken the initiative to go through the GRAD Certification process and for achieving the ‘Select’ status. Many thanks to each of them for their partnership and for their commitment to creating jobs for Georgians and spurring economic growth.”
Ralph Forbes of Thomas & Hutton and BJ Walker of the Development Authority of Peach County
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September 15, 2021 | Gov. Kemp Announces New Economic Development Role to Empower Small Businesses
Atlanta, GA – As part of the State of Georgia’s recognition of National Small Business Week 2021, Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced a new position in state government to support and empower Georgia’s small business community. According to Georgia Department of Labor data, businesses with fewer than 500 employees account for 99.8% of businesses in Georgia, and through a recommendation of Governor Kemp’s Georgians First Commission, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has established a Director of Small Business Outreach to build on the Department’s current portfolio of services and provide greater direct engagement with this community. GDEcD’s former Director of Creative Industry Partnerships, Allen Fox, will serve in this role.
"Georgia’s diverse range of small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy and the driving force behind Georgia's record-breaking economic momentum," said Governor Kemp. "As we stay focused on protecting lives and livelihoods, it’s critical that small businesses are aware of the state resources available to help them start up, expand operations, and create good-paying jobs for hardworking Georgians. As Governor and a small business owner for over 35 years, I look forward to what this new position within the Department of Economic Development can do to strengthen Georgia's reputation as the top state for business and the best place to live, work, and raise a family."
Director Fox will conduct meetings and events in the state, including coordinating regional roundtables and meetings with small business-related advocacy groups and other relevant stakeholders. This will help Georgia continue to create a positive vision and cultivate support for entrepreneurs.
Eighty percent of GDEcD’s work is with small businesses. Together, 1.6 million Georgians are employed by these businesses in sectors including manufacturing, retail, arts, hospitality, film production, and more.
"Every division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development touches small businesses across the state, offering resources, guidance, and assistance to help them succeed and grow," said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. "We appreciate the support from Governor Kemp that will allow us to make sure every Georgia small business knows about the opportunities and resources we have available to them."
For more information, please visit GDEcD’s website, which includes information for small businesses across industries and divisions at www.georgia.org.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
Contact:
Katie Byrd - Press Secretary
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
katie.byrd@georgia.gov
Emily Flower - Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
emily.flower@georgia.gov
Read original release here.
(READ MORE)September 1, 2021 | Governor Kemp Directs $5.8 Million to Aid Georgia’s Tourism Industry
Atlanta, GA – 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.
"I’m incredibly proud of the resilience of our tourism industry," said Governor Kemp. "While we still have a long way to go to full recovery, the fact that Georgia’s tourism industry saw gains during such a difficult year is astonishing and I am committed to ensuring we maintain this positive momentum. I’m proud to announce that I will be directing $5.8 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to the tourism industry here in the Peach State. This funding will help Georgia’s travel and hospitality industry compete in a highly competitive marketing landscape, and ensure visitors and Georgia residents alike have the Peach State on their mind for their next destination."
Like other destinations around the world, Georgia experienced COVID-19 pandemic-related losses in travel spending, tourism jobs, and overall economic impact from the industry. However, overall visitation in 2020 nearly matched the record number of travelers in 2019. Domestic overnight and day trips to and within Georgia totaled 151.8 million visits, helping mitigate lost visitation from meetings, conventions, and international markets. For the year, Georgia gained significant market share nationally, rising from number 7 in 2019 to number 5 in 2020 among all 50 states for overnight visitation.
The impact of this visitation on Georgia’s economy supported more than 410,000 jobs across the state and created a total economic impact of $53.72 billion in 2020. Explore Georgia’s Explore Georgia from Home campaign, which ran during the height of the pandemic in 2020, recently won a top award from the U.S. Travel Association. The Mercury Award for Virtual Programming was presented on August 17 in recognition of the state’s innovative marketing campaign to keep Georgia on travelers’ minds.
During the event, Governor Kemp also announced a new slate of appointments to the Georgia Tourism Foundation Board of Directors. The group of top-level executives and business owners from across Georgia’s tourism and hospitality industry will collaborate with GDEcD and Explore Georgia leadership to drive innovative and entrepreneurial strategies designed to further enhance Georgia’s position in the global travel marketplace.
"This announcement underscores Governor Kemp’s commitment to a complete recovery of the state’s tourism sector," said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. "Georgia is a beautiful, diverse state, and despite the challenges of the last year, with additional funding and the opportunity for collaboration with the new members of the Georgia Tourism Foundation Board of Directors, there are optimistic signs that point to a tourism industry well-positioned for future success."
Year to date, the industry continues to see recovery above 2020 numbers thanks to Georgia’s diversity of tourism product, balanced seasonality, and the state’s tourism recovery marketing campaign titled, Ready. Set. Georgia.
While other destinations across the nation saw a sluggish rebound in website traffic after March 2020, the state’s travel website has far exceeded the competition. ExploreGeorgia.org has recorded 15 consecutive months of record-breaking traffic, with more than 11 million visits in fiscal year 2021 (July 2020-June 2021), an increase of 59 percent year-over-year.
"The leadership of Governor Brian Kemp and the General Assembly has given our tourism industry the license to operate," said Mark Jaronski, Deputy Commissioner of Tourism at GDEcD."We're not immune to the challenges faced by destinations across the globe, but we have been successful in maximizing the travel business that does exist and leveraging it to grow Georgia's share of domestic travel and economic position."
The Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference, presented by Explore Georgia, is an annual three-day event for tourism professionals. As the first in the country, the Georgia Governor’s Tourism Conference is the state’s leading tourism industry event with a track record of providing attendees the opportunity to gain access to world-class marketing strategies and leadership lessons from global experts and industry thought leaders.
Governor Kemp Delivers Remarks at Georgia Tourism Conference on September 1, 2021
About Explore Georgia
Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development is the state’s official destination marketing organization. Through its home office in Atlanta, nine visitor information centers across Georgia, and a network of tourism representatives across the globe, Explore Georgia inspires travel to and within the state through marketing programs developed and executed in partnership with the state’s travel industry. The division works to advance Georgia’s tourism industry that represented $54 billion and supported more than 410,000 jobs in 2020. Learn more at ExploreGeorgia.org.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music, and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
Contact
Marie Gordon - Director of Communications
Georgia Department of Economic Development
mgordon@georgia.org
Cody Hall - Director of Communications
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
cody.hall@georgia.gov
Emily Flower - Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Governor P. Kemp
emily.flower@georgia.gov
Read original release here.
(READ MORE)August 30, 2021 | New Records for Georgia
The State of Georgia’s tangible assets like logistics, workforce, and ecosystem building, combined with our global mindset and responsive, relationship approach to business continue to produce new opportunities. That’s why the state is again celebrating a record-breaking year for new jobs and investment during fiscal year 2021.
(READ MORE)August 15, 2021 | Secretary Raffensperger Launches Georgia Investment and Business Fair at GA Capitol
Secretary of State Press Contact:
214 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
Contact: 404-360-9033
Aug. 16, 2021
(Atlanta) – Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is launching a Georgia investment and business fair at the Capitol on August 26, 2021, to highlight the Invest Georgia Exemption (IGE). The IGE allows Georgia companies to raise capital from Georgia investors without having to deal with the regulatory costs and burdens of registering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“As a small-business owner myself, I know how important it is for the government to support rather than get in the way of business and investment,” said Raffensperger. “I am proud to bring more attention to this important tool to help Georgia small businesses and entrepreneurs. Over 100 companies have used it to grow their business in the Peach State so far.”
“At TAG we’re committed to fueling the innovation economy, and we strongly support public policies encouraging business investment,” said Larry Williams, president and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia. “IGE is an example of good public policy. By making it easier to raise capital, IGE helps our members develop new technologies and create value. With help from effective programs like IGE, capital investment in Georgia is growing and deal flow is strong.”
The IGE Fair will take place on Thursday, August 26, from 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby of the Capitol. Georgia IGE companies will be set up at tables displaying what they do and how they used the IGE to grow their companies.
Additionally, business groups and government agencies, including representatives of the Secretary of State’s office, will be on hand to provide information and tips to entrepreneurs looking to start a business or small businesses looking to grow their company.
The fair is open to the public.
Secretary Raffensperger’s She Leads program will be hosting a panel on how investors can invest wisely, and how small businesses and entrepreneurs can raise capital, in conjunction with the program. That panel will be streamed online on the Secretary’s social media pages and will start at 9:30 a.m.
The IGE fair is sponsored by the Investors Protection Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. The primary mission of IPT is to provide independent, objective information needed by consumers to make informed investment decisions. The Secretary of State’s office is partnering with several Georgia businesses and tech incubators as well.
The Invest Georgia Exemption was created in 2011 and allows registered Georgia for-profit corporations to raise capital from Georgia investors without having to register the securities sale with the Securities and Exchange Commission. IGE offerings are limited to $5 million in capital and up to $10,000 per non-accredited investors. Accredited investors can invest however much they would like, up to the offering limit.
More information about the IGE is available here or at the IGE Fair on August 26. Click to register for free.
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(READ MORE)August 15, 2021 | July container trade up 25 percent at Port of Savannah
The 14,000-TEU ONE Wren and five other vessels call on the 1,345-acre Garden City Terminal at the Port of Savannah. Find print-quality images here. (Georgia Ports Authority)
SAVANNAH, Ga., Aug. 16, 2021 – The Georgia Ports Authority has kicked off Fiscal Year 2022 with record volumes in both containers and Roll-on/Roll-off traffic.
The Port of Savannah handled 450,000 TEUs in July, an increase of 25 percent, while auto and machinery units in Brunswick grew to 61,470, up 39 percent compared to the same month last year.
Savannah’s Garden City’s Terminal, which added nearly 900,000 TEUs in FY2021, has now achieved container trade records in nine of the past 10 months. In Brunswick, four out of the top 10 months for Ro/Ro trade have occurred since October 2020.
“Consumer demand and the addition of extra loader vessels is driving a prolonged surge in volumes,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “I’d like to thank our GPA employees and the Georgia logistics community for the long hours and hard work they are putting in to handle this unprecedented business.”
GPA has expedited projects to add space for another 1.4 million TEUs annually. Its Peak Capacity project will add 700,000 TEUs in two phases, the first of which opens this fall.
In March 2022, a 25-acre parcel along Ga. 21 will open operation as a support services site for Garden City Terminal, increasing on-terminal chassis storage. In 2023, GPA will commission another 92 acres, adding 750,000 TEUs of annual capacity.
“We’re expecting continued elevated demand in both Brunswick and Savannah through at least the end of 2021,” said GPA Board Chairman Joel Wooten. “To accommodate growing business, the board approved last month $525 million in bonds to fund our berth and container yard enhancements.”
Also in 2023, improvements to Berth 1 at Garden City Terminal will be completed. At present, construction crews are demolishing the old dock at Berth 1, installing a dock face wall along the new alignment and preparing for crane rail installation. Demolition is 35 percent finished. The new dock will allow Savannah to simultaneously serve four 16,000-TEU vessels, and three additional ships. In a related project, GPA is purchasing eight new ship-to-shore cranes, for a total of 38.
Another major project, the Mason Mega Rail Terminal, will double the Port of Savannah’s rail lift capacity to 2 million TEUs per year. The first nine working tracks of the expanded rail yard have opened for operation. The final nine working tracks will be operational by October.
Additionally, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is now 90 percent complete. The deepening will allow Super Post-Panamax vessels to take on heavier loads and transit the river with greater scheduling flexibility.
Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 496,700 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $29 billion in income, $122 billion in revenue and $3.4 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 9.3 percent of total U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10.5 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2020.
For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Chief Communications Officer Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com
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August 10, 2021 | Gov. Kemp Announces Record-Breaking Jobs and Investment in Georgia
Atlanta, GA - 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 fiscal year 2021. Investments increased by 46%, while job creation increased 5% above prior state economic development records.
New investments totaled $10.97 billion, and 33,439 jobs were created in the state through 379 projects supported by GDEcD’s Global Commerce division between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
“In addition to the overall state of our economy, setting new economic development records during a global pandemic is further evidence that Georgia remains the No. 1 state for business,” said Governor Kemp. “By remaining open for business and working alongside local economic development partners and private sector business leaders, we've been able to create greater opportunities for hardworking Georgians and their families. We've also prioritized attracting key industries that bring quality jobs and investments to every corner of the Peach State. I'd like to thank Commissioner Pat Wilson and the best economic development team in the country for their hard work and dedication to make today's exciting announcement possible.”
Georgia’s international partnerships accounted for the creation of nearly $2 billion in foreign direct investment in the state. Twenty percent more jobs were created by foreign direct investments than during the previous fiscal year. Nineteen projects from Korea represent the highest job creation from a single country, and Swiss-based projects led in total investment. Businesses from Germany created the second-highest number of jobs during FY21.
“The pandemic reminded us of how critical our existing industry and international relationships are to Georgia’s economic success. We have had to think creatively and react innovatively in order to help businesses successfully locate and expand while continuing to attract key industries to the state,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Our full-service, seamless approach to doing business has proven to be a successful formula in securing new opportunities for Georgians. I want to thank Governor Kemp, the General Assembly, and our many partners for their tireless support.”
Seventy-four percent of new project locations and expansions took place outside of the 10-county metro Atlanta region, along with 69% of total investments. New locations and expansions outside of this area and in Georgia’s rural regions created 17,322 jobs across the state. Companies choosing to expand in Georgia accounted for 69% of total projects, and new locations were responsible for 57% of the jobs created.
Leading industries investing in Georgia included automotive, advanced manufacturing, software/technology, logistics and distribution, and food processing, which alone increased 232% in job creation over FY20. Additional strong gains in jobs and investments came from FinTech and digital media. Investments in headquarters reached nearly $93 million, an increase of 94% from the previous year, and jobs created by headquarters were up 281% from a year earlier.
“Our state’s target industries continue to provide new growth opportunities, and our numerous assets, including our diversity and overall workforce, make Georgia attractive to businesses of all kinds,” said Deputy Commissioner for Global Commerce Scott McMurray. “We’re incredibly proud to be able to share this good news in partnership with our sister agencies, communities across the state, and international partners.”
The Global Commerce division of GDEcD seeks to increase jobs and investment through locating and expanding businesses, as well as growing small businesses. The Global Commerce division includes statewide and existing industry project and research teams, small business support, and international representatives in strategic regions around the world.
About GDEcD
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts and location for film, music, and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. Visit www.georgia.org for more information.
Contact:
Marie Gordon - Director of Communications
Georgia Department of Economic Development
MGordon@Georgia.org
Mallory Blount - Press Secretary
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
mallory.blount@georgia.gov
Emily Flower - Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp
emily.flower@georgia.gov
August 9, 2021 | Transforming Talent: Addressing Georgia’s Growing Labor Shortage
Join the Georgia Chamber on August 25, 2021 for Transforming Talent: Addressing Georgia's Growing Labor Shortage, presented by AT&T and in partnership with Atlanta Black Chambers, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.
Exacerbated by COVID, Georgia's workforce shortage is and has been a growing challenge for years. With technology changing the way we think, do business, and interact as consumers, job demands and the skills required to do them are evolving and changing every day.
The Georgia Chamber's Transforming Talent event, at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) Conference Center, will explore how to adapt and plan for the issues at-hand, as well as those to-come.
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August 8, 2021 | T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program
T-Mobile is investing big in small towns by awarding up to 100 towns a year with project funding—up to $50,000 each. The program will focus on revitalizing community spaces in towns with 50,000 people or less, and Main Street programs are encouraged to apply. Submit a proposal for a town project of your choice, and if selected, use the funds to get started. For example, you could implement tech upgrades at your library, refresh a local park, or break ground on a new place where neighbors can connect.
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