A Guide t Ecnmic Develpment Fr Lcal Officials Kevin Bradberry Plicy/Research Intern Assciatin Cunty Cmmissiners f Gergia 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 1000 Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 522-5022 August 2007
Objective: T prvide a database f resurces fr use by thse interested in prmting ecnmic develpment in cunties. Table f Cntents 1. Want t learn abut ecnmic develpment? (pp. 3-4) 2. The Basics Agencies and rganizatins invlved in ecnmic develpment (pp. 4-5) 3. The Mney Where t find ecnmic develpment funds and financing (pp. 5-6) 4. Wrkfrce Develpment (pp. 7-8) 5. Cmmunity Develpment (pp. 8-9) 6. Small Business and Entrepreneurship (pp. 9-10) Intrductin S yu re interested in ecnmic develpment? Here are sme general tips t help yu get started: 1. Get t knw yur reginal representatives in the Department f Cmmunity Affairs and the Department f Ecnmic Develpment as sn as pssible. These individuals prmte ecnmic develpment fr a living, and are familiar with current effrts and resurces arund the state. 2. Establish psitive relatinships with yur develpment authrity and lcal chamber f cmmerce. They have a vested interest in yur cmmunity s develpment, and can be a valuable partner. 3. Attend training prgrams n the subject. Interactive training sessins are usually much mre effective than reading an email r newsletter, s immerse yurself in an interactive experience. Several suggestins are fund belw. 4. Mst imprtantly, remember t wrk tgether! Significant ecnmic develpment is nearly impssible if acting alne; successful develpment requires balancing and cperating with many different agencies, businesses, and individuals in yur cunty. 2
Want t learn abut ecnmic develpment? Certified Cmmissiners Training Prgram Ecnmic Develpment Curse This curse, which is part f the Certified Cmmissiners Training Prgram curriculum, prvides an verview f the ecnmic develpment prcess. It includes infrmatin n Gergia s ecnmic develpment strategy and legislative initiatives, best practices and mre. Tpics such as cmmunity develpment building blcks, business develpment strategies, building reginal partnerships and the rle f leadership in ecnmic develpment are cvered. http://www.cvig.uga.edu/training/lcal/cmmissiners.php Gergia Academy fr Ecnmic Develpment The Gergia Academy prvides a ne day and a five day training curse that builds n the infrmatin prvided in the Certified Cmmissiners Training Prgram curse, thugh yu can attend withut having participated in the cmmissiners curse. The Academy's multi-day reginal prgram prvides participants with an understanding f the cmplexities f ecnmic and cmmunity develpment, and tls t assist in the develpment f their regin. The prgram, thrugh a variety f defined activities, takes an in-depth review f pssible ecnmic develpment pprtunities and strategies. The multi-day prgram takes place ver a fur-mnth perid, including five days f instructin cmbining lecture, exercises, guest expert presentatins, and ther frms t keep the prgram interesting and interactive. It is als a gd way t get t knw peple interested in ecnmic develpment in yur area. http://www.gergiaacademy.rg/ Develpment Authrity Bard Member Training Based at the University f Gergia, the Fanning Institute ffers basic and advanced develpment authrity bard member training. While targeted t bard members, the material is useful fr elected fficials, prfessinal staff and thers. The basic curse cvers the rle f develpment authrities, hw they wrk, and an verview f ecnmic develpment in Gergia. The Advanced Tpics class cvers deal making, legal issues, prject case studies, and interactins between develpment authrities and lcal gvernment. www.fanning.uga.edu Yu can rder the Develpment Authrity Bard Member Handbk by visiting: http://www.fanning.uga.edu/files/publicatins/rderfrms/devauthritybkorderfrm. pdf 3
Gergia Ecnmic Develpers Assciatin (GEDA) Enhance yur netwrk and knwledge by becming a member f GEDA. The assciatin is made up f mre than 900 ecnmic develpers, chamber staff, lcal gvernment fficials and thers frm thrughut Gergia. GEDA meets mst mnths f the year t prvide and prmte netwrking and prfessinal develpment pprtunities related t ecnmic develpment. http://www.geda.rg/ The Basics Agencies and rganizatins cmmitted t Ecnmic Develpment Gergia Department f Ecnmic Develpment (DEcD) DEcD is the gvernment prtal fr prmting ecnmic develpment in Gergia. They wrk with business prspects frm arund the wrld encuraging and helping them t lcate in Gergia. They als assist businesses expand and remain in the state. Fr lcal gvernments, DEcD prvides real-time supprt and helps t harness the resurces f any cmmunity. The department ffers nline resurces, training prgrams and infrmatin in all categries f assistance, including but nt limited t transprtatin, turism, science and technlgy, educatin, wrkfrce, business and gvernment. Its staff f business develpment and industry experts prvide timely and useful infrmatin t help yur cmmunity achieve its gals. www.gergia.gv Gergia Department f Cmmunity Affairs (DCA) DCA perates a hst f state and federal grant prgrams, serves as the state's lead agency in husing finance and develpment, and prvides cmprehensive planning, technical and research assistance t lcal gvernments. DCA can help yu get started in evaluating yur ptins when it cmes t ecnmic develpment. Further, the department crdinates a variety f ecnmic incentives and tls, tax credits, and financing plans. DCA can explain sustainable develpment and prvide tls fr lcal gvernments t use in planning and quality grwth, cnstructin cde develpment, and mre. http://www.dca.state.ga.us/ View the department s resurce bk t ecnmic develpment financing prgrams at http://www.dca.state.ga.us/ecnmic/taxcredits/prgrams/financingpacket.asp 4
Lcal Chambers f Cmmerce Lcal chambers, as primary representatives and advcates f cmmercial grwth, can ffer up a wealth f infrmatin cncerning ecnmic develpment. In many cases, lcal chambers maintain databases f gvernment infrmatin and are a useful tl in learning abut the particular aspects f ecnmic develpment in yur area. Additinally, many chambers regularly hld infrmatinal sessins and prduce materials n tpical questins apprpriate t their cunty r city. http://www.gacce.rg/ Cunty Ecnmic Develpment Offices and Develpment Authrities Get t knw yur cunty develpment authrity r ecnmic develpment ffice. They shuld be able t give yu a cmprehensive lk at yur cunty s current and past effrts t encurage ecnmic develpment, including targeted industries, infrastructure capabilities and mre. Lng-term planning designs fr yur district are als usually available; these plans can help t define yur ecnmic develpment gals. The Mney Resurces fr Ecnmic Develpment Financing The Gergia Department f Ecnmic Develpment (GEcD) and the Gergia Department f Cmmunity Affairs (DCA) can help yu access and leverage available ecnmic develpment funds. In additin, the fllwing resurces may be available t assist yur cmmunity: Business Expansin Supprt Act f 1994 (BEST) The BEST Act f 1994 is a measure designed t prvide tax credits/incentives t cmpanies lcating r expanding in Gergia. BEST prvides incme tax credits fr jb creatin fr certain businesses r headquarters; investment tax credits fr manufacturing r telecmmunicatins facilities; retraining credits which enable sme emplyers t claim certain csts f retraining emplyees in new technlgy r perating systems; child care credits fr emplyers wh prvide childcare services, and many thers. The Act als allws exemptins fr sme Sales and Use taxes fr varius kinds f manufacturing machinery; cmputer sales; primary materials handling; and electricity sales. http://www.dca.state.ga.us/ecnmic/taxcredits/prgrams/dwnlads/summarytc_best20 06.pdf 5
One Gergia OneGergia funds cnsist f a prtin f the state s tbacc settlement mnies and are used t assist the mst ecnmically challenged areas f Gergia. One such aid is the AirGergia Fund, which prvides grants t integrate airprt infrastructure develpments int verall plans fr ecnmic develpment, while the EDGE Fund is utilized when a rural Gergia cmmunity cmpetes fr business with anther cmmunity utside the state. The Strategic Industries Lan Fund prvides lan assistance t applicants being cnsidered fr develpment f a Gergia strategic industry. These are nly a few f the available resurces, and many ther useful funds exist. Further infrmatin is available at http://www.negergia.rg/ Grants.gv This site is devted t grant pprtunities frm 26 federal gvernment agencies. Mre than 1,000 grant pprtunities are available in categries ranging frm agriculture t transprtatin. In additin t grant pprtunities, the site allws ne t directly apply fr these grants. In rder t find grants, searches can be cnducted based n eligibility requirements and the categries f interest t yur cunty. Grants.gv als ffers a free e- mail ntificatin prgram t send ntices when any grant is psted that meets user-given criteria. http://www.grants.gv/ Gergia Department f Revenue The Department f Revenue can be a useful prtal fr infrmatin n available financial incentives. The site cntains all necessary frms related t filing, infrmatin n existing tax credits, and multiple publicatins relating t varius areas f ecnmic develpment, including but nt limited t: small business, alchl and tbacc, prperty taxes, crprate, and mre. http://www.dr.ga.gv/ 6
Wrkfrce Develpment Gvernr s Office f Wrkfrce Develpment As its name indicates, this ffice wrks t prmte wrkfrce develpment and achieve higher levels f emplyee cmpetence, educatin, and success. In particular, this ffice crdinates Wrkfrce Develpment Initiatives, which are the statewide effrts t prmte ecnmic develpment and cperatin. Sme f these include the Gvernr s Discretinary Fund Prjects, Gergia s Wrk Ready Initiative, WIA Incentive Grant, and thers. In additin, the ffice can als direct thse interested t lcal wrkfrce area infrmatin and lcal wrkfrce investment bards. www.gwfd.rg/ Department f Technical and Adult Educatin (DTAE) The Gergia Department f Technical and Adult Educatin, which encmpasses the Technical Cllege System f Gergia, versees the state's system f technical clleges, the adult literacy prgram, and a hst f ecnmic and wrkfrce develpment prgrams. They ffer infrmatin n all f Gergia s technical clleges, hw t successfully pursue a degree, and hw best t utilize such a degree. Supprt and technical services are als available, whether that is fr instructin, faculty develpment r special wrkfrce needs. http://www.dtae.rg/ Gergia Quick Start This prgram prvides high-quality training services at n cst t new r expanding businesses in Gergia. A unit f DTAE, Quick Start wrks with several ther gvernment agencies t enhance wrker prductivity by prviding training services and enhancing the value f Gergia wrkers. It als has helpful cnnectins t Gergia s netwrk f technical clleges and service industries, enabling quick and easy research. www.gergiaquickstart.rg Gergia Department f Educatin GADOE s Divisin f Prfessinal Learning prvides leadership, technical assistance, resurces and cnsultative services t the Gergia educatin cmmunity in rder t imprve student learning thrugh rganizatinal develpment and prfessinal learning. Varius avenues f infrmatin are available, ranging frm prfessinal learning methds t Reginal Educatinal Service Agencies, which are grups dedicated t imprving the effectiveness f educatinal prgrams and services. http://www.de.k12.ga.us/index.aspx 7
Gergia Department f Labr The Department f Labr assists jb seekers, emplyers, and wrkfrce prfessinals in an effrt t create a healthy and vibrant ecnmic cmmunity. Cnsumers can find industry data, access labr frce and unemplyment statistics, and btain career guidance infrmatin, educatin and training pprtunities, and wrkfrce trends. The site als cntains infrmatin n the Wrkfrce Investment Act and Services, which helps t plan and develp Gergia s verall wrkfrce system. http://www.dl.state.ga.us/ Gergia's Intellectual Capital Partnership Prgram (ICAPP) GergiaHire ICAPP is the University System f Gergia's ecnmic develpment prgram. ICAPP cnnects the intellectual resurces f Gergia's 35 public cllege and universities t the state's business cmmunity by linking business t ptential emplyees, giving business r develpment advice, distributing recent research, and prviding links t ther prgrams such as Gergia Hire and the Gergia Research Alliance. www.icapp.rg Allws business t recruit and hire students and alumni frm mre than 90 Gergia clleges and universities. GergiaHire prvides a resume bank with student infrmatin and prvides access t this resurce t businesses seeking new emplyees. GergiaHire displays lists f participating campuses and industries, and als supprts the MnsterTRAK emplyment prgram. www.gergiahire.cm Cmmunity Develpment Gergia Pwer Gergia Resurce Center Gergia Pwer is cmmitted t prviding ecnmic develpment resurces fr lcal gvernments and industries. Amng its many tls is a land and building search which enables ptential business prspects t find ideal lcatins fr new r expanding peratins. Gergia Pwer s cmmunity develpment department wrks hand-in-hand with businesses t attract them t Gergia, and is willing and able t facilitate strategic planning at the lcal level and prvide many insights t thse seeking t learn mre abut ecnmic develpment. http://www.gergiapwer.cm/grc/ 8
Gergia Tech's Enterprise Innvatin Institute (EII) EII s gal is t help cunties imprve ecnmic prsperity. They prvide multiple types f assistance, including strategic assessments, strategic plans, evaluatin f rganizatinal structure, quality grwth and planning, technlgy, and public plicy. The fcus f this assistance is n (1) develping and delivering practical, knwledge-based slutins t cmmunities and regins thrughut the state, (2) transferring knwledge t serve as a catalyst fr cmmunity and reginal innvatin, (3) helping cmmunities develp r enrich their quality f place fr businesses and citizens, and (4) cnnecting cmmunity leaders t the wealth f resurces available at Gergia Tech. www.edi.gatech.edu/ Gergia Turism Develpment Alliance f Gergia (TDAG) TDAG s stated purpse is t increase awareness f the turism industry as an ecnmic develpment engine. T that end, it prvides infrmatin n recent turism industry news, develpments in turism taxes, and multiple links t turism centers. TDAG als hsts educatinal frums and infrmatin sessins fr interested peple. It als partners with the Gvernr s ffice t annually ffer the Gvernr s Turism Cnference. http://www.turismdevelpmentalliance.rg/ Small Business Helping entrepreneurs in yur cunty University f Gergia Small Business Develpment Center- SCORE- SBDC prvides business cnsulting and cntinuing educatin pprtunities t Gergia s entrepreneurs. The Center cntains infrmatin n health insurance ptins fr Small Businesses, Pints f Cntact, Ecnmic Develpment Finance Prgrams, Business Startup Basics, and a plethra f tax-related hw t dcuments. SBDC als ffers small business training classes, FAQs fr new businesses, and a lcal page f links t ther small business resurces. www.sbdc.uga.edu/ Cunselrs t America s Small Business, SCORE is a surce f free, cnfidential small business advice fr entrepreneurs. SCORE s cunselrs have develped a template gallery designed t help small businesses plan fr the future, while tlkits and classes ensure that business wners are prperly equipped fr all future ventures. http://www.scre.rg/ 9
Advanced Technlgy Develpment Center (ATDC) ATDC is a natinally recgnized science and technlgy incubatr that helps Gergia entrepreneurs launch and build successful cmpanies by prviding practical business advice and assistance. Services include linking businesses with investrs and custmers, practical business cnsulting, netwrking ptins thrughut their members-nly rganizatin, and ffering startup facilities in several Gergia cities t small businesses. www.atdc.rg Gergia Statewide Minrity Business Enterprise Center- The center prvides business and technical assistance that helps emerging and existing minrity businesses experience significant grwth and sustainability, while als enhancing lng-term ecnmic impact thrugh the creatin f jbs and revenue. http://www.edi.gatech.edu/gmbdc Gergia Entrepreneurs and Small Business Office This ffice wrks t enhance and imprve knwledge and access t entrepreneur and small business resurces. Under this umbrella are prgrams such as the Gergia Entrepreneurs and Small Business Crdinating Netwrk, Gvernr s Mentr Prtégé Prgram, the Entrepreneurial Friendly Cunty prgram, f which 50 Gergia cunties are currently members, and the Small Business Regulatry Refrm Initiative. The ffice als prvides a wealth f infrmatin resurces ranging tpically frm agricultural small business develpment t teen small businesses t histric preservatin. http://www.gergia.rg/business/smallbusiness/ 10