NEWS - Economic Development

SBJ Staff Report

Jan 30, 2012 - Gov. Nathan Deal released his recommendations to ensure the short- and long-term success of job creation and business growth in Georgia last week, the final report of the Georgia Competitiveness Initiative aimed at helping Deal’s economic development team develop statewide economic strategies and action steps. Included is a summary about the issues and challenges of each of the state’s 12 regions.

“Our goal is for Georgia to be the No. 1 state in the United States for business,” said Deal. “Thanks to the input from thousands of business leaders in every region, we now have the information we need to develop and implement strategic changes to the state’s existing assets, to ensure we continue to outpace our competition around the Southeast and the nation.”

The initiative examined six key factors identified by site selectors as the most important influencers in corporate location and expansion decisions: infrastructure; innovation; education and workforce development; friendly business climate; global commerce; government efficiency. The final report identifies opportunities, strategies and action steps in each of these categories.

Education and workforce development was, by far, the category cited by survey respondents as the most critical area in need of attention. The Governor’s Office of Workforce Development has already launched the “Go Build Georgia” program in response to feedback about the need for workforce in the skilled labor trades. 

From the Coastal Georgia region, both Steve Green of Stephen Green Properties and Allen Rice, owner of Savannah Luggage Works from Vidalia, served as committee members. Curtis Foltz, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority served as an Ex Officio member.

Coastal Georgia, in Region 12, ranked education and workforce development as its highest ranking issue, followed by the region’s business climate. Companies interviewed seek reduced regulations and lower business taxes.

Coastal Georgia Region 12’s Highlights:

• Nurture our relationships with military bases

• Identify and implement viable “best practices” for local permitting offices and timelines for  response

• Tailor education to jobs with targeted, successful companies and industry sectors

• Foster partnerships between higher education institutions within the region

• Create regional strategic plans for international recruitment and exports

• Gather information from local governments,businesses, and industry as trade missions are designed in order to ensure a positive impact on Georgia’s economy

• Partner with environmental institutions in order to learn about new innovations.

• Consider infrastructure enhancements to maximize productivity and economic opportunity, such as raising truck weight requirements and port expansion

• Improve fiber infrastructure to support a knowledge-based economy/business environment

• Maintain intercoastal waterways and support secondary airports

• Continue to support the Georgia Ports Authority Savannah harbor deepening and expansion project

• Develop strategies to attract retirees to the region

To enhance Georgia’s business climate, the governor has proposed several legislative changes to the state’s statutory incentives, including sales and use tax exemptions on energy used in manufacturing and for construction materials for competitive projects. Deal has also proposed a modernization of Georgia’s job tax credit structure.

Many of the participants concerns’ regarding transportation and infrastructure issues are being addressed in current initiatives, such as the upcoming referendum for the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 and the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, said Deal.  The report reflects region-wide acknowledgement of the importance of Georgia’s ports to global commerce, and the critical need to keep them and the state’s other logistics assets competitive.

The Georgia Competitiveness Initiative is a public-private venture being led by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, along with a 23-member steering committee. Data was collected and compiled by UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

“What really struck us about this process as we gathered data, and again in the final report, was the remarkable similarity of opinion among the regions about the need for a sustained, quality workforce; a better accessibility to capital and the desire for reduced regulation, a universal support for innovation and small enterprise,” said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “It has been a very, very rewarding process and will continue to be as we move into the implementation phase.”

“We agree with Governor Deal that there is nothing more important for Georgia today than ensuring our competitiveness — both with the rest of the nation and the world,” said Chris Clark, president & CEO of the Georgia Chamber. “We were honored to be a part of this process and look forward to using what we learned to ensure that existing companies have what they need to be successful and to continue to attract new jobs and investment throughout the state.”

 The full report is at www.georgiacompetitiveness.org.

Published by Savannah Business Journal.®All Copyrights Reserved ©2011. www.savannahbusinessjournal.com®