Barrow Economic Development Council : News Releases

BARROW EDC INSIDER APRIL 2012 NEWSLETTER

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

BARROW EDC INSIDER APRIL 2012 NEWSLETTER

BARROW EDC INSIDER MAY 2012 NEWSLETTER

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

BARROW EDC INSIDER MAY 2012 NEWSLETTER

BARROW EDC INSIDER FEBRUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

BARROW EDC INSIDER FEBRUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

BARROW EDC INSIDER MARCH 2012 NEWSLETTER

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

BARROW EDC INSIDER MARCH 2012 NEWSLETTER

Barrow County Schools & Georgia Tech Co-Host Collaboration Day

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Barrow County School System and The Georgia Institute of Technology partnered together for a global “Collaboration Day” on March 2nd. The program, which was designed to showcase the district’s Direct to Discovery (D2D) program, featured several videoconferences and exhibited the technology currently available in some Barrow classrooms.
Through Direct to Discovery (D2D), local teachers are able to use videoconferencing equipment to connect to specialists in fields such as science and history, or with schools located in various other parts of the world.
Many Collaboration Day guests were able to sample those teleconferences through demonstrations held in several Georgia Tech labs, live conversations with educators in Ireland and Australia, and by taking part in an underwater dive at the Georgia Aquarium.

Caterpillar plant construction to start in early March

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

By Blake Aued
blake.aued@onlineathens.com
Published Monday, February 20, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 12:08am

Caterpillar could break ground on its new Athens plant in as little as two weeks.

Land planner Jon Williams said he submitted plans for the 1.2-million-square-foot factory Friday afternoon, just hours after officials announced that Athens had landed the company.

The Athens-Clarke and Oconee governments should approve the plans by March 5, Williams said, and Caterpillar could start clearing the land as soon as the following day. “Everything is on a fast track as far as they’re concerned,” Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis said.
The company hopes to finish the plant by the end of the year, officials said.

Caterpillar’s plans meet both counties’ zoning codes, Davis said. In the future, though, both counties plan to put an overlay district on the Orkin tract so the codes never conflict, he said.
After a whirlwind two-month effort to land Caterpillar and its 1,400 jobs, about 100 local business and political leaders took a short breather Monday.

They toasted their success at an Athens Area Chamber of Commerce celebration after winning what will become the largest private employer in Athens and the biggest economic development in Georgia since Kia in 2006.
“It was positively historic; a tremendous, tremendous day; something none of us will ever forget,” chamber Chairman Brian Brodrick said of Friday’s announcement.

But much work is still left to be done. Roads need to be built on the site — about 260 acres of the 920-acre Orkin tract, an industrial parcel between U.S. Highway 78 and Georgia Highway 316. Utility lines must be extended onto the property. More detailed plans are waiting to be drawn up.

Then there are the 25 to 30 suppliers who will follow Caterpillar to Athens, bringing another 2,800 jobs with them. Many of them will want to locate at the Orkin tract as well, said Gerry and Grant Whitworth, the father-and-son real estate team who represent the property for the Orkin family.

To expedite approval, officials from both Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties named Wayne Provost, director of the Oconee Strategic and Long-Range Planning Department, as the single point of contact for Caterpillar.

It was just another example of the spirit of cooperation that’s recently come over officials in both counties. While Davis and former Athens-Clarke Mayor Heidi Davison collaborated to try to woo vaccine manufacturer Novartis in 2006, and the Athens-Clarke Commission supported a permanent economic development partnership that grew out of that effort, the Oconee County Commission rejected it.

This time, the economic development departments, industrial development authorities, school districts, county commissions and other institutions all read from the same hymnbook.

“Every player in the process performed their function perfectly,” Mayor Nancy Denson said.

The result is a $200 million plant on an industrial parcel that’s been marketed unsuccessfully to manufacturers for more than 30 years. Athens Area Chamber of Commerce President Doc Eldridge said last week that Athens was always the bridesmaid, never the bride. “We’re the bride and the groom on this project, and we’ll be joined at the hip forevermore,” he said Monday.

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Last year, Governor Nathan Deal initiated efforts to best position Georgia as it emerges from the recent recession. The Georgia Competitiveness Initiative – a partnership between public and private sectors – was created to enhance the State’s economic development strategy. Input was gathered from over 4,000 Georgians throughout the summer of 2011. The input was used to develop the recommendations included in the Initiative’s report. The results of the report may be found by viewing the website: www.georgiacompetitiveness.org
Public Policy Update:
The Georgia General Assembly is continuing to work on legislation regarding the Governor’s Competitiveness Initiative. Last week, HB 868 was introduced. It provides for enhancement to statutory and quality job tax credits incentives. Watch for upcoming legislation to provide for elimination of sales and use taxes on energy used in manufacturing as well as elimination of sales and use tax on construction materials for certain projects.

Representative Terry England Named Legislator of the Year

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Barrow EDC extends congratulations to State Representative Terry England (R-108th District)! On January 11, 2011, GA Bio announced their selection of Representative England and Senator Cecil Staton (R-18th District) as 2012 Legislators of the Year for their support of the life sciences industry and university research in Georgia. On behalf of the Barrow EDC, Linda Moore – VP says, “Thank you Representative England for your continued support in the pursuit of this growing industry sector in Georgia. The life science sector will positively impact future job growth in this region as we heighten targeted marketing efforts.”

BARROW EDC INSIDER JANUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

BARROW EDC INSIDER JANUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

DIRECT TO DISCOVERY (D2D)

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT BARROW’S WORKFORCE -

DIRECT TO DISCOVERY (D2D) -

Georgia Institute of Technology President Dr G.P. “Bud” Peterson and local political and educational leaders came together on December 14, 2011 to view a live demonstration of the district’s Direct to Discovery program held at both Apalachee High School and Haymond-Morris Middle School.
Direct to Discovery (D2D) is designed as an ultra tech solution to improving student performance and interest in science and math. The program leverages high definition video conferencing systems located in Georgia Tech labs with BCSS middle and high school math and science labs.
The Barrow School System’s access to Internet 2 makes it possible to bring scientists in leading fields such as nanotechnology and biomedicine into long term collaborations with Barrow teachers and students.