Economic Development Forum

1
Economic Development Forum

• The Georgia Allies GRAD Site Program
• Randy Cardoza
• Managing Director, Economic Development, AGL
  Resources, representing the Georgia Allies
• Jim Bruce
• Bruce Facility Planning Consultants, Atlanta
• April 3,
  2009

2
GRAD Site Program
Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development

• Georgias CERTIFIED SITES Initiative
• A broadly-based effort by many public
  private participants under management by the
  Georgia Allies

3
GRAD Site Program Goals

• Enhance economic development opportunities for
  the state
• Standards that demonstrate an advanced state of
  readiness for development
• Remain competitive with other states

4
Background

• In planning for several years
• Involved reviews of other states programs
• Involved BFPC experience as site selection
  consultant to private sector
• Need to strike the right compromise between
• Very thorough but demanding expensive review
• Level of effort and cost achievable by many
  sites and communities across Georgia

5
GRAD Site Criteria

• Site name and applicant
• Description of site
• Site ownership and availability
• Zoning, planning and land use controls of site
• Railroad accessibility (desired, not a
  requirement)
• Road accessibility
• Aerial topographic survey
• Limited Preliminary Geotechnical Investigation

6
GRAD Site Criteria

• Availability of utilities and services
• Water/Wastewater Service
• Electric Service
• Gas Service
• Telecommunications Service
• Public Safety
• Wetland and Stream Delineation
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
• Cultural Resources/Endangered Species Study

7
Marketing GRAD

• GRAD site descriptions on georiga.org and
  georgiafacts.net (both being or will be
  renovated)
• Regular briefings for state and regional project
  managers
• E-mail outreach to past attendees of Georgia
  Allies events, site consultants, brokers, Red
  Carpet, Quail Hunt corporate contacts

8
Marketing GRAD

• Site descriptions/fact sheets online with options
  for more info
• Video vignettes on georgiafacts.net (under
  consideration)
• Online enhancements to make GRAD sites easy to
  find
• News release for each GRAD site
• Display monitors rotating GRAD sites (GDEcD)

9
Why a GRAD Site?

• Shows community is truly proactive
• Allows company/consultant to feel comfortable
  about the site
• Reduces time to market concerns other risks
• Enhances community competitiveness

10
Advantages

• Utilize the Georgia Allies marketing program
  designed specifically for GRAD sites
• A unique marketing opportunity for community
  outreach
• Statewide Project Managers will be fully briefed
  on the benefits and value of the designation

11
Current Status

• 22 GRAD Site Applications authorized by Allies to
  be sent
• 18 Communities able to respond
• 4 applications completed reviewed with
  Validation Documents issued Bibb, Brooks,
  Liberty, Muscogee Counties
• 14 applications in various stages of
  completion/review
• 1 GRAD Site selected by private user Kumho Tire
  in Sofkee Industrial Park in Macon. Good
  feedback.

12
The Path Forward

• The testing phase is complete. Key concepts
  proven!
• Ready to move ahead aggressively
• Application process now fully open
• Greater responsibility by community
• Less direct role by Allies in data gathering
  greater role in marketing
• BFPC confirmed as reviewer
• QUESTIONS