Developer Day series raises local and statewide awareness

The Stephens County Development Authority held its final 2009 Developer Day on December 3, the sixth event this year bringing statewide economic development project managers to the community on a development-focused tour. Five project managers from Georgia EMC, Electric Cities of Georgia, Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority toured the community. The trip showcased Stephens County’s development-ready sites, industrial buildings, work force, and leadership so as to help project managers better foster development in the area.

Former SCDA Chairman Bob Defenbaugh and Toccoa Falls College President Dr. Wayne Gardner served as the “chauffeurs” for the day. Nampac’s Plant Manager Michael Beecher led the group on a tour of the facility. They also viewed several available industrial buildings and sites in the Meadowbrook Industrial Park and Hayestone Brady Business Park. Liberty Elementary Principal Terri Powers gave them a tour of her Title I school. The project managers also got a glimpse at the natural sights of Toccoa with stops at Toccoa Falls and Paul Anderson Park.

Local leaders from the City, County, and regional government, healthcare, education, and real estate sectors acted as luncheon hosts at the Willard Kimsey Environmental Education Center. The statewide guests gave an overview of their agencies and projects, and local leaders were able to address their concerns and perspectives on local development projects.

The 2009 Developer Day events brought a total of thirty-three statewide project managers from thirteen different agencies to Stephens County and placed emphasis on the community’s unified support of development efforts. Sixty-eight local leaders acted as lunch hosts at the events, the testimony of a County, City, School Board, and private industry working together to promote Stephens County as open for business.

Jim Blair, Georgia Department of Economic Development: “I came away much better informed about the opportunities in Stephens County and the support that I can expect as a project manager. A community can have inventory, it can have logistics, but if there’s no leadership it’s not a community we can sell to a company. Leadership is something I’ve certainly seen in Stephens County; it really shines.”

Carter Wood, Georgia Department of Economic Development: “One thing that always impresses me about Stephens County is the workforce that you have. The trainability and dependability of your workforce is incredible, and it is something that companies look for and that we as statewide developers can really market.”

Dennis Chastain, GEMC: I’m a native of Toccoa… so Toccoa will always have a place in my heart. I see a very bright future for this community. I know the widening of Highway 17 is a long running saga, but that will eventually happen, and you’ll be very proud of the property you have in the Hayestone Brady Business Park.”