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The Regional Advisory Council
for Region 11 met on November 21, 2003 at the DCA/DITT/GA Tech
regional offices in Douglas
Members Present: Jeanie Boland, Jerome Tucker, Lisa Harrell,
O.J. Booker, Albert Thornton, Fred Lamb, and Earl Brice. Members Absent: Mike Bass, Connie Perry, John Flythe, Lawanda
Jones, Troy Mattox, Rhonda Geiger, Horace Hudgins, Ruth May, John
Fluker, Buddy Duke, Jim Mills, Brandy Wilkes, Ken Garren and Shelley
Zorn. Guests Present: Don Betts, GA Tech EDI, Art Ford, Regional Manager,
- GA Tech EDI, Jeff Stubbs, GDITT, Lindsey Hammock, GDITT, Jonathan
Sumner, SGRDC, Robert Compton, SGRDC Staff Present: Scott Purvis Staff Absent: Kelly Lane and Sandy Ponder Chairman Tucker called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m. and
led the council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Scott Purvis gave the invocation. Chairman Tucker welcomed every one to the meeting and gave appreciation
to those RAC members who were in attendance. Chairman Tucker stated
we are all looking for ways and means and improve the situation
throughout the region and exploring different opportunities. He
stated that at today's meeting the RAC has a couple of resources
that would, if not eradicate, alleviate the situations that we
face in the region. He then called on Mr. Don Betts, GA Tech EDI,
to speak on community entrepreneurship. Mr. Betts briefly explained about Georgia Tech's history with
working with entrepreneurs throughout the state of Georgia. Georgia
Tech has had the longest running and most successful incubator
in the nation with the Advanced Technology Development Center
(ATDC) in Atlanta. Georgia Tech also has economic development
offices throughout the state that work with entrepreneurs and
manufacturers. Mr. Betts explained that in economic development we have all
been trained to go out and get that one big manufacturer. What
has been found out is that those people leave as fast as they
come. This has been the recent trend. Georgia Tech began to look
at other strategies such as working with existing industry. However,
no one has every really worked with entrepreneurs. Mr. Betts explained
the difference between a small business and an entrepreneur. Most
small businessmen have some entrepreneurial talent, but not all
small businessmen are entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are innovators
and risk takers. This is what communities need to focus on. Communities
need to determine how many jobs are created because of local entrepreneurs.
These are the businesses that stay in your community. In addition to business recruitment and working with existing
industry, communities should be paying attention to their local
entrepreneurs. Georgia Tech has developed a six-step process to
help communities develop a strategy for entrepreneur development
(See Attachment). These six steps include: (1) Who is responsible
for helping entrepreneurs; (2) Build community awareness and support;
(3) Strengthen relationship with existing service providers; (4)
Map your assets; (5) Visit and interview entrepreneurs; and (6)
Sponsor focused local initiatives. Mr. Betts stressed that Entrepreneur
Development should not be a community's only strategy, but should
be included in a community's overall economic development strategy.
Entrepreneur development should be seen as a foundation that can
help with other areas such as tourism, downtown development, existing
industry, etc. Next, Chairman Tucker called on Mr. Jeff Stubbs and Ms. Lindsey
Hammock, Regional Tourism Representatives, with the Georgia Department
of Industry, Trade & Tourism. Mr. Stubbs stated that their
job is to help with tourism marketing. They work with tourism
to develop the product and to ensure that the "name gets
out there" by networking with welcome centers, help put together
brochures, and etc. They try and get folks to think regionally
about tourism. Mr. Stubbs stressed that tourism is the second
largest industry in the state. The state of Georgia offers a lot
of advertising for free. This includes a website, setting up a
booth in welcome centers, and a travel guide. Mr. Stubbs stated
that his statewide tourism project focus is trains. Ms. Hammock
said that her statewide tourism project focus is agri-tourism. Mr. Scott Purvis announced that on Friday, December 5, 2003 the
premiere of "Trains, Trees, and Terrific Agriculture"
will held at the NESPAL Building in Tifton. This was the project
of the 2002 graduating class of the Georgia Academy for Economic
Development. This project consisted of creating a video and companion
brochure highlighting Region 11's agricultural heritage and eco-tourism
opportunities. Community Updates: Albert Thornton, Homerville - Sunny Ridge is looking at a March
1st completion date. The TEA project is about to begin in downtown
Homerville Fred Lamb, Quitman and Brooks County - The industrial authority
is negotiating for land to build a new industrial park. They are
currently working with two existing industries on expansion opportunities.
Quitman will begin is TEA project in their downtown area. Jonathan Sumner, South Georgia Regional Development Center -
The SGRDC received planning assistance from EDA to catalog sites
for industrial prospects. Also working on a website that will
host this information and provide GIS data. Earl Brice, Coffee County - Even though Coffee County has lost
three major industries, there are more people employed in Coffee
County than ever before. Local industries are helping prop up
the community. Jerome Tucker, Lowndes County - Dupont Chemical has bought out
Griffin Corporation. This may lead to some worker displacement.
The Industrial development authority is working with several prospects. Jeanie Boland, Brantley County - Recently held a community wide
strategic planning meeting. Brantley County has seated a planning
commission and they are working on land use and zoning. They hope
to have a ribbon cutting on their new industrial park after the
first of the year. And, Brantley County will be joining a joint
development authority with Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, and Charlton
counties. Lisa Harrell, Tifton - Recently held a ribbon cutting for the
Tift Area Workforce Center. Hosted the Georgia Downtown Association
conference in downtown Tifton. Received a Georgia Heritage grant
for the Lankford Manor. Received a redevelopment fund grant to
redevelop the Glisson property in downtown Tifton. The streetscape
project is almost complete. The new Mainstreet office will be
finished in December and located at the corner of U.S. Hwy 41
and U.S. Hwy 82. Hometown Holidays will be on December 5, 2003. O.J. Booker, Bacon County - Economic Development Authority has
filled the Executive Director's position. Dedicated a War Memorial
located on U.S. Hwy 1. The Hospital has finished their 3.5 million-dollar
expansion. Lindsey Hammock, GDITT - Reported that in Irwin County, the County
Commission has agreed to pay for two markers for the Jefferson
Davis Trail. Also stated that Douglas has been nominated for the
American Dream Town USA designation. Art Ford, GA Tech - Reported that GA Tech has been working in
Echols County to complete a community assessment. The date for the next RAC meeting was discussed. Staff will locate
a facilitator to conduct a retreat. The date is TBA, but will
probably be in late January or early February. The location will
be the new Mainstreet offices in Tifton. The meeting was adjourned at 12:07 p.m.
 
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