The Valley Partnership Wins Regional Deal of the Year

Cessna Expansion

Blaze Unveils New Shredder in Phenix City

The Valley Partnership Scoreboard 2008 YTD

Region Preparing for Fort Benning Growth

The Valley Partnership Joins Governor Perdue on Economic Development Mission to Europe

Funding Approved for Callaway Gardens-Harris County Airport

Development Authority Required Training

In Case You Missed It…

What is The Valley Partnership?

 Dear Friend,

While it's true that we spend a great deal of our resources to attract companies to the Columbus, Georgia Region, we also recognize the importance of providing assistance that fosters the growth of our existing businesses. Time and again, local expansions account for 80 percent of new jobs and capital investment. You can read about some recent examples in this newsletter.

With this in mind, the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce recently completed an existing business survey. We conducted confidential face-to-face interviews with company presidents and managers. We discussed future business plans and obtained feedback from 45 companies regarding satisfaction with doing business in the Columbus, Georgia Region.

Perhaps most importantly, we were able to strengthen relationships and take the pulse of our major employers. I invite you to click here to review the results of the 2008 Existing Business Survey. As always, we look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Becca Hardin
Executive Vice President
Economic Development

The Georgia Economic Development Association (GEDA) presented the Valley Partnership economic development team with the 2008 Regional Deal of the Year. The award was presented at GEDA's Annual Meeting on September 24 in Savannah, Georgia.

The Deal of the Year nominees were evaluated on a number of factors, including total economic impact of the deal, the degree of expertise needed to complete the deal, and any obstacles or challenges that were overcome during the course of the deal.

The Valley Partnership Joint Development Authority submitted the Daehan Solution project, located in Harris County. Daehan Solution is a leading manufacture of interior automotive components and is a key Tier 1 supplier to Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. The project will create up to 300 jobs in a five year period. The capital investment is estimated to be more than $35 million. The projected annual payroll for this project exceeds $10 million.

The Valley Partnership, which was formed 12 years ago, is staffed by the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce's economic development team. "We have found that it is amazing what happens if you don't care who gets the credit," stated Mike Gaymon, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. "We have found that thinking and acting regionally is the best model that has brought about the economic development success that we have obtained."

"It is also worth noting that this year's Deal of the Year judges are widely regarded as some of the most knowledgeable site selection consultants in the business," said Nathan Sparks, chair of the GEDA's Professional Development Committee. "Betty McIntosh with Cushman Wakefield and Del Boyette with Boyette Levy were kind enough to lend their expertise to us this year, and for that we are certainly grateful."

"Successful economic developers are able to take advantage of opportunities and overcome obstacles in order to create an environment for new jobs and capital investment," said Betty McIntosh, site consultant with Cushman & Wakefield. Capitalizing on Kia's location in West Point, the Valley Partnership team, led by Becca Hardin, assisted the Harris County leadership with the development of a business park and then demonstrated the professionalism required to navigate the complexities and win this supplier project. The Daehan Solution project will have a tremendous economic impact on Harris County, West Point and the Valley Partnership region."

Brian Sillitto, project manager and Becca Hardin, executive vice president of economic development, proudly accept GEDA's 2008 award for Regional Deal of the Year.

The awards recognize GEDA member organizations for outstanding achievement in the location or expansion of new businesses in the state of Georgia during the past year.

There are three Deal of the Year award categories:
Rural - a county, community or area with a population under 50,000
Regional - any multi-county initiative or deal that was spearheaded by a multi-county development authority
Urban - any non-rural county, community or area with a population of more than 50,000

"It is exciting to see the Valley Partnership get recognized for its hard work in the region," said Drew Ferguson, chair of the Valley Partnership Joint Development Authority. "We have a strong team of professionals and volunteers who are focused on growing our region."

Cessna Expansion

(L-R) Ron Alberti, senior vice president, integrated supply chain, Cessna Aircraft Company, Evelyn Turner-Pugh, Columbus Mayor Pro-Tem, Seerley Lowery, general manager, Cessna Aircraft Company and Russ Carreker, chairman, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, cut the ribbon to open the new Cessna facility.

Cessna showed off its new $11 million, 100,000-square-foot facility on August 27. Situated on a 40-acre site in Muscogee Technology Park, Cessna's newest facility in Columbus was designed by CH2M HILL Lockwood Greene of Atlanta and built by Batson-Cook Company based in West Point, Ga.

Cessna will spend up to $14 million over the next five years to add machinery for increased capacity and to introduce new technology at all three of its Columbus facilities.

Cessna Columbus employment has increased from 70 in 1996 to approximately 670 today, with plans to create an additional 150 positions over the next five years. Employees manufacture detail parts and assemblies for Cessna's line of single engine pistons, Caravans and business jets. Additionally, employees design and manufacture high-quality propellers under the brand McCauley Propeller Systems.

Blaze Unveils New Shredder in Phenix City

Craig Blase, co-president and co-CEO of Blaze Recycling & Metals, cuts the ribbon on the company's new automobile shredder at its facility in Phenix City, Ala.

Blaze Recycling & Metals recently completed construction of an automobile shredder at its scrap metal recycling facility in Phenix City, Ala. Gary Blase, co-president and co-CEO of Blaze Recycling, says the company will now have the capacity to shred and shear about 90,000 tons of material per month. It's expected that number of small, independent auto parts/dismantlers in the area will benefit from a lower freight rate by shipping to the shredder in Phenix City.

Along with the auto shredder in Phenix City, Blaze Recycling also operates shredders in Lawrenceville, Ga. and Ocala, Fla. The company is building its fourth shredder at its facility in Montgomery, Ala.

Construction projects on Fort Benning prove that the single largest economic development project in Georgia and Alabama is well underway. Over $2.9 billion is being invested in new construction at Fort Benning in preparation of 11,000 direct jobs resulting from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decision to relocate the U.S. Armor Center and School from Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Including spouses and children, BRAC growth is expected to bring 30,000 new residents to our region over the next three years. The demand for housing, schools and teachers will be enormous. BRAC growth will generate secondary, indirect growth that creates more jobs and new economic opportunities. Please click here to read about the work that the Valley Partnership is doing with in conjunction with the many stakeholders throughout the region to ensure we are ready to successfully meet the challenges of such unprecedented growth.

To see a larger version of the pictures and diagram shown above, click here.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue led an economic development mission to Europe from September 27 to October 3 encouraging investment in Georgia. "Our nation's softening economy has intensified the competition among states for economic development prospects," said Governor Perdue. "We will continue our successful push for new jobs and investment from European companies eager to invest in the American market."

Pictured back and forth from left to right, Javier San Basilio, manager analysis and marketing, MAPFRE INTERNACIONAL, Becca Hardin, executive vice president of economic development, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Fantis, general manager, ROAD AMERICA, Heidi Green, deputy commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Rafael Senen, chairman and CEO, MAPTRE ASISTENCIA, Governor Sonny Perdue, Javier Fernandez-Cid, general manager, MAPFRE INTERNACIONAL, Ken Stewart, commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Nikos Antimissaris, general manager, MAPFRE ASISTENCIA and Joy Smith, vice president sales & marketing, ROAD AMERICA.

Becca Hardin, executive vice president of the Valley Partnership, accompanied Governor Perdue on his official visit to Spain along with other government and elected officials, including Commissioner Ken Stewart of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

While in Madrid, the delegation visited with executives from MAPFRE ASISTENCIA, a multinational insurance, reinsurance and services company which operates in Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. MAPFRE ASISTENCIA operates a 24-hour national and international road-side assistance call center in Columbus, Ga. "We are honored that MAPFRE chose Columbus, Georgia for its Road America Motor Club call center," remarked Governor Perdue. "Georgia workers are known for the kind of great customer service that helps companies like MAPFRE remain industry leaders."

While in Spain, Becca Hardin also attended a Business Roundtable on Energy and Technology, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Madrid. Commissioner Stewart spoke on a panel titled "The Evolving Energy Model in the United States."

U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., announced on September 17 that the Callaway Gardens-Harris County Airport in Pine Mountain, Ga., will receive a $1,512,000 grant for needed improvements.

"As we focus on economic development and work to determine Georgia's current and future transportation needs, it is very gratifying to have this level of federal support for the Callaway Gardens-Harris County Airport," said Isakson.

The grant will be distributed through the Federal Aviation Administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Specifically, the funding will be used to rehabilitate a runway and apron.

According to Georgia Code, § 36-62A-21, development authority board members shall attend and complete at least eight hours of training on development and redevelopment programs within the first 12 months of appointment to a development authority.

Arrangements have been made for a one-day training workshop in Columbus on February 26, 2009. If you have not completed this training or need a review, make plans now to attend. Elected officials from your county and city are encouraged to attend as well. A Development Authority Handbook is given to each participant at the workshop. For more information or to register, please call Katherine Kelly at 706-575-7011.

On October 12, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer editorial page editor Dusty Nix chose some flattering words to describe the Valley Partnership's economic development efforts in the Columbus, Georgia Region. Here is an excerpt from the editorial entitled, "Taking a long, deep breath when thinking about the economy"…

There are lots of people to credit for our relatively good situation, but one outfit that perhaps hasn't gotten the kudos it's earned is the Valley Partnership, a player in the Kia deal and a group of area folks who have been preaching, and practicing, the gospel of regional economic development since back when few if any were listening. Thanks to their efforts and the work of many others, some of us can actually count our blessings while our neighbors are county only job losses and market plunges.

If you would like to read the editorial in its entirety, click here.

The Valley Partnership a multi-governmental entity created by local governments from the cities of West Point and Manchester, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama and the Georgia counties of Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot and Taylor. The mission of the Valley Partnership is to enhance the development and promotion of commerce, trade, industry and employment opportunities for the public good and to promote the general welfare of the Columbus, Georgia Region.