Regional vision, goals & strategies

PLAN OF ACTION

The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, Northwest Georgia counties and cities, local/regional/state economic development individuals/groups are all responsible for implementation of the CEDS goals/objectives and work program. The NWGRC, utilizing Economic Development Administration Planning Investment funds, will assist and guide responsible parties in the implementation of the CEDS.

In addition to EDA grant funds, NWGRC will continue to employ the following implementation tools in meeting the CEDS goals and projects: Georgia Department of Community Affairs Business Development Funds, Appalachian Regional Commission Grant Funds, US Department of Agriculture-Rural Development Economic Development Programs, OneGeorgia Authority, Georgia Recreational Trails Program, U.S. Land and Water Conservation Fund, and local and statewide initiatives such as Freeport Exemption, Job Tax Credits, Enterprise Zones and job training programs.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission’s report of accomplishments to EDA will be used to evaluate the successful development and implementation of the CEDS. Primary evaluation criteria will include private sector jobs created/retained, private investment, number and types of businesses/industries assisted, and the economic environment of the region. As annual CEDS updates are prepared, NWGRC staff will measure the success of meeting identified CEDS goals and report the same to the NWGRC CEDS Committee and NWGRC Council. Specific performance measures that may be used to measure success for identified goals include the following.

Human Capital

  • Workforce Skills: Increase the number of residents skilled in advanced manufacturing in order to meet current and changing needs of northwest Georgia employers.

  • Educational Attainment: Expand the number of students in the region that are prepared for future employment in skilled and professional positions through enhanced educational opportunities and active career counseling.
  • Human Services: Ensure appropriate human services are available to meet the needs of the region’s current and future workforce.

Community Assets

  • Tourism and Film Industry: Increase tourism, visitor spending, and revenue earned from the film industry in northwest Georgia.
  • Quality of Life: Enhance quality of life amenities in the region to retain talent and gain a competitive advantage when recruiting new businesses and industry.
  • Housing: Ensure adequate housing is available to meet the needs of the northwest Georgia workforce, which is attainable, decent, and safe.

Essential Infrastructure

  • Industrial Properties: Ensure northwest Georgia has sufficient, ready to develop industrial properties available to meet the region’s current and future needs.
  • Transportation: Advocate for transportation projects that are critical for regional economic development.
  • High Speed Internet: Increase coverage and accessibility of high-speed internet for residential, commercial, and industrial areas, with a focus on rural areas.
  • Traditional Infrastructure: Ensure communities in the region have adequate basic infrastructure to implement their community and economic development objectives.

Business Climate

  • Increase entrepreneurship and innovation by supporting business development in existing and emerging sectors.

Resiliency

  • Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness: Ensure that all communities have updated hazard mitigation plans and are prepared for natural disasters.
  • Communications During Economic Downturn or Emergency: Ensure adequate communication infrastructure between local governments and economic development organizations during economic downturns.
  • Resilient Workforce: Ensure that education and workforce training are suitable to allow workers to easily switch jobs and get broader skill sets.
  • Industrial Diversity: Achieve sufficient industrial diversity to minimize the impacts to the regional economy of a downturn in any given industry sector.