Georgia Energy Cities host economic development tour

ATLANTA — This week marked a pivotal economic development event as the Georgia Energy Cities extended a welcome to the ECG (Electric Cities of Georgia)|MEAG (Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia) Power Economic Development Southwest Georgia Bus Tour.

The initiative unveiled the promising prospects available for potential businesses seeking to establish a foothold in Georgia. The tour welcomed partners from ECG, MEAG Power, the Gas Authority, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the University of Georgia, and Southern Regional Technical College, and offered them first-hand insight into southwest Georgia communities and their infrastructure.

The tour served as a platform for economic development project managers at a statewide level to explore and engage with communities, garner first-hand knowledge about their offerings, and comprehend the advantages that make Georgia a destination for business. State project managers play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between business owners aiming to relocate or expand in Georgia and the communities that align with their location requirements.

“This bus tour truly embodies the essence of our Georgia Energy Cities,” ECG Senior Vice President/Chief External Officer Daryl Ingram said. “Through our collaboration with MEAG Power and other state partners, we’re underlining Georgia’s position as a prime destination for businesses. Witnessing our dedicated economic development professionals alongside our Georgia Energy Cities reinforces our belief in the power of teamwork and strategic business development.”

This experience of economic development opportunities has further amplified the potential for economic and business growth in these vibrant cities.

Notable tour sites included Albany’s Flint RiverQuarium, Bainbridge’s Commodore Industrial Park, Blakely’s Brewer’s Manufacturing, Cairo’s First & Broad Pizza Company, Camilla’s Hays LTI headquarters, and Thomasville’s Red Hills Business Park 1915 South. These destinations exemplify the essence of the tour’s mission: local economic development professionals passionately highlighting the virtues of their communities and the advantages they offer.

“We were excited to host the ECG MEAG Power Economic Development Bus Tour in our community and for lunch at the Flint Riverquarium” Chris Hatcher, the chairman of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission Board, said. “This team of professionals does an incredible job recruiting new businesses to our state, and it’s always great to share with them information about our community, our available properties, and our strong focus on work force and talent development. We value our relationships with these state project managers and look forward to continuing to work with them on behalf of our community.”

The tour was organized and hosted by ECG and MEAG Power, offering an exploration of seven Southwest Georgia Cities: Albany, Blakely, Bainbridge, Cairo, Camilla, Thomasville and Whigham.

Special Photo: Albany-Dougherty EDC