CHAMBER INFO

Economic Development

Economic development is the primary mission of the Chamber. This department is charged with attracting new industry and encouraging the expansion of existing businesses in Richmond, Columbia and Burke Counties.

• Attracted Civic Development Group (CDG), a Woodbridge, New Jersey based teleservices company, as a new outbound call center to Augusta. CDG will employ 200 people in a 10,000 sq. ft. office at Westgate Center.
• Attracted Trocellen, a German based manufacturer, to Augusta in the Forward Augusta Industrial Park. Trocellen is manufacturer of foam used in the automobile, footwear and other industries. It will construct a 100,000 sq. ft. building and employ 30-50 people.
• Assisted the Mayor and the Canal Authority in attracting Standard Textile to Augusta to purchase the assets of King Mill. Standard reopened the mill less than a month after it closed and employs over 200 people, many of whom were out of work because of King’s closing.
• Assisted Sky Gen Energy LLC, a subsidiary of the Calpine Corporation, in selecting Augusta for the Augusta Energy Center, a cogeneration facility that will produce steam
(primarily for DSM Chemicals) and electricity (for the wholesale grid) from Natural Gas. The company’s investment will be $390 million, and it will create 25 full-time jobs and up to 300 construction jobs over two years.
• Coordinated the 42nd Annual Red Carpet Tour. Welcomed 40 guests from around the world, statewide developers and government officials for two days at the Masters® Golf Tournament.
• Hosted Augusta Showcase, an effort to expose pharmaceutical companies and site selection consultants to Augusta in a two-day visit during Masters® Week.
• Recognized Existing Industries for achievements in various categories at a Business at Breakfast meeting in October.
• Successfully nominated Sweetheart Cup Company for the Governor’s GEDA Existing Industry Awards, which won a Regional award.
• Created and produced a new Economic Profile; an updated web site; a reduced, condensed version of the Economic Profile; a Data and Demographics booklet; a Brochure on Available Industrial Buildings; a Wage & Benefits Survey; an updated Augusta Metro Area Manufacturers Directory; and the Augusta Corporate Park brochure.
• Hosted an Available Building Bus Tour for representatives of area real estate brokers and agents, statewide economic developers, local officials, and the media to view firsthand the quality properties here in Richmond, Columbia and
Burke Counties.
• Hosted a briefing and reception for Forward Together 2000 Investors at the new Comcast facility.
• Hosted the 11th Annual Existing Industry Appreciation
Golf Tournament.
• Actively worked on 39 development leads in 2001 (as of publishing).
• Marketed Augusta to consultants and prospects at the Biotechnology Industry Organization trade show in San Diego, the SE-BIO Investors Forum in Birmingham and the FabTech trade show in Chicago.
• Conducted quarterly cost of living surveys for the local area.
• Assisted the Augusta Regional Airport Commission in hosting two airlines, Continental and United, during Masters® week.
• Assisted the Mayor of Augusta in marketing efforts related to the Masters®‚ and the LPGA Augusta International Golf Tournaments.
• Established the Pharmaceutical Resources Council to focus on marketing efforts to attract Biomedical companies to the area.
• Coordinated public-private partnerships to control additional industrial land in Columbia County with the development of Horizon North Business Center.
• Marketed the 128,000 square-foot speculative building in the Horizon South Industrial Park.
• Conducted 17 visits from prospective investors representing 16 companies during 2001 in Richmond, Columbia and Burke Counties.
• Supported the Columbia County Board of Education’s
reauthorization of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) to fund the construction of two new schools and expansions to the county schools.
• Promoted the construction of a one-mile connector road between Lewiston and Chamblin Roads to allow the creation of a public/private partnership business park along I-20.
•Made calls on existing industries for the purposes of communicating our appreciation for their investments and jobs and encouraging more growth.
•Provided assistance to Burke County with prospect visits, marketing and research requests.

Ed Tarver, Chamber Chairman, Patrick Shabal, Marketing & Sales Manager, Trocellen North America, Inc., and Kevin Shea, Chamber Sr. VP for Economic Development at the Trocellen News Conference