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Economic Development
Task Force Preparing
to Draft Its Report
After four months of examination and
extrapolation, Mayor Nancy Denson's Economic
Development Task Force is getting ready to
put pen to paper.
Specifically, the group, tasked by Denson
to work out the kinks in how Athens-Clartce
County attracts and retains industries, is pre
paring its first draft of what eventually will be
a report to the Mayor and Commission on its
findings. The task force, made up of more than
two dozen Athens residents
and businesspeople, plans
to present a final report in
October.
Last month, the group
traveled to Atlanta to see
how the state handles
requests from businesses
interested in moving to
Georgia. And last week,
the task force's drafting
committee began work on
the report, which identifies several key eco
nomic development engines in the county and
how they could be improved* The report will
weigh in on topics such as the efficiency and
effectiveness of the local business permitting
process, how Athens-Clarke and surrounding
counties are perceived by the public and the
business community, how nonprofits help or
hinder economic development and the types of
education and job training that are available
here.
"We still have a little bit of discovery to
do, and then well bring our recommenda
tions together," said Grant Tribble, chairman
The task force, made up
of more than two dozen
Athens residents and
businesspeople, plans
to present a final report
in October.
of the task force and chief financial officer/
vice president of finance for Athens Regional
Medical Center. "Once we get that done and
start writing the report that's when it will get
really important and kind of fun, in my opin
ion, to see the genesis of our ideas being put
together."
Tribble said the announcement In January,
a month after the task force was seated, that
the heayy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar
will open a new factory on the Clarke-Oconee
county tine was an interesting teaming experi
ence for the group. Members of the task force
were able to witness, up-dose and first-hand,
how a targe business moves its way through
the economic and government systems. "And
while it has been successful, there's always a
chance to see what could
have been better," he
added.
A near-final draft of
the task force's report is
expected in September,
Tribble said, allowing a
month for any last revi
sions or questions before
it's offidally presented.
. "The committee is, in
my opinion, very diverse
and very representative of the community.
Everyone on the committee has been so open
in bringing suggestions forward, almost from
the standpoint of. Here are some options for
your consideration,'" he added. But that's the
one goal of the task force: to find ways to
make the most of the opportunities available
and identify areas that need improvement.
How the Mayor and Commission will take
the task force's recommendations and imple
ment them, Tribble said, will be a different
discussion for a different day.
Kristen Morales
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Athens' Amazing Atrium
The Athens Cultural Affairs Commission is seeking
Artists/Art Teams for an exciting public art installation
in the new Classic Center Atrium.
The Art budget is $130,000.
Deadline for Qualifications/Concept Submissions is 5:00pm, June 25, 2012.
FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO APPLY, GO TO:
WWW.ATHENSCULTURAIAFFAIRS.ORG
JUNE 6,2012 • FLAGPOLE.COM 5