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CGEDA's Existing Business Training a Success

Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA) held an existing business training program at BankTrust in Monroeville on Tuesday, July 26 from 9 am until 11 am.

Mr. Bob Higgins, a renowned existing industry professional and Senior Vice President of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) facilitated the training. Twenty-two volunteers participated, including local economic developers from the 5 county Coastal Gateway region. The central focus of the training was to develop a comprehensive interview and data driven Existing Business Program by means of the Synchronist format.

Synchronist is a software tool and interview system that communities across the country use to gather intelligence about their existing companies. The system was developed by Blane, Canada Ltd., a national leader in economic development marketing and business retention strategies.

The Synchronist format is recommended by the Alabama Development Office (ADO), and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) as well as numerous local, regional, and statewide economic development organizations. The program will address two objectives: 1. Gathering useful information at a volume that can provide meaningful analysis for the entire region and 2. Strengthening relationships with companies throughout the region with an emphasis on identifying potential opportunities to retain and grow jobs.

Existing business visits will be coordinated through local economic development offices and CGEDA. Volunteers will meet with companies along with the local economic developer and a CGEDA representative when possible. Company information gathered during interviews will be held in the strictest confidence.

Jim Searcy, Executive Director of the CGEDA, said "Economic Development is not a one man job. The team we have put together will enable us to better serve our existing industries."

A follow up meeting for the existing business team will tentatively take place in two months in order to determine the progress of the program as well as to assist with data analysis and action planning.

Baldwin EMC Site receives AdvantageSite Designation

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The AdvantageSite program requires that community economic development organizations provide documentation specific to a proposed industrial site, including a set of standard data related to ownership/control, environmental and geotechnical conditions, and infrastructure status. Sites must also meet size, zoning and accessibility requirements.

“In an effort to help bring jobs and recruit industry to Baldwin County and our region, we knew it was important to have our property attain the AdvantageSite designation,” said Bucky Jakins, CEO of Baldwin Electric Membership Corporation.

The 56-acre site is located on Highway 59 North in Bay Minette. “The City of Bay Minette has formed a dynamic alliance with the designation of the Baldwin EMC site, Baldwin County’s first AdvantageSite”, said Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery. “This designation
emphasizes the opportunities we have for positive change through partnerships with industry. We are optimistic that industry locating on this site will allow us to together create a strong network that will build a prosperous future for manufacturing and our workforce.”

“The Advantage Site designation not only shows that we are serious about attracting new industry to our area, but also is a reflection of the harmonious efforts of the city leaders in Bay Minette, The Industrial Development Board, and The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance,” said Craig Helms, chairman of the Bay Minette Industrial Development Board. “Good things happen when people work together.”

The application process was managed locally by the BCEDA with a team of local entities supporting and/or participating in the process.

“The designation would not have been possible without the support and help of many allies and partners,” said Josh Thornton, vice president of BCEDA. “ This program is definitely a team effort and brings everyone in the community together throughout the process. The Baldwin EMC site designation is a great recruiting asset and we will use this site to bring in new jobs and investment to the north Baldwin area.”
 

“The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance is proud to have partnered with the Alabama AdvantageSite committee in working to obtain designation for the Baldwin EMC Site,” said BCEDA Chairman Stan Szapiel. “The availability of a certified shovel ready site in north Baldwin will be a great recruiting tool for us and we will join Alabama Development Office, The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, The Baldwin County Commission, PowerSouth and the city of Bay Minette in aggressively marketing the property to high paying corporate clients.”

AdvantageSite is a teamwork approach between the private sector and state and local governments geared toward having prepared product and materials ready for industrial prospects. The program is jointly sponsored by the Alabama Development Office, Alabama Gas Corporation, Alabama Power Company, the North Alabama Industrial Development Association, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, and coordinated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. Representatives from each of the entities actively participate in application reviews and on-site visits to prospective AdvantageSite designees.

“We are very excited to add the Baldwin County site to the list of designated AdvantageSites,” said Greg Knighton, EDPA vice president and director of business information. “We know that Baldwin County is a fast-growing county, and believe this designation will further help the Baldwin County team with its economic development efforts.”
AdvantageSite is a voluntary industrial site preparedness program created in order to make the state more competitive for companies considering a location in Alabama.

Picture: Lee Lawson, PowerSouth, presents the certificate of certification to Board Members, Baldwin EMC and partners. From L to R: Robert Ingram (BCEDA), Lee Lawson (PowerSouth), Donna Givens (Baldwin EMC), Stan Szapiel (Chairman of the Board, BCEDA), Craig Helms, Sr (Bay Minette Industrial Development Board), Jamie Tillery (Mayor of Bay Minette), Josh Thornton (BCEDA).