GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BOARD OF DIRECTORSBRIEFING BOOK

AUGUSTA, GEORGIAMAY 3, 2017

CYBERSECURITY

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD BOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Georgia Council for the Arts ......................................................................................... 1

Centers of Innovation .....................................................................................................3

Film .....................................................................................................................................5

Global Commerce ............................................................................................................7

International Relations .................................................................................................. 9

International Trade .........................................................................................................11

Marketing and Communications ................................................................................ 13

Tourism ............................................................................................................................. 15

Workforce ........................................................................................................................ 17

Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS

DIVISION PROFILE Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) empowers the arts industry in Georgia andartists around the state to cultivate healthy, vibrant communities that are rich incivic participation, cultural experiences and economic prosperity. As a division ofthe Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Council for the Artsprovides grant funding, programs and services statewide that support this vitalindustry, preserve our cultural heritage and create increased access to high qualityarts experiences.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS 1. Georgia’s Creative Economy Data Updated

GCA recently announced that the state’s creative industries generated $62.5 billion in annual economic impact. The creative industries in Georgia represent a combined $37 billion in revenue and employ an estimated 200,000 Georgians statewide, making up five percent of employment in the state. In support of the new economic impact numbers, GCA released an updated digital brochure for Georgia’s Creative Economy which outlines information on the impact, institutions, and communities that fuel the creative industries in our state. With a booming film and television industry, a long-standing tradition of writing and recording music, emerging gaming and digital media firms, and some of the most revered cultural institutions in the southeastern U.S., Georgia is a nexus for creativity and industry.

2. Poetry Out Loud, State Finals Results GCA recently announced the winner of the 2017 Poetry Out Loud state competition. Samara Huggins, a senior at Whitefield Academy in Mableton, Ga., took home the first place prize at the state finals hosted by the Atlanta History Center. Samara will represent Georgia at the national finals in Washington, D.C., April 24-26. Poetry Out Loud is a national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation which encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation which also building confidence in public speaking – a critical skill for future success. Georgia’s Poetry Out Loud

By the NumbersFY18 Grant Application numbers:

86 Project Grant Applications

101 Partner Grant Applications

57 Arts Education Program Grant Applications

54 volunteer grant review panelists have been identified, confirmed and trained by staff for grant review panels this Spring.

Art of Georgia II: Northeast Georgia

112 works of art were submitted for consideration for this exhibit

38 works by 30 artists were selected and will be on exhibit in the Office of the Governor for the next eight months

• For further information or details – please contact: Karen Paty Georgia Council for the Arts Executive Director 404.962.4015 kpaty@gaarts.org

Contact Information

New Creative Economies brochure highlights the impact of the creative industries in Georgia.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

champion receives $200 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Her school will also be presented with a $500 certificate that will go toward new books. The Poetry Out Loud runner-up, Valyn Turner, a junior at Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, Ga., receives $100 from the NEA, and $200 for new books for her school. Statewide participation in POL this year included: 89 schools in 37 counties, more than 17,000 students and more than 450 Georgia teachers.

3. Partner, Project and Arts Education Program Grant Deadlines The deadlines for GCA’s three largest grant programs occur in February and March each year. Staff spends the late fall and early winter holding grant training webinars for interested applicants, offering technical assistance and answering questions from prospective applicants. Applicant numbers can be found in the “By The Numbers” section.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• GCA and GPEE Partner to Host Arts Education Critical Issues Forum

GCA is working with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE) to host a Critical Issues Forum focused on Arts Learning and the Innovation Workforce. The event will be on Thursday, April 20, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm., at the Georgia Film Academy in Fayetteville, GA. The keynote presentation will feature Rodney Sampson, Partner and Head of Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives at TechSquare Labs, in conversation with Martha Dalton, Education Reporter, at WABE 90.1 FM. The keynote presentation will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Atiba Mbiwan, Associate Director at The Zeist Foundation, with Jeff Stepakoff, Executive Director of the Georgia Film Academy, Syreea Hughley, Learning Center Manager at Google Fiber, and Gif Lockley, Principal at Savannah Arts Academy. Registration for this free event is available online.

• GCA to Host Regional Strategic Plan Meetings For 2018, Georgia Council for the Arts is developing a new five-year strategic plan. The strategic plan process will begin this spring with a series of regional meetings to inform the plan, providing an opportunity for constituents to share their vision for how GCA can harness the power and potential of the arts in Georgia to build strong, vibrant communities. Participation is sought from Georgia residents with a wide and diverse set of backgrounds, experiences, expertise, and arts participation levels. Add your voice to the visioning process for how we can work together to amplify and empower the role of the arts in economic development, community development, and education, and increase the impact of the arts throughout the state. Meetings will take place in Gainesville on April 10, in Dublin on May 2, in LaGrange on May 3, and in Atlanta on May 18. Visit the GCA website for additional meeting details and more information about the strategic planning process.

GEORGIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS

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CENTERS OF INNOVATION

DIVISION PROFILE Exclusive to Georgia, the Centers of Innovation provide the technical expertise, collaborative research, and partnership opportunities to help Georgia’s strategic industries connect, compete and grow.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS• The Georgia Innovation Summit on February 22nd was a success with 145 people

registered and great feedback from those attending. The Summit was a joint effort of the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, the GDEcD Entrepreneur and Small Business Team, and the Centers of Innovation.

• COI-Energy co-sponsored the first “Aglanta” Controlled Environment Conference on Sunday February 19th with over 250 registered attendees. COI-Energy is collaborating with COI-Agribusiness on a project to expand Georgia’s strong agribusiness industry into more urban areas.

• USDA Value Added Producer Grant Workshop on April 10th helped give agricultural producers the resources and knowledge to enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. This annual free workshop presented by USDA Rural Development, The University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, and COI- Agribusiness resulted in $7M in grant wins by producers last year.

• At the Suppliers Opportunities & Aerospace Resources (SOAR) Conference on April 19-20 in Macon more than 100 Georgia aerospace companies connected to potential business partners and collaborators, participated in one-on-one “Fast Pitch” sessions with major international aerospace OEMS, and attended development sessions to build skills to grow their businesses. SOAR is jointly presented by COI-Aerospace, GDEcD, Georgia Tech Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), Macon Economic Development Commission, Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (GaSBDC), Georgia Power, the Guard Initiative, and the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA).

By the Numbers

676 COI engagements across all 12 regions as of the end of Q3 FY17

$16.1M Direct economic benefit from COI projects as of the end of Q3 FY17.

55 GDEcD projects supported by COI with $97M in announcements.

45 Number of new project contacts received through the COIs new website at the end of Q3 FY17.

194+ million Total media impressions to date in FY17 due to articles about companies assisted by COI. So far this Fiscal Year, the COIs have been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, FastCompany, Yahoo Finance, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle and Forbes.

• For further information or details – please contact: Steve Justice Centers of Innovation Executive Director 478.308.3097 sjustice@georgia.org

Contact Information

COI Executive Director Steve Justice with the Cautery Guard Team, winner of the COI-Manufacturing sponsored “People’s Choice Award” at the Georgia Tech InVenture Prize.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

• The first interns of the TCSG-GTMI Internship Program, which gives technical college students experience in advanced manufacturing technologies at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, completed their terms with two new interns to start in May. COI-Manufacturing was instrumental in bring together TCSC and GTMI to develop the program and securing funding through the GDEcD Workforce Division.

• The COI-Agribusiness sponsored the Flavor of Georgia food competition hosted by the University of Georgia’s Center for Economic Development and Agribusiness on Tuesday March 21st. This event showcased tasty, innovative, market-ready prototypes or commercially available food products made by Georgia-based businesses. Several of the competing companies, including “People’s Choice Award” winner Carroll’s Sausage & Meats of Ashburn, are current or previous COI-Agribusiness clients.

• The Centers of Innovation are supporting young entrepreneurs through sponsorship of a series of awards at this year’s Georgia Tech InVenture Prize and Challenge on Wednesday March 15th at Georgia Tech. In addition to providing judges, COI also sponsored the First Place awards for the Middle School and High School divisions of the InVenture Challenge with the winning teams to compete at the National Invention Convention in Washington, DC. COI-Manufacturing sponsored the “People’s Choice Award” at the university level InVenture Prize based on text votes by the studio audience and GPB viewers. The winner of the “People’s Choice Award” and the 1st Place award was Cautery Guard, a safer medical device used to remove unwanted tissue and to stop bleeding. The team won a total of $25,000 and COI-Manufacturing and COI-IT are now working with Cautery Guard to help them to commercialize their product.

• A database of aerospace and defense contractors in Georgia is almost complete under the Guard Initiative, a joint COI-Aerospace and Workforce Division program, with regional meetings underway to develop strategies to help diversify those companies into commercial markets.

• COI-Energy was a key player in the team effort to bring the sonnen InnovationHub to Georgia which is expected to begin production of sonnenBatterie products in the second quarter of 2017. The new facility will enable sonnen to rapidly innovate and produce award-winning sonnenBatterie systems for the U.S. market in one central location in Atlanta.

• COI-Manufacturing assisted Atlanta startup EGS to successfully bring their innovative pickup truck cover system, ‘Easy Stow & Go’, to market. COI-Manufacturing helped EGS develop the detailed Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) models to facilitate large scale production. The Center also connected the company to a team of undergraduate mechanical engineers at Georgia Tech to design and prototype an automated folding version as for their senior capstone project.

• COI Marketing is currently utilizing the Atlanta Business Chronicle, LinkedIn targeted posts, and an innovative video advertising platform, Digilant, to promote the services of the Centers of Innovation to Georgia companies throughout the state.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• Georgia Logistics Summit – May 16-17, 2017: The premier logistics event in the southeast brings together over 1,500

logistics professionals at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.• Savannah Logistics Lunch – July 19. 2017 – The third annual Savannah Logistics Lunch will focus on industry disruptors.

The event will take place at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.• AIAA Propulsion & Energy Conference – July 10-13, 2017: This is the latest in high value aerospace conferences that COI-

Aerospace has recruited to the state. Georgia aerospace organizations including Delta Air Lines and Georgia Tech will be featured at the conference and the ‘Georgia Aerospace Reception’ on July 11th will bring together national/international aerospace leaders with local aerospace industry leaders.

CENTERS OF INNOVATION

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FILM, MUSIC AND DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT

DIVISION PROFILE The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office develops the state’s film, television, & commercial production industries by marketing the state to production companies; location scouting; and coordinating the filming needs of companies with other state agencies, local governments, and citizens. The office actively works to develop the industry’s infrastructure and workforce, certifies projects under the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, and oversees the Camera Ready community program to engage municipalities throughout Georgia.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTSFilm Day at the Capitol took place on March 15 in the South Wing of the Capitol. This event is an opportunity to put a spotlight on the impact of the film industry in Georgia. Governor Deal, Speaker Ralston and Commissioner Wilson spoke at the annual event. Attendees included industry partners, communities, film industry leaders, studios and more.

A Los Angeles developer of film studios plans to build a five-stage, state-of-the-art studio complex in Clayton County. Clayton County Studios will be built between Lake City and Morrow and will be managed by Pacifica Ventures. The studios will be on 27 acres directly across the street from the National Archives in Morrow. The groundbreaking on the first phase is expected to be in September, and five sound studios will be between 18,000 and 20,000 square feet each. The complex will also include production offices, post-production space, a green screen, mill and construction space and a commissary.

The Georgia Film Office was selected as one of 12 worldwide attendees to the “Top Film Commissioners” dinner in Los Angeles on April 6th. The annual dinner is hosted by Cast and Crew and brings together representatives from the major Hollywood studios and the top film markets. Deputy Commissioner Lee Thomas attended.

By the NumbersGeorgia is currently hosting: 20 feature films

20 television series

7 television pilots

Notable projects include “Godzilla” and Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity Wars 3 & 4.”

6 Georgia-filmed productions were nominated for Oscars. They include Best Picture (Hidden Figures); Supporting actress (Octavia Spencer for Hidden Figures); Adapted Screenplay (Hidden Figures); Sound editing (Sully); Production Design (Passengers) and Original Score (Passengers).

4 – the number of Georgia-filmed nominees for the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards with Stranger Things, Atlanta, Hidden Figures and Confirmation all getting nods in at least one category.

• For further information or details – please contact: Lee Thomas Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Deputy Commissioner 404.962.4048 lthomas@georgia.org

Contact Information

Marvel’s Georgia-filmed “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” opens in theaters on May 5. #GeorgiaFilm

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

Kicking off on April 3rd, the film division and tourism division partnered on a drive market media blitz to promote film tourism. Kevin Langston, Lee Thomas and Emily Murray traveling to Birmingham, Greenville/Spartanburg, Chattanooga/Nashville, Jacksonville, FL and Tampa, FL to encourage visitors in in our top drive markets to experience Georgia’s film tourism destinations.

The Georgia-lensed film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 produced by Marvel Studios will be released May 5th. The film was written and directed by James Gunn and stars an ensemble cast featuring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIESThe film office sponsors and participates in numerous local film festivals, and typically has passes available if you would like to attend a screening. Here is a list of upcoming festivals.

• American Youth Film Festival, Atlanta (June 8-10, 2017) - The American Youth Festival Group (AYFG) launched its film festival division, The American Youth Film Festival (AYFF) in 2015 at the Columbus State University Center for International Education. Entries are open to students in three categories: Middle School, High School, or College. Judging categories include animation, comedy, commercials, documentaries, feature films, music videos, public service announcements, science fiction, or short films. The festival includes screenings, panel discussions and workshops for young people.

• Atlanta Shortsfest (July 7 - 8, 2017) - Atlanta Shortsfest showcases a diverse mix of short films (under 45 minutes) by filmmakers from across the globe in a wide range of genres. The festival was established to spotlight and promote excellent short films, and provide an important platform to share work with appreciative audiences and fellow filmmakers.

• Macon Film Festival (July 20 – 23, 2017) - Surrounded by a rich musical and Southern culture, the Macon Film Festival celebrates independent films while promoting filmmaking for entertainment, inspiration education and economic development. The Macon Film Festival screens independent films from around the world in multiple historic theaters in the city’s downtown district. The festival features film screenings, celebrity guests, special screenings and workshops throughout the four-day festival.

FILM, MUSIC AND DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT

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GLOBAL COMMERCE

DIVISION PROFILE The Global Commerce team seeks to increase jobs and investment through locating and

expanding businesses, as well as growing small businesses. The Global Commerce team

includes statewide and existing industry project teams, small business, and Georgia’s

international representatives in 11 strategic regions around the world.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS1. Major project announcements included:

2. Governor Nathan Deal declared March 13-17 as Georgia Small Business Week to

celebrate the achievements made by small businesses throughout the state. As part

of the celebration, the Department of Economic Development, along with the Georgia

Economic Developers Association (GEDA) recognized Georgia’s 2017 “Small Business

Rock Stars.” This year’s Small Business Rock Stars winners include: Atlanta Movie Tours

in Fulton County, Atlas Turf International in Troup County, Ecolink Inc. in DeKalb County

and Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomas County. 135 nominations were submitted, reviewed

and vetted by a panel of judges.

By the Numbers

• For further information or details – please contact: Tom Croteau Global Commerce Deputy Commissioner 404.962.4013 tcroteau@georgia.org

Contact Information

A delegation of approximately 30 Dutch and Swedish automotive suppliers visited Georgia in February.

Company Jobs Investment Industry CountyLinde Group 35 $40 million Industrial gas Cookathenahealth 425 $9.2 million Health IT FultonZ Gallerie 115 $3.7 million Distribution DouglasSysnet Global Solutions 500 $2 million FinTech DeKalbColorado Premium 190 $15 million Food Processing CarrollSonoco Packaging 130 $20 million Distribution FultonDiana Food 80 $50 million Food Processing BanksELK Group 100 $2 million Distribution ScrevenPratt & Whitney 500 $386 million Manufacturing MuscogeeSports Warehouse 300 $14 million Distribution ForsythASI Southeast 50 $16 million Manufacturing StephensAviagen 100 $18 million Agribusiness BrooksLuxottica Group 1,000 $78 million Distribution HenryFarmax 20 $5 million Food Processing Crisp

• The Global Commerce team located 88 projects in the third quarter of FY17. These projects will create $1.16 billion investment and 6,948 new jobs.

• For FY17 to date, the team has located 284 projects. This is an increase of 13.6% over FY16 to date. These 284 projects created $4.09 billion investment, an increase of 29% over FY16. They also resulted in 25,789 new jobs, an increase of 57% over the previous fiscal year to date.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

3. Georgia was once again a sponsor at this year’s HIMSS conference in Orlando, Florida. The team hosted a pavilion for health

IT companies in Georgia, took advantage of media opportunities to spread the word about our state’s strength in the industry,

and sponsored the event’s keynote speaker, Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• Governor Deal will host a mission to South Korea and Japan from June 3 – 10, 2017.• The 10th annual SEUS-CP conference, will be held in Toronto, Ontario from June 4-6, 2017• The SelectUSA Investment Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. from June 18 – 20, 2017

GLOBAL COMMERCE

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

DIVISION PROFILE Governor Deal and the State of Georgia are committed to growing Georgia’s reputation as a welcoming and vibrant state for international business and tourists. The International Relations division is dedicated to strategically cultivating and expanding Georgia’s international relationships. The office oversees communications and activities with foreign governments and is the state’s liaison to members of the Consular Corps. The division also manages the Governor’s trade and investment missions, welcomes international delegations and dignitaries and coordinates international efforts among state departments and agencies.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS1. Go Global Reception

Members of the Consular Corps and Georgia’s business community joined Georgia’s International Representatives and Governor Deal for the annual Go Global Reception at the Atlanta History Center on March 14. 250 guests attended this year’s reception and had an opportunity to network and meet one on one with the 19 of the state’s international representatives from offices in Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

2. VIP Tour The Consular Corps of Georgia convened for the 2017 International VIP Tour in middle Georgia March 29-31. This year marks the 31st VIP tour, and provides a chance to connect Atlanta’s international diplomatic and business representatives with communities outside the metropolitan Atlanta area. 21 countries represented on the tour span four continents, and include top trading partners, investor nations, tourism and study abroad destinations, major allies and friends. The group was able to visit international companies with a presence in middle Georgia, including the German company Sandler located in Perry and the Japanese company Otsuka Chemical in Griffin. Additionally, the VIP Tour traveled to Zac Brown’s Southern Ground in Peachtree City, Senoia, Roosevelt Warm Springs, Lake Blackshear Resort, the Warner Robins Museum of Aviation, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and more.

By the Numbers

• For further information or details – please contact: Abby Turano International Relations Deputy Commissioner – International Relations 404.962.4073 aturano@georgia.org

Contact Information

Members of the Consular Corps of Georgia visit Atlanta Motor Speedway as part of the 31st annual International VIP Tour.

6 International Courtesy Visits with Governor Deal

11 Total International Visits hosted

1 New Consuls General 1 New Honorary Consul 21 dignitaries attended the 2017 VIP Tour

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

3. Courtesy Visits Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Mr. Pieter De Crem visited with Governor Deal during his time in Atlanta to celebrate the resuming of direct flight between Atlanta and Brussels. Georgia has strong ties with Belgium, and Delta has remained committed to resuming flight since it was suspended following the Brussels terror attacks in 2016. Irish Minister for Regional Economic Development Mr. Michael Ring visited with Governor Deal during his time in Atlanta to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and discuss investment ties with Georgia. There have been two recent Irish investment announcements in Georgia- Sysnet Global Solutions in a DeKalb County and Voxpro in Athens. Based in Dublin, Sysnet Global Solutions will create more than 500 jobs and invest $2 million in a Dekalb County contact center. Voxpro is headquartered in Cork, Ireland and will create more than 500 jobs and invest $4 million in a new Center of Excellence in Athens-Clarke County by 2020.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• International Consular Ball presented by Georgia Council for International Visitors (GCIV) - April 29 at the Ritz-Carlton

Atlanta• Governor’s trade mission to Korea and Japan June 2-10• Abby Turano will be returning from maternity leave at the end of May! Additionally, the International Relations Division

will be hiring for 2 new positions this summer.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE

DIVISION PROFILE GDEcD’s nationally recognized International Trade Division works to bolster Georgia

exports and brand the state as a competitive source of quality products and services.

The division includes International Representatives located in 11 strategic global markets,

and assists Georgia companies to expand their sales worldwide. The Trade division

provides Georgia businesses with the Global Insight and Global Connections they need to

successfully diversify their international customer base.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS1. International Representatives return to Georgia

Georgia’s global competitiveness is strengthened by the work of its international representatives across the world. 78 percent of Georgia’s total trade and 96 percent of investment comes from markets where the state has representation: Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Nineteen representatives from these 11 strategic markets convened in Georgia March 12th – 17th for our annual International Representatives week. During their visit, the reps learned about the impact of small business on Georgia’s economy and took part in more than 75 one-on-one export meetings. The group also learned about economic development in Northeast Georgia during a one-day tour of Gainesville, Hall County. Site visits included the Georgia Poultry Lab Network, Kubota Manufacturing of America, and a lunch with Lanier Technical College and the University of North Georgia to discuss workforce development.

2. Arab Health 2017 The fast-growing healthcare markets in the Middle East have led to significant opportunities for Georgia’s life science companies. Six companies co-exhibited with GDEcD at Arab Health 2017 in late January to expand their sales in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. 2017 marked the fourth consecutive year that Georgia has exhibited at the show. On-site sales exceeded $700,000 and companies report dozens of sales leads with strong potential.

3. Celebrating Georgia’s 2017 GLOBE Winners On Tuesday, March 14th, GDEcD recognized the important work of Georgia

By the Numbers

$17.1 million Exports supported by the trade team in Q3

7,533 Trade leads provided to Georgia companies

650 Georgia businesses receiving customized export assistance

214 Countries and territories where Georgia companies export

• For further information or details – please contact: Mary Waters International Trade Deputy Commissioner International Trade 404.962.4120 mwaters@georgia.org

Contact Information

Governor and Mrs. Deal recognized the 2017 Globe Award winners at the annual Go Global Reception at the Atlanta History Center on March 14.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

exporters during the Go Global reception at the Atlanta History Center. Twenty-four businesses were highlighted for entering new international markets in 2016. These companies from all across the state entered 129 markets in the prior calendar year. 75% of winners are small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Congratulations to our GLOBE winners!

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• SEUS Canada 10th Anniversary

Join GDEcD at the 10th annual SEUS-CP conference in Toronto, Canada June 4-6, 2017. Now in its tenth year, the SEUS-CP alliance brings together six southeastern U.S. states and six Canadian provinces to promote trade opportunities between the two countries. Canada has been Georgia’s largest export market for more than two decades. The 2017 conference will feature a robust business-to-business program focused on opportunities in Clean Tech, Automotive, and ICT. Additional details available at seuscp.com

• Interactive Trade Map Georgia.org/Trade has a new feature! Learn more about Georgia’s top global trading partners through our new interactive map. The map offers a quick and user-friendly way to explore trade statistics for Georgia’s 11 international office locations and other top export markets around the globe. Users can click on highlighted countries and territories to see total trade, total exports, top 5 products and the export ranking for each.

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MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

DIVISION PROFILE The Marketing & Communications division manages the agency’s reputation andpromotes Georgia’s business, tourism, arts and entertainment assets throughoutthe state, U.S. and world. Through the creative integration of print, digital, social media, outdoor and broadcast channels, the division supports the department’s eightoperating divisions. This includes new advertising campaigns, the creation of salesand marketing materials, digital advertising, all internal and external communications,media outreach, more than a dozen social media platforms across multiple divisionsand the growth of the department’s nine targeted websites.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS1. In January, Governor Deal unveiled the cover of the official 2017 state travel guide,

which celebrates the Year of Georgia Film and the local communities that have served as backdrops for movies and television programs for more than 40 years. Almost a year in the making, the full-color, magazine-sized guide highlights the state’s rich film and television heritage, world-class venues and unique festivals. The guide features actor and director Ian Somerhalder from “The Vampire Diaries” and provides details on film-related tourist destinations and activities throughout the state.

2. New International Trade map launched. Georgia businesses looking to increase their exports have a new digital tool at their disposal. A new interactive trade map, created especially for the International Trade division, will provide users with detailed information regarding Georgia’s top trade partners around the world. Users can explore total trade and export dollars as well as top products by country using an intuitive interface that allows users to navigate from one country to the next. The map is built on a powerful geographic information system called ESRI and provides responsive design for use across all devices. Go to georgia.org/trademap to review.

3. New Tourism Media room launched on ExploreGeorgia.org. In February, the new ExploreGeorgia.org media room opened for business! This is GDEcD’s first media

By the Numbers• 21 press releases

distributed to media

EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG• Visits (sessions) increased

9 percent.• Unique visitors (users) increased

10 percent.• Traffic from mobile devices

increased 12 percent.• Visitors’ clicks to Partner Websites

increased 26 percent.• There were 205,122 referrals

to ExploreGeorgia.org from social networks.

GEORGIA.ORG• Mobile traffic increased 3 percent.• Traffic from China increased

129 percent.• Downloads increased 43 percent. • Referral traffic from social

networks increased by 6 percent.• Traffic to Case Studies pages

increased 25 percent.

INSITE.GEORGIA.ORG• Visits increased 8 percent• Pageviews increased 27 percent • Bounce rate decreased 6%

TOURGEORGIAFILM.COM*• Visits increased 33 percent.• Pageviews increased 24 percent.• Mobile device traffic increased

33 percent.• Visits from Organic Search traffic

increased 78 percent.• Traffic to the weather landing page

increased 132 percent.

TOURISM ENEWSLETTERS• Total sends increased by 20

percent to 1,308,310• Open rate increased by 13%

* Note: TourGeorgiaFilm.com was folded into the ExploreGeorgia.org site in late March 2017. The comparisons above are for Jan. 1-March 28, 2017, compared to the same time period in 2016.

• For further information or details – please contact: Greg Torre Marketing & Communications Deputy Commissioner 404.962.4173 gtorre@georgia.org

Contact Information

New interactive trade map provides users with detailed information regarding Georgia’s top trade partners around the world. You can explore the map here.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

room dedicated solely to travel media and will be used to frequently update journalists on tourism news in Georgia. It features story ideas, press releases and a media request page. ExploreGeorgia.org/media-room

4. New brand identity developed to replace Go Build Georgia – Georgia Trade Five. In early March, the launch of a new brand for Georgia’s skilled trade education initiative, formerly known as Go Build Georgia, was announced. The program and new brand have been designed to dispel the misconceptions that jobs within the skilled trades are “dirty” and unattractive, instead promoting them as lucrative, lasting career opportunities that exist within five key industries across the state. The program has a fresh new look and tagline that should appeal to the younger, target audience – Skills for Higher Earning. The five key industries include: Logistics, Telecommunication, Energy, Construction and Manufacturing.

5. In March, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, along with the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) recognized Georgia’s 2017 “Small Business Rock Stars.” GDEcD and GEDA hosted a luncheon where four Georgia companies were honored for being an outstanding, unique and impactful small business. Marketing and communications led the event management, which included videography and photography, as well as media opportunities, social media and print advertising.

6. For this year’s health information technology conference, HIMSS, marketing pursued a creative digital strategy for driving traffic to the booth at the tradeshow as well post targeting to further market out strengths in information technology. Using cutting-edge technology and a limited budget, Georgia geo-fenced the tradeshow and served targeted ads to attendees on various web pages they visited while at the show. After the show we were able to retarget these users. The results were much greater than expected and booth traffic was the highest we have ever seen.

7. GDEcD has received approval from the Chinese government to host our own Chinese website in China. Located at WeSpeakBusiness.cn, we will begin driving traffic through search engine marketing on Tencent and Baidu, and we have already begun social media efforts on WeChat. It is highly likely that you will not be able to view it from our own server environment here in Georgia, but it looks much like Georgia.org/China and prominently features our new China video. The goal is to drive qualified leads of Chinese companies looking to relocate or expand their facilities in North America, which we will capture through an online form that feeds in to Salesforce.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• Drive Market Media Blitz – Deputy Commissioner’s Kevin Langston and Lee Thomas will participate in desk side media

visits including radio and tv opportunities in Georgia Tourism’s drive markets to talk about the Year of Georgia Film. Cities featured on the tour include Chattanooga/Nashville (April 3 – 5); Tampa/Jacksonville (April 11 – 13); Greenville (May 4 – 5) & Birmingham (May 17 – 19)

• April 20 – 23 – Georgia Tourism’s annual Travel Media Marketplace event is scheduled to take place in Cartersville. Thirty-six travel writers will attend the marketplace and will interact with tourism industry partners to learn about Georgia’s tourism destinations. At the conclusion of the marketplace, 30 travel writers will then travel across Georgia on one of three familiarization tours through April 25.

• Year of Georgia Film “Pop Up Theater” events will take place in Falls Park on the Reedy in Greenville (May 5, 2017) and Railroad Park in Birmingham (May 19, 2017).

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

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TOURISM

DIVISION PROFILE Georgia Tourism, through its network of regional and international representatives, Atlanta office, and 12 visitor information centers, assists the state’s communitiesand attractions in drawing potential travelers to their areas, and helps individualvisitors and groups discover Georgia’s unique vacation options. The Division alsohelps communities develop well-planned and sustainable tourism products.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS 1. On January 24, 2017, Gov. Nathan Deal was joined by leaders from Georgia’s

tourism industry for the annual Tourism, Hospitality & Arts Day at the Capitol to recognize the $59 billion impact of tourism on Georgia’s economy. Representatives from the tourism industry presented Deal with a check representing the $3 billion in state and local tax revenue generated by tourism-related expenditures. Deal also unveiled the cover of the official 2017 state travel guide, which celebrates the “Year of Georgia Film” and the local communities that have served as backdrops for movies and television programs for more than 40 years. The full-color, magazine-sized guide highlights the state’s rich film and television heritage, world-class venues and unique festivals.

2. On March 10, 2017, Georgia Tourism celebrated the grand opening of the newly constructed Georgia Visitor Information Center in Savannah. Located on I-95 South at mile marker 111, the state-of-the-art building offers visitors a bright welcoming environment to gather information about the Peach State and plan their trips.

3. A Tourism Product Development Resource team visited the City of Toccoa March 7-8, 2017. Georgia Tourism’s resource team is a statewide initiative that provides communities with the resources needed to identify potential tourism product and increase visitor activity throughout the community. The City of Toccoa was selected by the Office of Tourism Product Development to participate in this year-long development program which provides technical assistance in the form of a reconnaissance visit and strategy for a local community interested in developing and enhancing its tourism product.

By the Numbers• Met with 102 domestic

tour operators during 4 trade shows.

• Hosted 8 international and domestic travel writers.

• The Explore Georgia social media accounts have reached 21 million people since the first of the year.

• For further information or details – please contact: Kevin Langston Georgia Tourism Deputy Commissioner 404.962.4082 klangston@georgia.org

Contact Information

Governor Deal, Mrs. Deal, Commissioner Wilson and Deputy Commissioner Kevin Langston and President & Publisher of Atlanta Magazine Sean McGinnis unveil the cover of the

2017 Georgia Travel Guide at Tourism, Hospitality & Arts Day at the Capitol

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

4. Last month, the new ExploreGeorgia.org Media Room, opened for business. This is our first media room dedicated solely to travel media and will be used to frequently update journalists on tourism news in Georgia. It features story ideas, press releases and a media request page.

5. On March 2, Explore Georgia celebrated reaching 100,000 followers on Instagram! The achievement puts Explore Georgia among the top 10 state tourism accounts in the U.S. in terms of number of Instagram followers.

6. Members of the Georgia Tourism team attended Travel South Showcase in Branson, MO, from March 12-15, 2017. Travel South Showcase is the premier Marketplace event in the South where over 500 tourism professionals gather for 3 days of intensive meetings with a goal of delivering more visitors, spending more time and more money in the South. During the event the sales and communications team met with more than 25 domestic tour operators and 26 domestic journalists.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• Georgia Tourism is developing a Georgia Film Selfie Spot Tour to encourage travel to filming sites during the Year of

Georgia Film. The initial nine locations are based on the Explore Georgia in 9 Films initiative, however, partners with notable film tourism product may also be included.

• Next month, tourism professionals across the state will take over Woodstock! Learn ways to expand their visitor centers and take them to the next level at the Regional Visitor Information Center (RVIC) Conference April 26-28, 2017. One session highlight: Lights, Camera, Location: Your Community in Film.

TOURISM

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Workforce Development

WORKFORCE

DIVISION PROFILE The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Workforce Division (WFD) administers the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) under the leadership of the State Workforce Development Board with the ultimate goal of improving the quality and marketability of Georgia’s workforce to meet the needs of business.

QUARTERLY DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS 1. High Demand Careers Initiative (HDCI) Team Launches Aerospace Task Force

The HDCI Team recently launched an Aerospace Task Force. This group is comprised of employers, educators, industry professionals and economic development partners, all committed to addressing the acute workforce gaps within Georgia’s Aerospace industry. To date, HDCI has established four industry task forces—IT, Logistics, Film, and Aerospace—and is set to launch a construction task force in May.

2. State Launches Trade Five, Skills for Higher Earning (formerly Go Build Georgia) In March, the Workforce division re-branded the State’s skilled trade initiative, formerly known as Go Build Georgia. The new brand, Trade Five, Skills for Higher Earning, is designed to attract young workers who have an interest in some of the rewarding career opportunities that exist within manufacturing, logistics, telecommunication, energy and construction.

3. WFD to Award HDCI Sector Partnership Grants In March, each of Georgia’s twelve Economic Development Regions submitted competitive applications for the HDCI Sector Partnership Grant program. Each region is eligible for up to $250,000 in grant awards. This program is designed to support the development of regional sector partnerships that will work to understand and act on the needs of key regional industries.

By the Numbers• There are currently 704

active apprentices and 164 active registered apprenticeship programs in Georgia.

• There are approximately

14,000 active job seekers in the WorkSource Georgia system for this quarter. These Georgians are receiving training and employment assistance for in-demand careers throughout the state. This program is funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

• For further information or details – please contact GDEcD’s Workforce Division at 404-962-4005 or visit workforce.georgia.org

Contact Information

The state’s skilled trade initiative, designed to educate students about the rewarding careers within Georgia’s skilled trade sectors, has been rebranded. This is the new logo for Trade Five, Skills for Higher Earning.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development | 75 Fifth Street, NW | Suite 1200 | Atlanta, GA 30308 | +1.404.962.4000

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES• May 11: The HDCI Aerospace Task Force will host a meeting to discuss ways to address the acute workforce shortages

that exist within Georgia’s Aerospace industry.• May 11: The State Workforce Development Board will host their quarterly meeting at the VECTR Center in Warner

Robins. • May 3-5: Georgia WorkSmart will participate in the Apprenticeship Forward Conference, hosted by the National

Skills Coalition. This conference will focus on expanding apprenticeship programs nationally and increasing industry engagement across a range of in-demand sectors.

• June 29: The HDCI Logistics Task Force will host a meeting to discuss ways to address the acute workforce shortages that exist within Georgia’s Logistics industry.

• July 19-20: The 2017 WorkSource Georgia WIOA Convening will be held at the Gwinnett Infinite Energy Center.

WORKFORCEWorkforce Development

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