Hello, ACC Office of Economic Development in Athens, Ga.

The Chamber of Commerce voices its support for letting the local government land the big economic fish.

  Before Doc Eldridge, CEO and Executive Director of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, took his current job, he was an insurance executive, an Athens Clarke County Commissioner and Mayor of Athens Clarke County. His experience, he says, has given him first-hand knowledge of how the local government works. Which is why he--and the Chamber Board--are supporting a move to create an office for economic development, fund it well and house it within the local government. His support places him at odds with some business people in town and with some members of the Economic Development Foundation, a body he helped create to bring businesses and jobs to Athens. "The realization is that the commission is willing to fund economic development at a …

• Photos (1)

Athens Today--April 10

Rest up on this Tuesday.....the weekend is coming!

  It’s time to register for classes in UGA’s Community Music School. There are classes for children and adults, and they are all affordable. Piano, strings and everything in between. You can find more information and register on line. In case you missed it, the local EDF Board is bringing a veteran development professional to Athens from Statesboro. We can welcome Peggy Chapman after Tax Day, April 15. The Mayor and Commission have a work session today at 5:30pm in the Planning Department building on Dougherty Street. One item of discussion is an employee self-funded health insurance program. The UGA Women’s Softball team plays USC Upstate at 6:30pm at Jack Turner Field on South Milledge Avenue. Ah, Tuesday! the day of stories, songs, …

• Photos (1)

EDF Board to Hire New CEO for Athens, Ga.

They voted to bring a veteran developer out of retirement.

  The Economic Development Foundation plans to hire as president and CEO a retired Chamber of Commerce and development official in South Georgia. The foundation board on Monday voted unanimously to offer a 15-month contract to Peggy Chapman, the former director of the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority. The contract comes with $115,000 in salary, with an additional $2,000 a month for living expenses. Everything is in the budget, according to EDF Board chairman Jinx Patel. Chapman retired from her position in Statesboro in 2007. In Athens, she replaces Mac Brown, who became interim CEO after former CEO Matt Forshee left suddenly in December. EDF Board Chairman Jinx Patel told the board that Chapman knows and …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Rebecca McCarthy

11:02 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Thanks for giving her a nod of approval, Don. She's meeting Athens folks at a reception today. I'm looking forward to it.   more ›

Forshee Resigns from the EDF

He finds a job in Fayetteville, where his family has been living.

Matt Forshee, who served less than two years as CEO and President of the Economic Development Foundation, is leaving his job. His resignation takes effect on Dec. 11, according to Jinx Patel, chairman of the board of the EDF. Forshee had not been able to sell his house in Fayetteville since he accepted the job with the EDF, so his family remained in Fayettee County while he worked in Athens during the week. He now has landed a  job that will allow him to both work and live in Fayetteville.  “Matt was a perfect fit for Athens and we are so sorry to see him go," said Patel. "He has helped direct this organization during a very challenging economic time. His number one goal when he came back to Athens was to provide more visibility to Athens …

• Photos (1)

EDF Committee Recommends Project Manager for River District

David S. Dwyer picked to guide the proposed project.

The human resources committee of the Economic Development Foundation has recommended David S. Dwyer to be hired as the Athens River Corridor Project Manager. This proposed development would be along the Oconee River east of downtown Athens. In a letter to the board, the Human Resources Committee said Dwyer was the best of six candidates. The committee includes Sam Drennen, David Lee, Stephanie Sharp, Matt Forshee, Pete Dugas and Mike Hazelton. Dwyer earned an economic degree from Duke University in 1985. He went ro work for DANAC, a metropolitan Washington, D.C., developer of flex-space. He then worked at Portman Barry Investments. He later left Portman and in 1993 got an MBA from UGA’s Terry College, concentrating in real estate.  Dwyer …

• Photos (1)

Rampant Speculation

The Long Political Summer Drags On

What's going on in local politics? Not much ... yet.

If you've got a storm cellar or sturdy interior room, I'd suggest you go ahead and stock it with provisions, because we're just a few weeks away from what's going to be a very interesting redistricting session in Atlanta. Nothing's official yet, but Athens, something tells me that a lot of you aren't going to be very happy when those new maps come out. Until that happens, and unless Mike Hamby, Kelly Girtz, and Andy Herod decide to undertake a hostile takeover of the fire department, it's the calm before the storm. So, here are a few scattered thoughts about local politics. Feel free to scream and shout in the comments section.  About that special election: Things have gotten awfully quiet in the 113th House District, which is going to see…

• Photos (1)

A Little Accountability is a Good Thing

The Economic Development Foundation gets $150K of your money every year; let's make sure they're using it wisely.

Every once in a while, government does something so mind-bogglingly sane and rational that you have to stop and ask yourself, why weren't we doing this before? Case in point: Commissioners want to demand a little accountability from the Economic Development Foundation. The EDF is "the lead business attraction, retention, and creation entity" for ACC. Their work comes with a hefty price tag for Clarke County taxpayers - $150,000 a year from the government's budget. The goal is to get a better handle on how EDF is spending your money. That was important a few years ago when the economy was pretty solid; it's crucial today. One business owner I talked with said, "I've got to have a business plan to get a loan, to prove that my business is …

• Photos (1)

Economic organization defines its goals, purpose

After ACC Commission withheld funding, the Economic Development Foundation clarifies its purpose.

After a struggle securing a quorum 0n Monday, the Athens-Clarke County  Economic Development Foundation settled on the wording for the mission of the organization and the job description for President/CEO Matt Forshee. The EDF is trying to outline its purpose after the ACC Commission decided to withhold funding beyond one month until the organization clarifies its purpose and goals, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.  About half of the EDF's annual budget comes from the county. The goals outlined Monday settled on a focus on business attraction, business expansion and side projects. Board members decided to approve what was called "a living document" by Jeff Wilson, who sits on the board of directors. The mentality was that the wording of …

• Photos (1)