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Councilmembers Graduate from Economic Development Academy

Two South Fulton councilmembers were among the most recent graduates of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development’s Region 3 training program. Councilmembers Catherine Foster Rowell and Helen Z. Willis joined leaders in government, business, education and other sectors to gain a unique understanding of the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional, and state levels. They completed the program with a graduation ceremony on Nov. 14.

State Representative Derrick Jackson also completed the program. The District 64 representative is a member of the South Fulton House Legislative Delegation.

Created in 1993, the academy assembles a cross-section of economic development professionals and resources to provide training in all 12 service delivery regions in Georgia.  The Board of Directors of the Academy represents public and private economic development organizations and agencies across Georgia.  

Since its organization, the academy has provided training for thousands of professional and non-professional economic developers around the state. Georgia EMC and Georgia Power provide facilitators for the program, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs provides staff support.

The academy’s multi-day program includes training in the basics of economic and community development, plus specialized segments on business recruitment and retention, tourism product development, downtown development,  planning, and other essentials for community success.  In addition, the curriculum features specific leadership skills such as consensus building, ethics in public service, collaborative leadership and other segments needed for effective community leadership in economic development. 

Photo Credit: Georgia Academy for Economic Development

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