Northwest Georgia Regional Comprehensive Economic
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2012 Northwest Georgia Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Community and Economic Development Northwest Georgia Regional Commission 1 Acknowledgement The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission would like to thank the Community and Economic Development Committee members and local and regional partners for their guidance in this planning process. The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission’s 2012 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a composite of several documents including the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission’s Regional Comprehensive Plan, Technical Staff Report Update, Regional Agenda Update, Part One and Two, the Northwest Georgia Comprehensive Local Workforce Investment Act Plan, Kennesaw State University’s Problems Facing Northwest Georgia, and NWGRC staff research and analysis. The 2012 CEDS was made available for public review and comment for 30 days, followed by adoption by the CEDS Committee on September 18, 2012, and adoption by the NWGRC Council on September 20, 2012. 2 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Contents At A Glance In EDA’s CEDS Summary of Requirements sheet, page 2, section B, “Technical Requirements”, is found in several places the phrases “the CEDS must include...”, and “The CEDS must contain….” The following references are provided as a “Quick Find” to assist EDA in their CEDS review. The CEDS must contain a background of the economic development situation of the region… Pages 11-81 The CEDS must include an in-depth analysis of the economic development problems and opportunities… Pages 82-90 The CEDS must contain a section setting forth goals and objectives… Pages 94-100 The CEDS must contain a section discussing the relationship between the community in general and the private sector… Pages 7-11 The CEDS must contain a section which identifies regional projects, programs and activities… Pages 102-113 The CEDS must also contain a section that discusses methodology for cooperating and integrating the CEDS with the State’s economic development priorities. Page 114 The CEDS must contain a section that lists the performance measures… Page 115 Northwest Georgia Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 3 Contents Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Contents At A Glance ................................................... 3 Community and Private Sector Participation ................................................................................................ 6 Economic Development Strategy Committee ........................................................................................... 6 Community Participation .......................................................................................................................... 8 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Northwest Georgia Geography ................................................................................................................. 9 Regional Economy .................................................................................................................................. 12 Occupations ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Long Range Employment Trends ....................................................................................................... 15 Current Economic Base ...................................................................................................................... 18 Labor Force- Historical Jobs Growth .................................................................................................. 22 Major Job Losses ................................................................................................................................ 26 Employment Status ............................................................................................................................. 27 Current Employment Sectors .............................................................................................................. 29 Employment Projections ..................................................................................................................... 35 Health Care Facilities in the Region ................................................................................................... 37 Population ............................................................................................................................................... 39 Population growth ............................................................................................................................... 39 Personal and Household Income ......................................................................................................... 42 Average Weekly Wage ....................................................................................................................... 44 InFlow- OutFlow of Workers Living or Working within the Region ................................................. 46 Educational Attainment ...................................................................................................................... 48 Economic Development Resources ........................................................................................................ 52 Transportation ......................................................................................................................................... 65 BroadBand Capability ............................................................................................................................. 67 Regionally Important Resources ............................................................................................................. 68 Tourism Locations in Northwest Georgia ............................................................................................... 68 Workforce Development ......................................................................................................................... 74 Labor Force and Labor Demand ......................................................................................................... 74 Work Ready ........................................................................................................................................ 75 Workforce Investment Act .................................................................................................................. 76 Northwest Georgia Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 4 Trends ................................................................................................................................................. 77 Analysis of Economic Development Problems and Opportunities ............................................................. 79 Industry Cluster Analysis- What Businesses Produce ............................................................................ 79 Regional Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Analysis .................................................. 81 Job Creation and Retention in Key Economic Sectors ....................................................................... 81 Innovation in Infrastructure ................................................................................................................ 82 Workforce Development ..................................................................................................................... 82 Tourism ............................................................................................................................................... 83 Local Food/Agriculture ....................................................................................................................... 83 Existing Plans and Analysis .................................................................................................................... 86 County Comprehensive Plans ............................................................................................................. 86 Regional Comprehensive Plan ............................................................................................................ 87 Workforce Investment Act Plan .......................................................................................................... 87 Other Regional Planning Efforts ......................................................................................................... 87 Regional Needs ....................................................................................................................................... 88 National Issues Impacting the Region ................................................................................................ 88 CEDS Goals and Objectives- Defining Regional Expectations .................................................................. 89 Economic Development Needs ............................................................................................................... 89 Job Creation ........................................................................................................................................ 89 Infrastructure ....................................................................................................................................... 90 Workforce Development 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