EDA University Center

The Georgia Tech EDA University Center (GT EDAUC) is a program funded by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) through its EDA University Center program.

The GT EDAUC is led by Georgia Institute of Technology’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI²) and supports outreach activities that seek to promote job creation, development of high-skilled regional talent pools, business expansion in innovation clusters, and to create and nurture regional economic ecosystems in the state of Georgia and other states within the EDA Atlanta region (Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee).

The GT EDAUC has two primary focus areas:

(1) Innovation-led Ecosystem Support for Universities and Communities and

(2) Strategic Economic Development Support for Distressed Communities.

The GT EDAUC assists communities through the Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR).

CEDR leverages funding provided by the grant to deliver affordable research services through the Economic Development Research Program (EDRP).

EDRP is a competitive RFP process that strives to inform policy decision-making and to help local governments and economic development organizations enhance their community’s competitive position.

 

STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITY OF WOODBURY, GEORGIA

In the Spring of 2020, the Georgia tech EDA University Center (GT EDAUC) team conducted a Strategic Assessment for the City of Woodbury, located in rural Meriwether County, GA. This assessment identified strategic priorities for the local government to use as a roadmap to pursue their economic development and downtown revitalization goals. The City of Woodbury used this plan to apply for and receive the Georgia Rural Zone designation through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). This five-year designation allows Woodbury to offer tax incentives for job creation, commercial investment, and other business activities.

For a community to be eligible to apply for the Rural Zone program, it must have a strategic plan designed to assist public and private investment. The Strategic Assessment consisted of three fundamental tasks:

(1) interviews and meetings with local and regional stakeholders,

(2) formulation of recommendations based on research and community feedback mechanisms, and

(3) creation of an economic development action plan for the City of Woodbury to address during their Rural Zone designation period, and beyond.

The Strategic Assessment took three months to complete and was conducted almost 100 percent virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic – including public meetings and regular project meetings with the client.

MILESTONES

Since the GT EDAUC s work in Woodbury, the city has added several new businesses to their historic downtown, established a Historic Preservation Commission, and joined the Georgia Main Street “Start-Up” program. The City of Woodbury recently received the 2021 Visionary City Award from the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend Magazine. Mayor Steve Ledbetter credits much of the recent success of the city to the work done by the GT EDA UC team.

OTHER UPDATES:

• Rural Zone Designation (2021 – 2025)
• Downtown Master Plan (TSW)
• Four new businesses added to our downtown (Switch & Grind, Paparella’s Pizzeria, a general store (name pending), and another antique store).
• Completing the Certified Local Government application with plans to submit March 15th in support of the Historic Preservation Commission
• Contracted with consultant to update Capital Improvement Element, Strategic Plan, and Comprehensive Plan in support of incorporating an Impact Fee.
• Received the 2021 GMA/Georgia Trend Magazine “Visionary City Award.”
• Recertified as a Broadband Ready Community
• Accepted into the Georgia Main Street Start Up Program
• Joined the Main Street America Program
• Took in 10% more in Sales Tax Revenue than budgeted.
• Completed 2020 without taking a Tax Anticipation Loan
• Added a manufacturing company inside the City (East Point Equipment)
• Added a veterinarian surgeon inside the City (Woodbury Veterinarian Clinic)
• A new house (in fill development) is being built directly beside City Hall (first new construction in several years)
• There is now significant interest in building houses.
• There is significant interest in converting our 2-story buildings into loft apartments.
• Old City Hall and the Old Police Department properties are having their interiors returned to their original state. They will be sold within the next few months and re-purposed for use