Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA) held an Elected Officials Economic Development Orientation at the Thomasville Civic Center on Tuesday, January 29^th at 9 a.m.

Elected officials and members of the CGEDA Board of Directors were invited to attend the event. With an attendance of around 45 people, CGEDA welcomed guests to discuss the important role of local elected officials in economic development.

Jim Searcy, Executive Director of CGEDA said, "The focus of this event was to recognize the importance of communities developing an economic development process and the key role that public officials play in the process. The purpose of this event is to (1) ensure that our collective efforts as a region are consistent and complementary and (2) create the best environment for accomplishing our common goal of creating jobs and prosperity for the citizens of the region and generations to come.

Topics discussed included: incentives for new & existing industry in the region; the importance of community strategic planning for economic development; worker training for new, expanding and existing business; and the necessity of a regional approach to economic development.

Speakers included: Bob Smith, Assistant Director of Business Development, Alabama Department of Commerce; Jim Searcy, Executive Director, CGEDA; Angela Till, Abatement Program Administrator for the Alabama Department of Revenue; Ed Castile, Director, AIDT; and Jim Byard, Jr., Director, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Smith stressed the importance of establishing strong regional partnerships to increase economic development activity and market the region's strengths.

"When communities work together through strategic economic development, they can better leverage the region's assets, improving job creation and bringing other positive results on a larger scale. Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance has taken the best path to economic prosperity for the region by working together to forge these partnerships."

Castile said, "I applaud Coastal Gateway for their initiative here in helping elected officials get an understanding of the variety of tools available in the economic tool box.  Unless a person is immersed in this work daily, it is overwhelming at best and many times opportunities are lost.  The Coastal Gateway leadership clearly understands what needs to be done."

"As a former mayor, I know that strong partnerships are a vital part of successful economic development. Today I was pleased to join officials from southwest Alabama to discuss ADECA programs and to let them know that my department will assist in every way it can to strengthen their communities and advance our common goal of bringing new jobs to Alabamians," said Jim Byard, Jr.

The event was sponsored by PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. An Elected Officials Orientation will also be held at Southern Pine Electric Cooperative in Brewton, AL on February 27^th, 2013.

About Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance

Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance's primary mission is to market and promote the assets of Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe Counties.

Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance will accomplish its mission by implementation of four program goals: Marketing and recruitment of the area as a top tier southeast destination location, the retention and expansion of existing business to strengthen and expand all areas income potential, the creation of a planning and development program to assist in prioritizing county wide issues that impact the area as a whole and the development of a flexible resource fund to help execute entrepreneurial opportunities, regional networking and seed capital for initiatives.

Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance will carry out its mission and fulfill its goals by partnering with the local chambers of commerce, the local county economic development authorities, local industrial development boards and local city and county governments.