The partner connection, 2014 May

May 2014
DCA Board Visits Kia Motors

NEWS AND EVENTS
International Codes Council Recognizes Office of Construction Codes and State Codes Advisory Committee

As part of its May meeting, the Board of Directors of Community Affairs, Commissioner Corbin and DCA staff toured the KMMG (Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia) facility. The facility employs 3,000 people from around the region. Several DCA funding and technical assistance programs have helped the region grow since 2008.

DCA's Great Promise Partnership Participants Graduate High School

L-R: Dwayne Garriss, State Fire Marshal; Vaughn P. Wicker, Vice President for State and Local Government Relations, International Code Council; Bill Guinade, Georgia State Codes Advisory Council Chairman; Commissioner Gretchen Corbin
The International Codes Council presented Commissioner Gretchen Corbin and State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC) Chair Bill Guinade an award to recognize their work in promoting Georgia's business climate and the safety of all Georgia citizens. In 2013, the SCAC, supported by DCA's Office of Construction Codes, adopted six building and safety codes, bringing Georgia to the forefront of building safety and sustainability in the United States.
"The work you do provides the best atmosphere for business in Georgia, and creates a safe environment for all Georgia citizens," Commissioner Corbin said to the State Codes Advisory Committee.
The following codes became effective January 1, 2014:

L-R: Commissioner Gretchen Corbin, Halima Akhtar, Arthur Simmons, Mike Beatty, President and CEO of Great Promise Partnership. Not pictured: Christina Benitez.
Congratulations to our Great Promise Partnership (GPP) participants as they graduate from high school this month! Halima Akhtar and Arthur Simmons are two of the original GPP participants and have worked at DCA after school each day since they were in the tenth grade. Christina Benitez joined us as a high school junior. These teens have added a lot to the atmosphere at DCA, and we have learned as much from them as we have taught them.
The GPP is designed to help at-risk youth graduate from high school on time while learning valuable workplace skills. For more information see the Great Promise Partnership website.

Mandatory Codes 2012 editions International Building Code 2012 editions International Fuel Gas Code 2012 editions International Mechanical Code 2012 editions International Plumbing Code 2012 editions International Fire Code 2012 editions International Residential Code
Permissive Codes 2012 editions International Swimming Pool and Spa Code
For more information about these and other Georgia codes, see the Office of Construction Codes webpage.
Small Business Loan Helps Bring 80 Jobs to Putnam County

DCA Leadership program partners with Georgia Student Finance Commission

Front row (L-R): Drew Swope (DCA), Mark Irby (DCA), Ronnit Hoffer (DCA), Audrey Wang (GSFC), Jonathan Stroble (GSFC). Back row (LR): Gerric Johnson (GSFC), Ante Williams (GSFC), Renee Hicks (GSFC), Dana Edwards (DCA).
The Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Student Finance Commission are partnering to provide the Leadership Development Program, which focuses on identifying and developing employees at the informal leader level. An informal leader is someone who does not hold a position of designated authority, but is perceived as having the ability to influence and persuade others. This multi-session program is designed to help

The Aalto Scientific building under construction in Putnam County.
One of the State Small Business Credit Initiative's newest loans is helping create 80 jobs in the Rock Eagle Technology Park in Putnam County. Partnering with Bank South in Eatonton, SSBCI is providing funds to Aalto Scientific and Audit Micro Systems to construct a new medical supply manufacturing facility. The company is tripling its manufacturing capacity with this move to Georgia from Carlsbad, California.
"This loan through SSBCI funds is helping to locate the first company in the Rock Eagle Technology Park and is a great example of how DCA is able to fit resources to meet the specific needs of our communities and high-tech businesses," said Commissioner Gretchen Corbin.
Since May 2012, the SSBCI program has made more than 160 loans, leveraging more than $100 million in private investment and creating or retaining almost 1,500 jobs. For more information about SSBCI, contact Holly Hunt at holly.hunt@dca.ga.gov or see the SSBCI webpage.

prepare staff to assume greater leadership roles as they advance through their careers.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Radon Awareness

DCA's Office of Planning and Environmental Management serves as Georgia's lead agency for radon education throughout the state. We work with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service to increase public awareness and encourage testing and mitigation of radon in homes and buildings across Georgia.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas and is considered the second leading cause of lung cancer. Four of Georgia's 159 counties (Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett) are high-radon risk Zone 1 counties, and 54 are classified as Zone 2. The goal of DCA's radon program is healthier indoor air quality and fewer premature deaths caused by radon-induced lung cancer.
For more information on radon, its effects, and how to mitigate them, contact Adriane Wood at adriane.wood@dca.ga.gov or see our radon webpage.

Homeowners who became unemployed or underemployed within the last 36 months may be eligible for temporary mortgage payment assistance; and homeowners who have experienced other financial hardships within the last 36 months, including those associated with military service, death of a spouse, or medical hardships, may be eligible for HomeSafe Georgia assistance. We encourage potentially eligible homeowners to attend one of these events, at which DCA staff will partner with Department of Labor and other agencies to provide information and answer questions:
May 22: 9 a.m. - Noon; Athens Career Expo 2014; 835 Sunset Drive, Athens
May 22: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; ACAP/ACS Spring Career Fair; Club Stewart, Fort Stewart
May 29: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Candler County Job Fair; Jack Strickland Community Center, 621 West Pine Street, Metter

May 30: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Robins AFB Civilian Personnel Services Job Fair; Heritage Club, Robins AFB

June 12: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Rabun County Job Fair; Rabun County Civic Center, Clayton

For more information: www.homesafegeorgia.com

4.50%

Follow HomeSafe Georgia on Twitter: #HomeSafeGeorgia
Georgia Academy for Economic Development Registration

Georgia Dream First Mortgage FHA/VA/RD/Conventional Uninsured
with a Georgia Dream Down Payment Loan
The Georgia Dream website provides complete information.

The Georgia Academy for Economic Development provides participants with an understanding of the complexities of economic and community development, and tools to assist in the development of their region. The program, through a variety of defined activities, takes an in-depth review of possible economic development opportunities and strategies. The multi-day program combines lecture, exercises, guest expert presentations, and other formats to keep the program interesting and interactive.

Registration for fall 2014 is underway. Contact the DCA staff in your region for more information and to register.

Region Location Start DCA Contact Date

2

Clarkesville August kathy.papa@dca.ga.gov

14

3

Metro

August leamon.scott@dca.ga.gov

Atlanta

28

4

Newnan August leamon.scott@dca.ga.gov

27

7

Wrens

August tina.hutcheson@dca.ga.gov

13

10

Albany

August jo.childers@dca.ga.gov

26

12

Richmond August tina.hutcheson@dca.ga.gov

Hill

12

The Georgia Main Street Program is on Facebook! Like us and see what's happening in
downtowns from Blairsville to Brunswick.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCING April Financial Awards
Region One Bartow County

$395,200 in Employment Incentive Program (EIP) funds
Will create 450 jobs Spurs an additional $210 million in private investment Assists with the construction of public water facilities to
serve the Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing facility
Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority

Previous issues of The Partner Connection

$275,000 in Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) funds
Will create 220 jobs Spurs an additional $62 million in private investment Assists with the location of an automotive parts
manufacturing facility

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