Georgia Economic Developers Association: Public Policy Committee

The Public Policy Committee was created in 2001 through the merger of the former Research, Competitiveness, and Legislative committees. The Public Policy Committee membership is appointed for one year per GEDA Bylaws by the President upon recommendation of the Chairman. In its research function, the Public Policy Committee provides GEDA with continuing targeted public policy research, survey data, and recommendations related to economic development public policy issues. This research function builds upon GEDA's Public Policy Initiative, and has included a facilitated process to identify practitioners' views on policy priorities, a GEDA-university system report on economic & social indicators of Georgia's progress, public opinion polls, and electronic surveys of GEDA member opinions on a variety of topics. The Public Policy Committee also works to develop public policy recommendations related to incentives, taxes, and other factors affecting Georgia's competitiveness in economic development. The committee works to provide related information and educational opportunities for members, and advice to the GEDA Board. The GEDA "incentives manual" is periodically updated through this committee. This manual includes information on corporate taxes, tax incentives, enterprise & empowerment zones, foreign trade zones, adult education & training, environmental permitting, and financing programs, and a comparison of incentives among Southeastern states. The manual is available to GEDA members as a web document at www.geda.org. The Public Policy Committee develops and reports to the Board each year recommendations for GEDA's legislative policy agenda, including selected priority issues to be addressed during the next session of the Georgia General Assembly. The Public Policy Committee also reviews legislative proposals and other policy ideas emerging from other GEDA committees. The Committee helps to link GEDA members with legislators, and collaborates with the Legislative Event Committee to support the Annual GEDA Legislative Event in January, providing an important networking opportunity among GEDA members, state legislators, and other state leaders. During the course of each legislative session and during the balance of the year, the Public Policy Committee assists in the review of pending legislative & regulatory issues/proposals and makes recommendations to the GEDA Board. Regular information updates on Georgia legislation affecting economic development are posted during the session at www.geda.org.

For more information, contact Committee Chair Andrew Schutt.