DTAE 2004
Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education


Economic Development

The Office of Economic Development Programs includes Georgia’s economic development incentive training program, Quick Start, as well as other programs delivered through the Office of Economic Development Programs at each technical college. Continuing education, administration of Georgia’s retraining tax credit, the Certified Economic Developer Trainer (CEDT) program, and new program incubation also are responsibilities of office of Economic Development Programs.

Serving Georgia’s new, expanding, and existing industries by delivering the highest quality training as well as developing programs that build a skilled workforce is the major focus of Economic Development Programs.

Quick Start
Quick Start completed 310 projects last year. The number of trainees — a record 42,566 people — is a 1 percent increase from FY03.

Chart Showing Trainee History

Customized Training
Chart Showing Growth in Number of Courses and Trainees In addition to being the primary project management and training liaison for Quick Start projects, Georgia’s technical colleges also supply customized training for Georgia’s businesses. In FY04, Economic Development Programs served 1,598 companies, compared to 1,622 companies in FY03. These cost-recovery services provided 1,358,724 hours of training for 85,431 trainees in 7,494 courses.


CCSS, CMS, CWDS and CCW Logos

Workforce Development
In the six years that Georgia technical colleges have offered workforce development certification programs, the agency has made important contributions to the future of Georgia’s manufacturing, service, and construction industry sectors.

  • Certified Manufacturing Specialist — CMS
  • Certified Customer Service Specialist — CCSS
  • Certified Construction Worker — CCW

  • Certified Warehousing and Distribution Specialist - CWDS

  • Information Technology Plus - IT+
By raising the bar for manufacturing, service, and construction industry employees and helping companies succeed, these programs directly address the requirements of today’s high-tech, high-performance work culture. Some businesses offer premiums if workers become certified, while others guarantee interviews to prospective employees who hold the certifications.

The CCSS program has certified 7,334 people, with 1,196 being certified in FY03. In FY03, the CMS program certified 706 people, for a total of 5,765 certified people. Both the CMS and CCSS programs have been used in high schools throughout Georgia. In FY03, 164 high school students received CMS certification. To date, 676 high school students in Georgia have received CMS certification. The CCSS program has reached a total of 2,367 high school students, with 672 students receiving certification in FY03. CMS Academies are located in Columbus, Savannah, and Americus. CCW programs have certified 745 people, with 209 being certified in FY03.

SIA Logo The Service Industry Academy—a unique collaboration among businesses, communities, and DTAE now has facilities in Columbus, Savannah, Atlanta, Rome, and Augusta. More and more companies are requiring existing employees to complete the program, and some tie graduation from SIA to internal promotion.

With the support of the participating business partners, a curriculum designed to teach basic and advanced skills in customer relations, and an innovative plan that combines workforce training and high-school students, the SIA has become a vital link in the expansion of Georgia’s trained labor pool. It helps attract new businesses to the state.


Certified Economic Developer Trainer (CEDT)
During FY04 15 DTAE economic development staff members were enrolled in CEDT Class X, successfully completed course requirements, and received certification. The CEDT program originated in 1988 and is an 18-month certification program that strengthens the agency’s infrastructure for delivering consistent and high quality training services throughout Georgia’s system of technical colleges and Quick Start. Currently, DTAE has 107 active CEDTs supporting Georgia’s businesses and industries


Communications
A major aspect of DTAE communications is the DTAE web. Over a half-million visitors from across the state, country and world have accessed the DTAE website. This essential communications tool provides information on all facets of the operation of the agency, including economic development programs, adult literacy, technical education, links to the technical colleges, employment opportunities, and online versions of major publications.

Quick Start Industry Services Advisory Committee

Peggy Chapman
Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce

Dennis Chastain
Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Sam Cook
Georgia Department of Labor

Thomas Croteau
Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism

Billy Edenfield
Middle Georgia Technical College

Jim Ewing
Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism

Tim Forse - Chair
Cooper Lighting

Joe Freund
Georgia Department of Labor

John Gilman, Sr.
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Kim Goff
Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Becca Hardin
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce

 

Al Hodge
Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce

Ted Lawrence
BellSouth

Jim Lenahan
Leo A Daly

Deborah Lohnes
Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism

Mike Lott
Georgia Institute of Technology

John Malone
Georgia Power Company

Tim Martin
Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission

Phillip Overton
Brunswick & Glynn County Development Authority

Rosalynne Price
Cox Enterprises, Inc.

Robin Spratlin
Georgia Power Company

Saralyn Stafford
Douglas Coffee Chamber and Development Authority