DTAE 2005
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 283 projects last year. The number of trainees — a record 55,110 people — is a 29.5 percent increase from FY04.

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 FY05, Economic Development Programs served 1,640 companies, compared to 1,598 companies in FY04. These cost-recovery services provided 1,906,162 hours of training for 120,760 trainees in 8,028 courses.


CCSS, CMS, CWDS and CCW Logos

Workforce Development
In the seven 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 9,048 people, with 589 being certified in FY05. In FY05, the CMS program certified 735 people, for a total of 7,032 certified people. Both the CMS and CCSS programs have been used in high schools throughout Georgia. CMS Academies are located in Columbus, Savannah, and Americus. CCW programs have certified 1,035 people, with 155 being certified in FY05.

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)
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 92 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

Brian Cardoza
Fayette County Economic Development

Dennis Chastain
Georgia Electric Membership Corporation

Shelley Davis
Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce

Tim Dewey
Zavata

Jim Ewing
Department of Economic Development

Tim Forse
Cooper Lighting

Joe Freund
Georgia Department of Labor

Ed Fuller
TYSYS

John Gilman, Sr.
Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Daryl Ingram
MEAG Power

Andrew Kearton
Pirelli Tires

Jim Lenahan
Leo A Daly

 

Deborah Lohnes
Department of Economic Development

Craig McDaniel
Coosa Valley Technical College

Sean McMillan
Department of Economic Development

Michele Morris
Pirelli Tires

John Norregaard
BioLab

Brian O’Boyle
Merial Limited

Ron Robinson
American Real Estate Investment Co.

Steve Schingler
Haverty’s Furniture

Ann Shirra
Georgia Department of Labor

Robin Spratlin
Georgia Power Company

Saralyn Stafford
Georgia Academy for Economic Development

John Sylvester
American Home Shield