Chairman Appointed to Regional Economic Development Steering Committee

As Metro Atlanta emerges from the worst recession since the Great Depression, having a clear plan in place to strengthen its position in an increasingly global and competitive marketplace will be imperative.  Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth ‘B.J.’ Mathis has been asked to serve on the Steering Committee for the Regional Economic Development Strategy to help craft this new blueprint for metro Atlanta’s economic prosperity. 

As the only member of County government serving on the Steering Committee, she joins other leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors from across the region to oversee the entire planning effort, help identify the region’s strategic priorities, build consensus throughout the region and serve as public advocates for the betterment of the region and its economic development.

“One of my main focuses as Chairman has been to cultivate economic development in Henry County,” said Chairman Mathis.  “I am now honored to have the opportunity to help bring jobs and greater prosperity to the greater Atlanta Region, and ensure that Henry County is positioned well to benefit from these long range plans.”

The process to develop the Strategy is being facilitated by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Market Street Services, a national community, economic and workforce development consulting firm based in Atlanta.  They have already begun working with a group of economic and workforce development practitioners from around the region to develop an inventory of existing strategic initiatives, review core research, and solicit input from individual communities. The role of the Steering Committee will be to help guide the strategic planning process from this point forward, in order to reach a consensus vision for the region’s economic future.

The strategic planning process is expected to take place over the course of nine months, and includes six main components:  a Strategic Initiative Inventory,  Mechanisms for Public Input, a Competitive Assessment, an Economic Cluster Review, a five-year Regional Economic Development Strategy and an Implementation Plan that will define how the region will pursue the initiatives set forth in the Strategy.

The final product will support the goals and objectives of PLAN 2040, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s comprehensive blueprint to sustain Metro Atlanta’s livability and prosperity through mid-century. It will also meet the Economic Development Administration’s require-ments for a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

For more information about the Regional Economic Development Strategy, please visit www.atlantaregional.com.

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