News & Events

Click here to view information on international companies seeking to purchase or distribute Georgia products.  These leads were developed by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and/or GDEcD's International Representatives.  For assistance in following up on these leads or to take advantage of other programs offered by GDEcD, please contact the person listed by the opportunity below.

Please click the image to view the July 2014 edition of the monthly “Logistics Market Snapshot” as submitted by the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics.

A few encouraging statistics pulled from this month's edition are as follows...

Pictured from L to R:  Dot Foods Executive Vice-President of Foodservice Dick Tracy, Laila Kamar Garza, Ricardo Garza, Idalia Garza, Ruben Garza, Dot Foods CEO John Tracy and Dot Foods President Joe Tracy at Dot Foods' headquarters in Mt. Sterling, Ill.

The President of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce is "bullish" on Georgia's economy.

An international team of judges has named an olive oil produced in Toombs County as one of the best olive oils in the world.

The olive oil from Terra Dolce Farms near Lyons was entered in the 2014 New York International Olive Oil Competition.  Judges spend four days evaluating 651 entries and the winners were announced by competition President Curtis Cord at a news conference in New York.  "The mission of the New York International Olive Oil Competition is to recognize the best olive oil producers in the world," he told reporters.

Pictured:  (Front Row L-R) - Alysa Marxicano, Katie Williamson, Rizza O'Conner, Stacy Kennedy and Program Co-Chair Cindy Williams; (Middle Row L-R) - Program Coach Karon Durden, Mike Hagan, Laura Brown, Mandy Britt, Ryan Gibson, Hayne Grant and Daniel O'Conner; (Back Row L-R) - Lee Burton, Bill Sharpton, Jr., Program Coach Susan Murray, David Gibbs, Less Salter, Wayne Williams, M.D., John Jones, Chester Proctor, Program Co-Chair Blake Tillery and Program Facilitator Charles Lang.

The Mercer University School of Medicine Windshield Tour group visited Toombs County on August 13th.  The students visited several healthcare-related organizations, including Meadows Regional Medical Center and The Mercy Clinic.  They also stopped by the Toombs-Montgomery Chamber of Commerce for an update on the economic climate and quality of life issues.

Bill Mitchell, GCCE, President and Executive Director of the Toombs-Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and Toombs County Development Authority, was presented with the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (GACCE) top award, Executive of the Year, on Thursday, July 18 at the 2013 GACCE Annual Conference held at the Lake Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge.

Click “download pdf” below to view the official press release.

download pdf

Pictured:  Gary Campbell, President & CEO of VNS Corporation

VNS Corporation, headquartered in Vidalia, GA since 1947, ranks number 45 in the PROSALES 100.  The PROSALES 100 is the premier report on construction supply companies that garner at least a third of their revenues from professional builders.  Retail oriented companies are excluded, thus making it possible to examine more accurately the pro-oriented side of the lumber and building material industry.

Local manufacturers, Southeastern Early College and Career Academy (SECCA) and Southeastern Technical College (STC) have partnered to offer a new dual enrollment certification program for high school students interested in general and advanced manufacturing careers.  The Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) certificate program will start in August of 2012 and end in May of 2013.  The goal of this one year program is to help students develop the skills necessary to gain employment and advance in today’s highly technical manufacturing environment.  Students who complete this program will