PROJECT TEAM UPDATE: BUSY TIMES FOR AEROSPACE IN GEORGIA

Spring came and went as though the afterburners had been turned on. The team had one of the busiest seasons yet, and the first part of summer looks to be no different.
In April, Andrew Neumann attended the MRO Americas Conference in Miami. More than 300 aerospace exhibitors attended the 16th annual Maintenance Repair and Overhaul show. With 88,000 employees in our aviation industry and the world's busiest airport, MRO 2012 provided a great venue to meet with companies interested in Georgia.

Carter Wood also attended the IPC Expo in Nevada in April. This show is the premier electronics industry exhibition with over 350 exhibitors. The show features advanced and emerging technologies in printed board design and manufacturing, electronics assembly, and testing. People from more than 50 countries came to this one! A turnout like that means we can target many potential clients in a single location.From April 17 to April 19, Commissioner Chris Cummiskey made his first international trip since taking the helm in January (he most recently went on a business mission to the U.K and Germany with Governor Deal). Toronto and Ottawa were his ports of call. His Toronto schedule consisted of meetings with three existing Georgia companies and three companies that currently have projects in Georgia. Reps from 20 companies attended an evening reception held in his honor. Ottawa was packed with meetings at the US Embassy and with the Canadian Government to discuss cross border economic and trade issues. Canada, as I'm sure you know, remains Georgia's single largest trading partner.

The Commissioner followed up his Canadian travels with a trip to the New York Auto Show where KIA Motors announced that assembly of their Optima sedan will soon be taking place in their West Point, Georgia facility. This expansion will generate another 1000 jobs.

On May 5, the team took part in a meeting of the Georgia Aerospace Advisory Council (GAAC). This meeting, spearheaded by Georgia's Center of Innovation for Aerospace Team, hosted over 100 aerospace leaders from over 60 organizations throughout the state at Georgia Tech's GTRI Conference Center.

Chip Mitchell represented our team at SEDC's 'Meet the Consultants' program, held in Atlanta on May 12 and 13. The Southeastern Development Council has structured a dynamic event that allows local, regional and statewide developers and opportunity to meet and hear trends from a group of notable national site location consultants.

On May 24 and 25, our team will participate in the Council of American States in Canada's (CASC) Invest in the USA seminars in Richmond Hill and Kitchener, Ontario. These investment conferences have been held for over 20 years. Led by cross border attorneys, accountants and bankers, the seminar provides attendees with much of the knowledge that they will need to expand their businesses from Canada to the United States.

And finally, our team's fiscal year culminates in Paris during the week of June 19. The International Paris Air Show-Le Bourget has been the world's premier and largest aviation and space event for a century. The show averages 2000 exhibitors and over 138,000 trade attendees. 3000 plus journalists will attend and some 200 official delegations will make their way through the exhibit halls and the static displays. Georgia has a very strong aerospace community and this show is an essential event in becoming and staying a player in the industry. Our aerospace team, along with our European Office, will work closely to schedule and coordinate meetings with many of Georgia's existing aerospace companies as well as numerous companies that are considering locations in Georgia. Le Bourget is indeed the Grand Daddy of Air Shows!

Bill Dobbs is Director of Aerospace, Defense & Advanced Manufacturing for the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). His team is responsible for exposing Georgia's business advantages to targeted companies around the world. They generate leads and work with prospects until they locate a facility in Georgia.