The Georgia Tourism Foundation is a public-private entity created for the purpose of expanding the state’s tourism economic impact. The Foundation team works with the Tourism Division and the tourism industry to enhance marketing, coordinate industry-wide education and innovation that results in competitive advantages for the state.

Currently the Foundation is leading the state’s Creative Economies Initiative designed to galvanize art-centric businesses and promote Georgia Made Georgia Grown products. Additionally, the initiative provides regional, customized business development for local artists, entertainers, agribusinesses, craft enthusiasts and related business owners/operators. 

A data-based web registry linking tourists and consumers seeking quality Georgia Made Georgia Grown products is now available with locator information about creative talent throughout the state.

The Initiative:

A national model and statewide initiative led by the Georgia Tourism Foundation. The initiative is a blend of marketing; education and professional development for the creative industry; and innovation in facilitating commerce between creative businesses, tourists and the global consumers.

• The initiative will directly impact the economic sustainability and future growth of the state’s cultural and heritage tourism.
• Engagement with the initiative will nurture and provide significant business development for local artists and crafts people who produce authentic Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products.
• The Americans for the Arts’ Creative Industries 2008 statistics revealed that 2.98 million people work for 612,095 arts-centric businesses and Georgia is home to 88,078 such employees.
• The Tourism Foundation is a public-private entity created for the express purpose of expanding the state’s tourism economic impact and delivering competitive advantages.
  

Goals:

• Organize and galvanize Georgia’s creative industries.
• Design a web tool for identifying artists, entertainers and crafts people from every region of the state. 
• Promote Georgia Made Georgia Grown products and productions and facilitate commerce between producers and procurers. 
• Create a structured program customized to the professional and business development needs of artists, entertainers, crafts people, agritourism entrepreneurs, authors and other arts-centric enterprises.
  

Deliverables: 

• Needs Analysis: A statewide needs analysis was compiled from feedback received from Georgia’s arts community on what their businesses need to grow and thrive. The feedback was derived from 10 Town Hall Meetings on the Creative Economies Initiative held in every tourism travel region.

• Business Development Series: Local teams have been created to spearhead business development programs for creative businesses in the state’s nine travel regions. A series of training sessions tailored to creative business owners will be held across the state from June to September, 2008. The sessions will include topics such as marketing, business development, financial planning, workforce development and additional subjects requested by local artists. 

• Web registry: Developing a web registry to include listings and locater information to connect Georgia’s arts-centric businesses with consumers who include visitors, locals and internationals. The new tool is a major component of the Creative Economies Initiative and will help drive business to local gift shops, museums, galleries, farms, lodges and other creative enterprises that sell authentic Georgia Made Georgia Grown Products. The web registry is scheduled to launch in Fall 2008. 

• Facilitation of business-to-business opportunities: Graduates of the business development series will have an opportunity to meet corporate buyers and introduce their products and services to a new or rarely tapped market. First B-2-B for the creative industry planned for the 2008 Holiday Season.

Georgia's Creative Economies Initiative (CEI), what is it? Read all about it!

Learn more about CEI: Georgia Made - Georgia Grown

The Georgia Tourism Foundation recognizes the vital role that travel and tourism industry plays in Georgia’s economic prosperity and the quality of life for all Georgians. Tourism annually generates approximately $28 billion in tourism expenditures, which supports 217,000 jobs and contributes $1.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.

GEORGIA MADE - GEORGIA GROWN VIDEO

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Georgia offers a wealth of travel destinations within an easy drive from anywhere in the Southeast. The Georgia Tourism Foundation works to support and promote Georgia Tourism.