Georgias Department Of Economic Development Marshals New State Resources To Foster Business Growth

ATLANTA, July 12, 2011—The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced today that the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) and the Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) came under the umbrella of the department July 1, 2011. The GRA will enlarge the scope of its economic development role of leveraging the state's university resources for the business community in order to grow jobs and investment in the state, and will work in coordination with GDEcD to integrate the Georgia Centers of Innovation (COI) program with the programs of the GRA in order to maximize the potential for high-tech companies to thrive in the state. The Georgia Cancer Coalition (GCC) will also become a part of the Georgia Research Alliance in order to leverage its mission, strengths and connections with university cancer programs. 'We couldn't be more pleased with the opportunity to better connect these outstanding, strategic programs with the business community. Both the Georgia Research Alliance and the Georgia Cancer Coalition have enormous resources for high-tech companies, who create high-paying jobs for skilled workers. Together we can streamline companies' access to the deep resources of these institutions and accelerate their growth,' said Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'This move will further enhance the successful public-private partnership GRA has embodied through the years.' The Georgia Research Alliance and the Georgia Cancer Coalition became part of the state's Department of Economic Development as part of Governor Nathan Deal's vision for a business climate that encompasses and aligns the state's most powerful assets for high-growth companies. The Georgia Center of Innovation program will remain housed at GDEcD, ensuring a continued close-knit partnership with GDEcD's industry-focused business recruitment and expansion teams and remaining an integral resource for companies seeking to grow in the state. 'Integrating the Centers of Innovation and the Georgia Cancer Coalition with the Georgia Research Alliance creates a powerful set of programs to build on the innovation capacity of the state's research universities and medical schools to grow companies and strategic industries, create jobs and build a vibrant economy,' said GRA President Mike Cassidy.  'At the same time, we can strengthen industry-university collaborations across Georgia, enhance the impact of GRA's successful programs in communities statewide, and make Georgia a place for ready access to cutting-edge research results.' Sidney W. Elliott, Director of Strategic Planning and Program Evaluation for the Georgia Research Alliance, will serve as interim director of the Centers of Innovation program and help guide their integration into GRA. Elliott has an extensive background in business and strategic planning.  At GRA since 2005, he has been involved with the support, analysis and development of the alliance's nationally recognized economic development programs.  Prior to his role at GRA, Mr. Elliott worked for 36 years in the telecommunications industry, including positions with BellSouth, AT&T and Southern Bell in operations, public policy and strategic planning. Launched in 2003, Georgia's Centers of Innovation help accelerate the growth of the state's six strategic industries, which include aerospace, agribusiness, energy, life sciences, logistics and advanced manufacturing.  The centers are located across the state and connect high growth-potential companies with university research and industry expertise as well as other Georgia resources, resulting in long-term job growth and increased statewide investment. A common goal of the centers is to help commercialize new products, services and business models in these industries. The Georgia Cancer Coalition is a not-for-profit organization that teams with other government agencies, academic institutions, civic groups, corporations and health care organizations in a concerted effort to strengthen cancer prevention, research and treatment in Georgia, with the ultimate goals of making Georgia one of the nation's premier states for cancer care and reducing the number of cancer-related deaths in Georgia.   The Georgia Research Alliance, a nonprofit corporation, is a public/private partnership of the state's research universities, leading corporations and state government. Founded in 1990, GRA accomplishes its economic development mission through recruiting top scientists to the state's research universities, providing the sophisticated tools they need to develop technologies with significant commercial potential, and turning university-driven R&D into high-growth companies and high-value jobs. About GDEcD The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts events and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. www.georgia.org