According to Deborah Lohnes, the first of these designated staff and now director of the program, the need was seen as greatest in the southern part of the state which houses many Tier 1 or economically depressed counties. Firms range in size from Boeing in Macon to a small electroplating company in Swainsboro, and industry overall has been receptive, she says. Collocation with Georgia Tech regional offices made sense because these field offices have been assisting local manufacturers and developers for more than 35 years.
Discussions regularly take place between staff on challenges and opportunities for development.
Some recent projects, according to Dudley, have included process improvements for the Torrington Company, expansion assistance for the Louisville Oil Mill Company, assistance to the Okefenokee Development Authority, and LOCI cost-benefit analyses throughout the region. Alan Barfoot, head of the Dublin Regional Office, underscores the notion of balance. We've given Deborah some technical foundation. It's been a good match. And both have helped clients.