Wednesday, May 30, 2001
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Wednesday, May 30, 2001 |
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PTC Development Authority to probe its recruitment strategy in the near future By JOHN
MUNFORD
Much of the Peachtree City Development Authority's work involves the administration of the city's tennis center and amphitheater. The authority is charged with overseeing the operation of both facilities. But recently, concern has developed about whether the authority has focused too much on those operations and strayed from attracting industries and businesses to Peachtree City. At last week's Development Authority meeting, Doug Warner suggested having a meeting solely to focus on how industries are recruited for Peachtree City, which has the largest industrial park in the county. After brief discussion, the authority decided to conduct the meeting after results come back from a study being performed by Georgia Tech that will analyze economic development in the area. Development Authority member Tate Godfrey suggested the meeting be conducted jointly with the Fayette County Development Authority, which has taken over much industrial recruitment under the head of its director, Chris Clark. It was also pointed out that Godfrey's chief role at Pathway Communities is finding industrial recruits. "Economic development tends to be a staff activity," said authority member Tom Farr. Representatives of industries and businesses who visit the area to scout a potential location prefer to keep their identities cloaked in secrecy, authority members say. Although Godfrey hosts some of those groups, he has said even he often isn't told the name of the company. One of the top tools used by the county's development authority in recruiting industry is on the Internet. The authority's Web site provides raw data and other useful information about Fayette County and Peachtree City to gain interest from industries and businesses considering moving here, Godfrey has said in the past. In other business at the meeting, the authority discussed the draft version of its by-laws and operating procedures. Authority member Scott Bradshaw put the information together, along with a policies and procedures manual for the tennis center and amphitheater. The documents were briefly discussed, but no formal action was taken. They will be brought up at the authority's next meeting, scheduled for Monday, June 18.
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