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... in the News
Georgia
economy discussed
by Matthew Mogul and James
Gallagher, THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE
Sept. 23, 2003
Concerns over the lack of skilled workers and the need for better
transportation dominated discussions at an economic development
conference Monday.
About
220 business and civic leaders attended the first Savannah River
Summit to come up with ideas on how best to protect east Georgia
industries, create new jobs, support entrepreneurs and prepare for
possible military post closings.
Despite figures that point to a gradual turnaround in the national
economy, attendees agreed that job losses in sunset industries such
as textiles remain a problem.
"We still have heavy manufacturing in this area, and they will
stay as long as we stay competitive," said U.S. Rep. Max Burns,
R-Ga., who spearheaded the daylong event at Sheraton Augusta Hotel.
The freshman congressman from the 12th District, a 20-county area
stretching from Savannah to Athens, said such a strategy means
playing up local advantages, such as the budding life-sciences
sector.
"Every qualified health-care professional in this country has a
job if they want one," Mr. Burns said, echoing a theme that
hospitals and research universities throughout his district,
including the Medical College of Georgia and the University of
Georgia, can attract industry to the area.
Speakers said that Savannah weathered the downturn better than most
of its regional neighbors because its busy port and popularity among
tourists helped it stave off recession, and Athens fared well
because it's a university town.
To compete globally, more attention needs to be paid to local
industries, said keynote speaker David Sampson, the assistant U.S.
secretary of commerce for economic development.
"The drivers of national prosperity are becoming more
localized," he said.
From the 1940s-60s, many industries flocked to the South to
capitalize on the cheap land and labor, said Roger Tutterow, the
department chairman of economic and finance at Kennesaw State
University. Now, he said, the same forces are driving these
companies overseas.
He and others said more energy should be spent on supporting local
entrepreneurs with ties to the community than on wooing outsiders
who come and go. While the growing nature of the global economy
means much of America's industry will head abroad, domestic
manufacturing is far from dead, Mr. Tutterow said.
"The Chinese may be great at building skyscrapers, but its too
expensive to ship them over here," he said.
As for the specter of base closings, attendees voted on several of
the day's recommendations. A popular sentiment was that areas such
as Augusta should have a backup plan if a military installation were
to be closed.
The consensus was that a strong airport would play in Fort Gordon's
favor when it came time for the 2005 base cuts. Most also felt that
Fort Stewart wouldn't be touched, though the naval supply school in
Athens might not be so lucky.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Complete
a regional interstate system to connect Savannah, Augusta and
Athens
-
Establish
a cancer center in Augusta
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Create
partnerships between industry and education to make workers
aware of the skills needed in the marketplace
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Look
for creative and innovative ways to make manufacturing processes
more competitive
-
Promote
community awareness about possible base closures
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