Governor Perdue Announces Economic Development Partnership

Center Honors Former Governor George Busbee

ATLANTA, GA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the creation of The Busbee Center for Global Economic Development & Innovation at the Centergy One building in midtown Atlanta’s Technology Square.  Honoring former Georgia Governor George D. Busbee, the center represents a new partnership among the state’s economic development agencies, intellectual resources, and training facilities.

“Governor Busbee pioneered economic development in Georgia on a global scale,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “His active, personal recruitment of international business gave the state of Georgia the global visibility we enjoy today.  This center will carry on that legacy and help create new opportunities throughout our state.”

The center is designed to promote coordination, communication, and cooperation among the state’s governmental entities, academic institutions, and private industries engaged in the development of Georgia’s businesses and workforce.

Members of the center include: Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT), Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (Quick Start Division), Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA), Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (GEMC), Georgia Power Company, Georgia Resource Center, Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, Hemisphere, Inc., Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG), Technology Square Research Building (TSRB), U.S. Department of Commerce Export Trade Assistance, and United Nations Training and Research Institute (UNITAR).

From the Georgia Institute of Technology, the following divisions are participating in the center: Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Economic Development Institute (EDI), Georgia Tech Venture Lab, Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development, DuPree College of Management, and the Global Learning Center.

“These organizations have clustered in Technology Square to strategize and expand the economic development and international trade initiatives that will drive Georgia’s growth through the 21st century,” said GDEcD Commissioner Craig Lesser.  “The Center provides prospective businesses insight into the professional, cooperative nature of Georgia’s business community.”

Dr. Wayne Clough, president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, said the center furthers the institute’s focus on developing successful industry and creating a global business network.

“Technology Square is a key element in Georgia Tech’s progress toward defining the technological university of the 21st century,” said Clough.  “By marrying academic research and development with the government and private agencies that can help them grow, Georgia will be able to lead the world in the knowledge industries that will breed success.”

            Since it opened in October 2003, Technology Square has become a highly accessible and visible hub for Georgia’s business and intellectual resources, according to Mack Reese of Centergy & Gateway Development Services Inc.

“The Busbee Center further establishes Georgia as an international trade center providing the opportunity for Georgia companies to promote their products abroad and for international companies to consider Georgia for their business,” said Reese.

In addition to announcing the center, Governor Perdue also dedicated a monument honoring Governor Busbee.  Designed by Doug Foltz of Speakeasy, Inc. and sculpted from Elberton Blue granite by Andrew Crawford of Crawford Ironworks, the monument will be located in the lobby of the Centergy One building.