Credited with playing a key role in pulling $1.2 billion in new capital investment projects and more than 12,000 new jobs into Georgia last year, Georgia Power’s community and economic development organization was ranked as one of the top 10 best in the world in 1999 by Site Selection magazine.

“Georgia Power’s economic development efforts have always been an integral part of the company’s corporate culture, dating as far back as the 1920s. The company has 131 offices located throughout the state and the employees in those offices are very involved in community and economic development at the local level,” said Becky Blalock, Georgia Power`s vice president of community and economic development.

Among the innovative programs that secured the top 10 listing for the organization:

 An initiative called “Building A Community Profile” that offers step-by-step assistance to communities in preparing a profile for their industrial prospects and for introducing the communities to the use of technology in economic development.

 An interactive training program designed to encourage elected officials and community leaders to develop a single community strategy, while seeking solutions to public policy making problems.

 A Customer and Business Service Center Survey which reveals vital information regarding available locations for e-commerce, customer service, teleservice and data center operations, and the telecommunications infrastructure in place to serve the locations.

The Georgia Power group, chosen from hundreds of electricity and natural gas companies, consistently earns a slot on the magazine’s top 10 list. The organization won the award in 1989, 1992, 1993, 1996, and 1998. Site Selection magazine is a national trade publication devoted to economic development trends and issues.

Georgia Power’s community development section concentrates on leadership training, strategic planning and service identification for local communities, and works closely with local elected officials, chambers of commerce and civic groups. In addition, the educational services group focuses on the policies and implementation of education reform efforts in the areas of workforce development and student improvement within the state, working with local elected school board members and with local superintendents for successful math and science programs and for promoting the sale of electric energy.

The community and economic development organization’s Georgia Resource Center offers state-of-the-art, multi-media presentations that provide statistical and visual information on communities, sites and buildings throughout the state. A geographic database at the center includes information on the population, income, labor, taxes, education and transportation of Georgia’s communities. The center’s services are offered free of charge and without obligation.