Valley Business Insider
by Tyson Begly
A Clear Shift in Columbus’ Economic Development Strategy
E
conomic development can feel like a vague concept—something we know matters but don’t always know how it works. Most of us agree: having strong, well-paying jobs in our community is essential. But when it comes to who is responsible for bringing those jobs to Columbus, the answer isn’t always obvious. This spring, two major leadership announcements marked a new chapter in how Columbus pursues growth—and the shift may not be immediately apparent unless you’re paying close attention. Let’s break down what’s changing, why it matters and how it positions our city for a stronger future.
businesses and recruiting new ones. That’s a tough balancing act. Local businesses need resources and support to grow. At the same time, recruiting outside firms takes time, relationship-building outside of Columbus and a compelling pitch. Now, with Choose Columbus focused solely on recruitment and the Chamber focused on retention and local business support, each organization can dedicate itself to doing one thing—and doing it well. This specialization brings clarity. It avoids duplication. It creates accountability. And it allows both organizations to better align their work with the needs of the community.
New Faces, New Focus
The Role of Local Government
In April, Missy Kendrick was named President and CEO of Choose Columbus, a newly created organization dedicated to attracting new companies, capital investments and job opportunities to the region. Missy brings a proven record of success—helping Georgia communities land more than 1,700 jobs and over $3 billion in investment. Then in May, Jansen Tidmore was announced as the new President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, bringing a fresh perspective and valuable experience from his previous roles at Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, Spartanburg Downtown Development Partnership and Dothan Downtown Redevelopment Authority. These are significant hires. But more importantly, their roles signal a clear shift in strategy—one that separates the tasks of attracting new businesses and nurturing the ones already here.
What about the City government itself? While the Columbus Consolidated Government benefits directly from job creation, its role is different. While the City doesn’t typically negotiate with companies directly, it plays a vital role in creating the conditions for growth—like parks, Uptown revitalization, infrastructure, public safety, and the recent baseball stadium renovations—that help make Columbus a more attractive place to live and do business. The City also supports economic growth through the Development Authority, whose board is appointed by City Council. When I served on the Development Authority, we
offered incentives, like tax abatements to attract new jobs, and provided funding to groups such as the Chamber—giving them the funding to support their mission of community growth.
Other Partners in the Ecosystem
Beyond these core players, groups such as Columbus 2025 are helping to shape the long-term vision of our region. While not directly focused on business recruitment, their work is essential. By telling our story to attract the talent needed to grow jobs, increase prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance quality of life, they help ensure that Columbus is the kind of place where talented people want to build careers and raise families.
What This Means for Our Area
Ultimately, the real story here is focus. By dividing responsibility between attracting new companies and supporting existing ones, Columbus is setting itself up for sustainable, balanced growth. New firms will see a city that’s organized, ready and serious about investment. Local businesses will benefit from a Chamber with more capacity to understand and meet their needs. With Missy Kendrick leading Choose Columbus and Jansen Tidmore heading the Chamber, Columbus is not only recruiting jobs—it’s building an environment where businesses and people can thrive. These impacts not only benefit Muscogee County, but also all of the counties and communities in the Valley area, including Harris, Russell and others. This change may not make headlines every day, but it’s one of the most important stories unfolding in our Why This Change Matters city. And if it succeeds, we’ll all In the past, like many cities, Columbus feel the difference—on paychecks, relied on the Chamber of Commerce in neighborhoods and across to manage all aspects of economic generations. development—supporting existing ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tyson Begly has lived and worked everywhere from small towns to major cities, visited over 35 countries, and called Columbus home since 2013. His career spans startups, Fortune 100 companies, Wall Street banks, Silicon Valley private equity, nonprofits and city government. With experience from engineering to executive roles in trading, wealth management, travel and telecom, he approaches business topics from multiple angles.
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