Meet Pat Topping

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Meet Pat Topping Interim Economic Development Director

Putnam Development Authority

My name is Pat Topping. I have been your Interim Economic Development Director since June 2020. I have been in the economic development and Chamber industry for 30 years, all in Georgia. I have led chamber and economic development teams in Macon, Milledgeville, and Forsyth County in North Georgia. I led the Macon Economic Development Commission from 1999 until 2018. Since then I have been consulting with communities in middle Georgia.

What is the PDA?

The Putnam Development Authority (PDA) is a constitutional authority whose purpose is to develop, promote and expand for the public good and general welfare, industry and trade within Putnam County, Georgia. We are funded primarily by the Putnam County Commission, as well as land sales and bond fees.

What do we do?

Economic Development is a Team Sport. We work with many local, state, regional and national organizations to accomplish our mission – Eatonton/Putnam Chamber, Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC), Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Georgia Department of Labor (GA DOL) and our utility partners, Georgia Power, Georgia EMC, and Electric Utilities of Georgia. among others.

Two of our focuses are Existing Business/Industry Retention and New Business/industry Recruitment. 60 – 80% of new jobs and investment in a community can come from existing business/industry. The PDA has worked with most of our business/industry in Putnam County to encourage and assist with expansion and growth plans. Our assistance can include workforce development, bond financing, tax incentives, and infrastructure improvements. PDA recently assisted Haband/Bluestem Brands with their expansion that doubled their current employment and invested over $1 million in new equipment. Bluestem Brands will add 130 new full-time employees and over 200 part time and seasonal team members. PDA coordinated with our partners GDEcD, GA DOL, Georgia QuickStart, and CGTC to hold a Job Fair to recruit the first wave of new team members.

PDA also worked with Interfor on their recent mill equipment upgrade and expansion. Interfor, the largest wood products manufacturer in Georgia will invest up to $100 million in the project and increase their workforce in key areas. Putnam voters supported the project with SPLOST funds to make crucial infrastructure improvements at the mill.

The PDA also works to recruit new businesses to Putnam County.

We partner with our partners at the GDEcD and our utility teams to market to and recruit new businesses/industries to the community. The Economic Development Team also includes Norfolk Southern RR, developers, state, and regional banks; national, regional, state, and local real estate brokers, and others. Projects include Aalto Scientific and Audit MicroControls. PDA has developed the 121-acre site in the South Industrial Park to attract new business/industry. We have used SPLOST funds and state grants to develop the park and install infrastructure.

Georgia as well as most states have a site certification process. Georgia’s is GRAD (Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development). The GRAD Program offers 60+ industrial certified sites that are ready for fast-track construction projects through advance due diligence. To qualify for GRAD status, available sites must meet the program’s due diligence standards, be reviewed by a third party, and earn the final approval of a board of advisors comprised of public and private sector economic development professionals.

For additional information www.putnamdevelopmentauthority.com ptopping@putnamdevelopmentauthority.com 478 320-9530