BY KATIE STEPP
ECONOMIC
T
DEVELOPMENT
he third and final in the Chamber’s 2019 State of the Community Luncheon series presented by NuLink | WOW! welcomed Trae Westmoreland,
president of the Coweta County Development Authority, who enlightened guests as to the state of economic and
The community’s expansion is a result of the hard work put forth by the Development Authority, local municipalities, and the Chamber to create this highly sought-after business-friendly environment. With such extensive amounts of advancement underway, it is crucial that key stakeholders purposefully manage such rapid growth.
talent development in Coweta - topics of great interest and intrigue to residents and business leaders alike. Westmoreland lent valuable insight into what is coming down the pipeline in Coweta County as together we continue to foster a productive business environment and a community which enjoys high quality of life and livable wages. One of the most attractive counties in the region, Coweta is expected to substantially grow when it comes to population as well as business and industry. Westmoreland explained, “Coweta County cannot thrive as a community from either residential or commercial property or retail. This community needs industry, and industry is the direction we’re heading towards.” Recent examples include Blickle USA and Corvaglia, two international corporations that have established U.S. headquarters in Coweta and, as a result, have directly contributed to local economic prosperity. Corvaglia, for example, created 40 jobs for Cowetans and added 48 million dollars in capital investment. 18
When asked why his company chose Coweta, Blickle USA President, Scott Chahalis, acknowledged, “during our relocation process, the people here were fantastic; the team of folks here in Coweta are off the charts, so that’s a huge reason why we’re here today.” The Development Authority is intentional in their recruiting efforts insomuch as they no longer incentivize businesses like distribution centers, but instead carefully seek out and recruit manufacturing facilities, as well as back office, blue-collar, and corporate environments. Westmoreland and his team are drilling down and asking the question, “what exactly is the right kind of growth?” and then structuring that growth accordingly. This strategy is one of the critical pieces of the puzzle in fostering a thoughtful Coweta. Ronnie Clotfelter, Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Thomas Crossroads, explains, “both expansion and growth are going to come, and it’s pertinent that we manage that growth well or Fall 2019
