IDA Will Host Industrial Summit This October

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

The Sept. 16 meeting of the Dade County Industrial Development Authority was a short one. The authority’s website has been updated so that IDA agendas, minutes, and financials can be accessed easily under the “About Us” tab.

Evan Stone (IDA executive director) reported that an air conditioning unit from 1978 in Integer’s break room broke. Of the bids to replace the unit that the IDA received, Reeves Heating and Air came in the lowest at $7,958. The authority accepted this bid.

Stone announced that the IDA’s local industrial summit (which he mentioned at last month’s meeting) is set for Oct. 24. CEOs, CFOs, HR managers, and other leaders from industries in the county are invited to the summit. Noting that a number of local industries are going through expansions, Stone explained, “We want to make sure that they know all the incentives that they get from the state.”

Stone noted that he and Don Townsend (as the county executive-elect) were attending a conference with the Georgia Economic Development Authority at the end of last week. Stone said, “I think that’s very good for the incoming county executive to go down and see how they operate.” Held in Savannah, Ga., the conference was free of charge courtesy of Top of Georgia.

Briefly touching on Placer.ai, Stone said that he and Seth Houts (IDA board member) have been going through training on how to use the tool. Stone is currently gathering data on behalf of the county about parks and recreation.

The authority entered executive session, after which Stone reported that they voted to give Chattanooga Industrial Motors first right of refusal on land in the industrial park that is currently being used as a solar field, should that land ever become available.