WHAT IS NGRDC

The North Georgia Regional Development Center (NGRDC) provides a regional forum to address issues and opportunities of common regional interest, convenes stakeholders for the conduct of needs assessments and the development of strategies, and establishes policies to direct programs and initiatives of regional and local significance.  Utilizing local resources, NGRDC leverages state and federal partnerships enabling a bottoms up process for various planning, development, and service delivery or administration as directed by the NGRDC Board of Directors.

The NGRDC is an organization of local governments which is governed by the Board of Directors composed of city and county elected officials, appointed officials, and non-public representatives.  The Board maintains a staff of professionals and technicians to carry out programs and activities according to its policies, to perform contracted services, and to manage NGRDC resources.  Staff programs and activities include Economic Development Assistance, Development Projects, Regional Planning, Regional Data Systems, Local Planning and Implementation, and Innovative Projects.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

NGRDC puts a considerable priority on technical assistance which encourages business expansion and development, expands job opportunities, and increases capital investment in the North Georgia region.  Activities include developing local strategic plans; business facilities/infrastructure project development; business financing packaging assistance; facilitating the development of promotional and marketing information for a business sector; and promoting North Georgia as a strategic location for business development.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

NGRDC provides technical assistance to local governments, agencies, and authorities in identifying and securing financial resources for infrastructure and community improvements needed to accommodate growth; take advantage of development opportunities; or address conditions of distress.  Efforts involve grant and/or loan financial packaging and alternative financing mechanisms.

REGIONAL PLANNING

NGRDC promotes and assists the establishment of coordinated and comprehensive planning in the region. Resources are directed at growth management; water resources; transportation; other community infrastructure and regional resources; and maintaining the Regional Comprehensive Plan and policies that provide the area's officials with guidance concerning implementation of development alternatives.

REGIONAL DATA SYSTEMS

NGRDC's regional data system enables staff to compile and manage data for NGRDC programs and projects and for local governmental and other public and private sector data users.  The system includes data associated with NGRDC's geographic information system; maintenance of local and regional maps; serving as a data repository for State and Federal agencies; the development of socio-economic and demographic estimates and projections; and providing data survey and field controls assistance.

LOCAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

NGRDC actively assists local officials in carrying out their responsibilities for preparing and implementing local comprehensive plans and in maintaining their Local Qualified Government status for State programs.  Technical assistance is available for the preparation and administration of development and environmental management standards; to facilitate community improvement projects; and to coordinate with local organizations on other initiatives.

INNOVATIVE PROJECTS

NGRDC continues to assist several communities in planning, designing, and implementing a variety of downtown improvements.  Identified in local and regional comprehensive plans as both a tourism and general economic development initiative, the regionwide effort has had a significant impact.  A septic tank failure assessment is also underway.  This project will assess the reasons for the high degree of failures in Whitfield and Murray Counties and propose remedies to correct these problems in the future.

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