ECG Location Georgia

06/15/2026

Grant and funding opportunities are constantly changing, and keeping up with them can be a challenge. We compile a list of funding opportunities that may be relevant to our and their economic development needs.

These resources may help our communities identify potential funding sources that align with their local priorities. Take a look at this month's featured opportunities to see what might be a fit.

Our June 2026 opportunities for Georgia Energy Cities include FEMA funding for public and firefighter safety.

06/10/2026

Today, the ECG team had the opportunity to visit our Georgia Energy City of Hogansville, and we came away encouraged by the growing momentum taking shape across the community.

A few things stood out:
~ 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙄-85
~ 𝙈𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙟𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙙𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩
~ 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨
~ 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙣, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙨

We're grateful for the opportunity to listen and learn as we continue to support Hogansville's vision for the future by providing customizable solutions and resources to help Hogansville succeed.

What was most evident throughout the discussion with City Manager Lisa Kelly & Community Development Director Dhayna Portillo was Hogansville's commitment to planning ahead, as the city lays the groundwork for long-term success.

The best economic development conversations aren't always about what has happened. They're about what comes next.

05/29/2026

A great way to close out the week! Our Technical Solutions team welcomed the MAC Research Council to our Office of Economic & Community Development to explore strategies to support business growth, strengthen downtowns, and attract meaningful investment in our .

Here's what we know to be true... no organization does this alone. It is the partnerships between researchers, analysts, marketers, economic development teams, local leaders, and organizations that quietly work behind the scenes to move the needle for our communities.
These are the conversations that matter. Happy Friday!

05/22/2026

The City of Douglas, GA Government earned national recognition at ICSC Las Vegas earlier this week for its Douglas Square/T.A.D. Redevelopment Initiative.

Honored with the Excellence in Community Advancement Award, which recognizes communities and their partners who are driving impactful development in their marketplaces, celebrating outstanding public-private partnerships that have delivered successful retail and mixed-use projects

“𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘-𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜-𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮,” said Daniel Martin, ECG Manager of Retail & Commercial Development and ICSC Georgia Marketplace Chair for Community Advancement.

Congratulations to the City of Douglas, Mayor Tony Paulk, and all of the partners involved in this nationally recognized achievement. This award is a testament to what is possible when communities dare to invest in themselves, and when the right partners come together to make it real.

www.locationgeorgia.com/douglas-receives-national-icsc-excellence-award-may-2026/

05/21/2026

Industrial recruitment hasn't slowed; in fact, it's gotten sharper.
Companies aren't looking for the perfect location. They're looking for the one that reduces risk.

Our latest blog breaks down the 3 things driving location decisions right now: 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Is your community ready?

Click the link to learn more: www.locationgeorgia.com/industrial-location-decisions-april-2026/

05/20/2026

What started with a conversation turned into plans, which turned into groundwork, and groundwork turned into open doors!

The Element Hotel by Marriott - Bainbridge, the newest hotel in the region, welcomed its very first guests this week, and what a beauty it is.

Moments like this don't happen overnight. They don't happen alone. And they never happen without the kind of partnerships built on trust, a shared vision, and an unwavering belief in what a community can become.

Our are proof that when partnerships lead, progress follows. The best is yet to come. Congratulations, City of Bainbridge, GA - Government.

05/19/2026

Investing in the next generation of economic development professionals is one of our most important contributions to the industry.

Yesterday, Sr. Project Manager Mark Elliott had the privilege of moderating the Georgia Economic Developers Association - GEDA Young Professionals panel, alongside Matthew Hinshaw, Austin Stacy, and Davis Myers.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩? Confidence, curiosity, and the right community around you. Conversations about career journeys, project highs and lows, and what it means to set yourself apart in this industry took center stage.

🎯 How do you build confidence in a role where every project is different?
🎯 How do you earn your seat at the table when you're the youngest one in it?
🎯 How do you learn the nuts and bolts while never losing sight of the bigger picture?

These aren't easy questions, but the conversations in that room were exactly what the industry needs more of. Economic development is built on relationships, and relationships are built on people who show up, stay curious, and invest in their craft. Grateful to GEDA for creating this space!

05/18/2026

Q1 2026 set the tone for a year of meaningful progress across our and laid the groundwork for meaningful progress ahead.

Our newsletter highlighted a strong start to the year across Georgia, covering new industry investments, community awards, retail and hospitality growth, and new Rural Zone designations, not forgetting our successful 21st Economic Development Summit at Jekyll Island.

🎯🎯🎯 ICYMI, read all about it:

A Q1 economic development update featuring Georgia grants, infrastructure investments, job creation, downtown revitalization, and growth across Georgia Energy Cities.

05/14/2026

Excited to see our put in the work to keep moving their communities forward using the resources, educational opportunities, and services at their disposal as ECG Cities.

With Community Development Manager Jon McBrayer facilitating this visioning session, we know it will be a great day!

Getting ready for a full day of learning with ECG Location Georgia at our annual DDA retreat!

A big thank you to Cairo Nutrition for keeping us fueled and for supporting the Zebulon Theater

We’re excited for a great day of ideas, collaboration, and planning for our downtown’s future.

05/14/2026

May's list highlights a featured opportunity from the Small Business Administration Center.

A grant - 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 𝙀2𝙂 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, that targets small manufacturing firms and focuses on innovative workforce development, hands-on in-person training, and technical assistance across industries, including aerospace, robotics, food processing, metal fabrication, advanced manufacturing, and more.

📌📌 Learn more about it by visiting:

Discover May 2026 funding opportunities for Georgia Energy Cities. This month features funding from the Small Business Administration.