Georgia Tech Assesses Dalton-Whitfield’s Readiness for a Business Incubator

In 2011, the Archway Partnership’s Diverse, Forward-Thinking Economy Issue Work Group began to consider how a business incubator might support potential startups and entrepreneurs in the community.  After several discussions, a presentation from Georgia Tech, and a tour of the Chattanooga business incubator program, the work group recommended that the Archway Executive Committee hire Georgia Tech to conduct a business incubator feasibility study.   The Executive Committee discussed this recommendation and agreed to move forward with the project with funding from the Joint Development Authority and the University of Georgia Archway Partnership. 

In May, Georgia Tech launched a community readiness assessment to determine whether the Dalton-Whitfield community can support a business incubator.  On Wednesday, October 17, the Georgia Tech team presented their findings to personnel from the Archway Partnership, the Joint Development Authority and the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce.  Erin Rosintoski, a member of the Georgia Tech research group, presented the findings.

Erin Rosintoski presents Georgia Tech’s community readiness assessment research

In the presentation, Georgia Tech noted that the Dalton-Whitfield community has several challenges, including the educational attainment among the community’s adult population; a decrease in businesses and employment since the onset of the recession; and a lack of funding available to would-be startups.  However, they also noted several positive characteristics, including growth in the 55-64 year old age range, which is the age group with the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity nationally; growth in the local healthcare and social assistance, transportation and warehousing, and professional, scientific and technical service sectors; and the opening of over 500 new businesses in Whitfield County in the last two years.   In addition, Georgia Tech noted that 36% of the patents filed in Whitfield County were not flooring related, that over half of the obstacles to success noted by entrepreneurs could be overcome by a business incubator, and that there was support for a business incubator among the community’s leadership and business owners. 

Georgia Tech concluded that the Dalton-Whitfield area would benefit from the introduction of a business incubation program. However, the team proposed that the entity tasked with achieving this goal move with patience and caution, as there are significant key factors that must be addressed before an incubation program can be up and running. 

The Joint Development Authority and the Archway Partnership are currently working with Georgia Tech to host a meeting open to the community where the results are shared in full.  Following that meeting, community leaders will decide whether to pursue the next phase of the business incubator feasibility study.

 

 

Readers to Leaders Partners With Local Library

The partnership between the Dalton-Whitfield Readers to Leaders program and the Northwest Georgia Regional Library continues to grow.  On Wednesday, October 24, University of Georgia researchers, JoBeth Allen and Roberta Gardner, met with the library staff and other members of the community to discuss how the library could become a key player in the Readers to Leaders literacy initiative in the Dalton-Whitfield community.

The Northwest Georgia Regional Library offers many services to the Dalton-Whitfield area.  They offer not only educational reading, but also recreational reading to anyone in the community.  They have computers, Wi-Fi, a computer class, and also a website that offers resources to help individuals with job searches, genealogy, and financial planning.  The library staff wants to create branch libraries throughout the county.  They have already created a partnership with the local Community Center and provide it with books to distribute to interested community members.

 

At the October 24 meeting, the UGA researchers shared 21^st Century Library concepts employed in other communities.  Roberta Gardner shared a PowerPoint demonstrating how libraries use book mobiles to deliver Wi-Fi access and computer training to underserved parts of communities.  The group brainstormed about how the Dalton-Whitfield community might utilize trained volunteers to activate a similar book mobile service.  The group also discussed restoring old school buses to serve as satellite branches.

In June, the library will hire a new director to take the lead on expanding the library further into the community.  In the meantime, Interim Director Nick Fogarty and his team will continue to work closely with community members to develop a new vision for the library. 

 

           

UGA Professor Leads Training on Parent and Family Engagement in Education

On October 23, UGA professor and parent engagement expert Dr. JoBeth Allen led educators from Whitfield County Schools and Dalton Public Schools in a training session focused on creating positive partnerships between families and schools.  Dr. Allen’s interactive presentation, entitled “Creating Welcoming Schools in Literacy Collaborative Classrooms,” challenged local educators to think about how they can bolster student achievement by engaging parents and families in student learning outside of the classroom. 



Teachers participating in Dr. Allen's training.

 

Ideas discussed during the session included: coaching parents on interactive read alouds; engaging parents and children in telling and recording family stories; assigning students to talk with parents about how they use reading in their jobs; helping students design “lessons” for family members; drawing on “family funds of knowledge”; planning family visits to learn about students; engaging families in two-way journals; and hosting book clubs. 

Dr. Allen shares advice with Whitfield County teachers.

 

Dr. Allen’s presentation and work reflects a commitment on behalf of the community and Archway Partnership to support the local investment in public education and the Literacy Collaborative.   

 

DPS Seeking Individuals Who Work In Gender-specific, Non-traditional Roles

Dalton Public Schools is looking for individuals who work in gender-specific, non-traditional roles (a male working in culinary arts, a female welder or engineer, a female firefighter, a male child care worker, etc.) to serve as role models for their students. Dalton Public Schools would like to promote the success of these individuals and, with their permission, tell their stories. If you or someone you know might be interested in participating please contact Larry Murkerson whose contact information is below.

Contact Information:

Larry P. Murkerson, Ed.D.

Assistant Director of School Support

Dalton Public Schools

Larry.Murkerson@dalton.k12.ga.us

(706)-876-4040

Entrepreneur Resource Rally

 

You are invited to an Entrepreneur Resource Rally on October 26, 2012 at Dalton State College from 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM.  Please see the following invitation for details.

 

 

Archway Executive Committee Seeks to Further UGA-Generated Plans on Lakeshore Park and Treadmill Lake and Considers Long-Term Storm Water Management Plan

Over the past year, UGA College of Environment and Design Masters student Rachel Johnson worked closely with the Dalton-Whitfield community to develop extensive plans for the redesign of a Lakeshore Park, a community park located near an elementary school; Threadmill Lake, a former lake with a breached dam that could serve a storm water function; and the neighboring community.  Rachel presented her work to the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Executive Committee in September, sparking energetic dialogue and a request for more information on the project from local leaders.  On Wednesday, October 10, Dalton State College professor John Lugthart and Dalton Utilities Senior Vice President of Watershed Services Mark Marlowe spoke to the Executive Committee about the feasibility of the Lakeshore Park and Threadmill Lake plans. 
 
City Manager Ty Ross reported that the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department (DP&R), who is responsible for the oversight and management of Lakeshore Park, has informally divided the plans for the park into three Phases:  Phase I focuses on revitalizing a soccer field; Phase II focuses on adding new tennis courts; and Phase III focuses on the wetlands and the lake in the south end of the park.  Phases I and II are incorporated into DP&R’s capital improvement wish list over the next five years because they can be economic drivers (bring in sporting events, etc.).  Phase III’s completion will likely depend on outside funding.  All projects will be a stretch in this current economic environment. 

Professor Lugthart, who was responsible for convening the citizen group that informed Rachel’s renderings of Lakeshore Park, noted that there is a grant opportunity with the Conasauga River Alliance for some improvements on the south end of Lakeshore Park.  He said that $10,000 to $40,000 is available in grant funding if the community can secure a 1 to 1 match with local funders.  He further noted that the grant will require at least five community partners, which he believes have already been identified through the Archway process.      

Mark Marlowe spoke to the Executive Committee about the community’s long-term storm water management plans and the importance of Threadmill Lake to those plans.  Mr. Marlowe shared that in 2008, the City of Dalton gave Dalton Utilities responsibility for managing storm water.  He noted that fifty plus years of development without adequate storm water management has resulted in significant property damage and water quality issues.  Mr. Marlowe shared that the Threadmill Lake area represents one of two areas in the community that needs the most work.  He explained that Threadmill Lake previously served as an informal storm water facility; however, several years ago the government told the home owners’ association (HOA) that owns the lake that they either had to breach the dam or pay millions of dollars to improve it.  The HOA destroyed the dam at a $50k expense and, consequently, the area does not have an adequate storm water facility.  Mr. Marlowe asked Rachel Johnson to draw some concepts to demonstrate how the restored lake could serve the dual purpose of serving as a storm water management facility and valuable community amenity.  He noted that it will take at least $2.5 million to return the lake to functionality, but the long-term consequences of not restoring the lake into a watershed will be much more costly.  

As a result of Mr. Marlowe’s presentation, the Executive Committee acknowledged that the community will ultimately have to address its storm water management issues.  Without adequate storm water management, water quality goes down which results in higher water bills for property owners.  In addition, significant property damage will continue to occur with each major storm.  Currently, there is no mechanism for paying for significant storm water management in the community.  The Executive Committee agreed to consider this issue further in the future.

You can view the final plans for Lakeshore Park and Threadmill Lake at the following links:

Lakeshore Park Final Plans

Lakeshore Park Phasing Plan

Threadmill Lake Final Plans

Threadmill Lake Trail Connections

Archway Executive Committee hosts Housing Authority and Learns About GICH

On Wednesday, October 10, the Dalton-Whitfield Archway Partnership Executive Committee hosted the Housing Authority of the City of Dalton (HACD) at its monthly meeting.  Scott Painter, Executive Director of the Dalton Housing Authority, explained that the HACD is a local community housing authority whose mission is to provide quality and affordable housing to low income families and over time bolster them into home ownership.  Mr. Painter shared that the HACD currently operates 565 units, 350 of which need to be demolished and reconstructed.  He shared that the HACD got a new board in 2010 and, with the help of Ed Goodwin and Associates and Pennrose Properties, developed a new strategic plan in 2011.  The new plan focuses on redeveloping affordable housing in Dalton with new and modern neighborhoods.  The transformation plan has two phases.  Phase one focuses on building 72 new apartments for the senior residents in the community and phase two focuses on building housing units for families in the community.  The HACD’s strategy is to begin new housing construction in 2014 and to develop and implement a home ownership program in the future.  The project will cost about $10 million.  Funds for this project will be provided through a mix of city funding, bonds, private financing and equity, project based vouchers provided by HUD, and potential tax credits.

Mark Straub, Development Manager for Pennrose Properties, describes the HACD's transformational plan.

To supplement their local efforts, the HACD is leading an effort for the community to participate in the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program.  GICH, a partnership formed between the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA), the University of Georgia and select communities, provides participating communities with technical assistance and resources to support community housing.  Communities that are selected to participate in GICH commit to a three year training program.  In 2005 through 2008, Whitfield County participated and graduated from the GICH program.  However, since 2008, local leadership and boards have changed and HACD believes it is in Dalton-Whitfield’s best interest to go through the GICH program again.  GICH will make its initial site visit to the Dalton-Whitfield community on October 29, 2012, from 10:30 to 11:30 am at City Hall.