Eastman City Council Chairman Raymond Mullis received the prestigious Certificate of Distinction from the Georgia Municipal Training Institute at the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Annual Mayors’ Day Conference in Atlanta on January 25.
The Georgia Municipal Training Institute, a cooperative effort of GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for elected city officials. To receive a Certificate of Distinction a city official must complete a minimum of 204 units of credit, including at least 72 hours from the required list and the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. The training program consists of a series of more than 50 courses.
The Certificate of Distinction is the highest level of Georgia Municipal Association training certification. Mullis was one of six city officials to receive the Certificate of Distinction at Mayors’ Day.
Pictured (l-r) Stacy Jones, associate director for Training, Education and Development at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia; Raymond Mullis; and Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, chair of the GMA Municipal Training Board
Eastman councilman receives the Certificate of Distinction
That is really not an off the wall prediction. According to the U.S. Census, Eastman's population is just under 5,000 people. During the day our population grows by about 2,000 more people commuting in for work. So let's say we are at about 7,000 population during a weekday now.
With the developing industry cluster out at the Airport, Eastman being home to the only public Aviation related college in Georgia, and our airport having a traffic control tower and a heavy duty runway; Eastman is starting to be noticed more as a home for aerospace related industry. It is not a pipe dream to think that our community is becoming more of a draw for a major industry that could offer up a bunch of jobs. I'm talking about 500 to a 1000 new job potential.
This is where it is important to have an economic development mindset and not just an economic growth mindset. The difference is if we move forward with a development mindset we will look at making sure that our community is in a position to be able to absorb the increased students in the school system, water and sewage, and all of the other public infrastructure demands. We have to have a plan when that day comes.
I am now a City Council member and I have that same vision that Eastman can grow to the size of Dublin and Milledgeville quite quickly. Look at West Point here in Georgia that according to the U.S. Census had a total population of 3,712 people. Kia Motors decided to build their first plant in North America in little old West Point. Bringing 2000 jobs and roughly another 5000 more jobs due to all of Kia's suppliers setting up shop near the plant.
I follow West Point's development closely because they are a city that is having to grow quickly. I believe Eastman will be challenged just like West Point in the near future.
I hate that your Cousin and their Boss were scared away by the thought of this growth. Tell them to give me a call if they are still thinking about opening up a new business.