VALDOSTA — Valdosta and Lowndes County officials and business leaders attended the South Georgia Partnership for Regional Development luncheon at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center Monday to discuss economic growth for the region.

Georgia Department for Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart spoke about Georgia and Valdosta’s economic development and success. “There is great energy in Valdosta, I say Valdosta globally. There is great energy in Valdosta business and the people that utilize that business,” said Stewart. “We had a great legislative session regarding business this year. The shrinking value of the dollar has put us in an awkward place and we are looking for efficiency and solutions.

“When looking for a place to locate props for business, we need to look here within the nation for capacity. In 30 years, Georgia will double in size, along with North Carolina, within the largest growing area in the United States, the southeast. Even the small business in Georgia, and specifically Valdosta, which has developed through the SEEDS program, have been progressive and productive. This results from ideas and acting collectively to produce the power and energy necessary to continue regional development,” said Stewart.

“We have also increased a very focused strategic effort to increasing industry,” Stewart added. "We are getting very tactical as to how we name industries. We are being as malleable as possible to try to react to global income and discussing the process of bringing international industry to Valdosta.

Stewart is sure that Valdosta and Georgia overall has taken its stance in productive regional development. “Georgia is a market state everyday. From Southern Living to Business Enterprise to periodicals in China and France we will continue to see Georgia in almost 17 different languages. Georgia is being highlighted all over the globe,” said Stewart.

In addition to local and the surrounding officials, representatives comprising the SGPRD group included Jennifer Schneider of the Adel-Cook County Chamber, Crissy Staley of the Berrien County Chamber, John Cox of the Quitman-Brooks County Chamber, Katie Mosier of the Lakeland- Lanier County Chamber, Myrna Ballard of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber, and John Leonard of the South Georgia RDC.