THE OVERVIEW OF THE “GEORGIA GLOBAL NOW” MARKETING CAMPAIGN OUTLINED BY RANDOLPH CARDOZA, THE STATE’S COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND TOURISM, AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ATLANTA TUESDAY EVENING, FEB. 28, FELL ON SYMPATHETIC EARS.
BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE AS RECEPTIVE TO THE $10 MILLION PROGRAM WHICH WOULD USE BILLBOARDS IN AIRPORTS AROUND THE WORLD, A WIDE VARIETY OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING TO SPREAD THE WORD THAT GEORGIA IS A PREMIER BUSINESS LOCATION AND TOURIST DESTINATION.
BY THE TIME OF THE MEETING, THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ALREADY HAD TRIMMED $2.5 MILLION FROM THE CAMPAIGN, LEAVING $5 MILLION IN FUNDING PLUS $2.5 ALREADY EARMARKED IN THE DEPARTMENT’S BUDGET. THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM THIS WEEK.SPURGEON RICHARDSON, PRESIDENT OF THE ATLANTA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU (ACVB), PRAISED THE CAMPAIGN SAYING THAT THE OLYMPICS PROVIDED “A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY” FOR THE CITY, STATE AND REGION TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES.
“FOR ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND THE SOUTHEAST, THIS IS OUR MOMENT IN TIME,” HE SAID, “BUT IT IS EASY TO UNDERESTIMATE HOW UNKNOWN WE ARE ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD JUST DON’T KNOW OUR STATE AND REGION.”
ATLANTA DEVELOPER, E. EARL PATTON, JR., CHAIRMAN OF PARKWOOD GROUP INC., WAS ONE OF SOME 50 PERSONS ATTENDING THE PRESENTATION. HE CALLED THE CAMPAIGN “AN INVESTMENT IN GEORGIA’S FUTURE,” AND DECRIED THE HOUSE’S $2.5 MILLION TRIMMING.
MR. CARDOZA POINTED TO INCREASING COMPETITION FROM NEIGHBORING STATES WITH LARGER TOURISM AND BUSINESS RECRUITMENT BUDGETS. THE GEORGIA GLOBAL NOW CAMPAIGN WOULD PROVIDE NECESSARY “RECOGNITION” FOR THE STATE AS “A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT, LIVE AND DO BUSINESS,” HE SAID.