Perdue to visit Albany Tech

June 12, 2009 (Albany Herald) - As a way of cutting down on economic fears, Gov. Sonny Perdue and other state officials and agency representatives will be in Albany today for a free Business & Housing Expo at Albany Technical College.

Perdue is set to speak at a news conference at 2:30 p.m. at the Kirkland Conference Center. He is traveling with Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Mike Beatty and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson. The trip will be Perdue's second to Albany in four months. He visited the Good Life City in February for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce's Annual Economic Development event.

The expo will be presented at six state technical colleges today and Saturday. In addition to Albany, it will also be held today in Hinesville and Warner Robins, and moves to Atlanta, Athens and Calhoun Saturday. The expos run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and the workshops will be held in campus classrooms.

Perdue, Beatty, Jackson, Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Ken Stewart and Governor's Office of Customer Service Commissioner Joe Doyle are partnering to host the expos, which aim to bring business, home ownership and government resources together.

The expos allow the agencies a better opportunity to share information about federal, state and private economic development tools. They also enable expo participants to find other resources to invest in Georgia's economy and seek home ownership.

"We're always happy to help the Department of Community Affairs and the Governor's Office in their way of helping Southwest Georgia. Any way we can help, we're happy to help," Albany Technical College President Anthony Parker said. "It's great to have the three commissioners and the governor of Georgia in Albany, Georgia, helping with issues that are important to the state."

Information about federal/state financing and technical assistance tools will be made available at the expos for businesses and entrepreneurs.

"We are excited to host these informational expos," Beatty said in a news release. "Our goals are to connect Georgia citizens and businesses with the resources they need to survive and thrive during these tough economic times. We recognize that the state and its federal and local partners have access to numerous programs that can help potential homeowners, the sole proprietor entrepreneur and small and large businesses. Yet, program information may be viewed as difficult to access. The expo addresses the access issue, as experts from each area will be on site to answer questions and provide information."

For more information or for participant registration, visit www.dca.ga.gov or call (678) 701-9641.