Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 5 ENGAGEMENT SBDC Partnership. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a program of The University of Georgia System and the Langdale College of Business in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration that is designed to provide resources for growing and developing businesses to assist in regional economic development. The Langdale College students collaborate with the Center and work with its clients on business plan review and formation, financial analysis, marketing plan development, and industry research. Center for Economic and Business Research (CBER). CBER supports regional economic development and promotes activities that strengthen the competitive positions of regional business. CBER provides a broad range of consulting services, training programs, and public service activities to the 41 South Georgia counties of our service area. The Center provides Lowndes County by the Numbers, Quarterly Cost-of- Living Index, and the South Georgia Economic Outlook. • Lowndes County by the Numbers identifies the peer and aspirant communities for Lowndes County and compares economic indicators that measure the strengths and opportunities for this community. The purpose of the report is to assess the economic performance of Lowndes County as benchmarked against peer and aspirant communities and provide a foundation for developing strategic planning and growth strategies for the Lowndes County community. • Quarterly Cost-of-Living Index (COLI) measures regional price differences in consumer goods and services for professional and managerial households. This data aids businesses and consumers in salary and relocation decisions. • South Georgia Economic Outlook is a quarterly publication that reports the economic conditions and events that influence the South Georgia business environment. The purpose is to provide information about regional economic activity and a forecast of expected economic activity. South Georgia Community Banking Symposium. The Langdale College and the Georgia Bankers Association host the annual South Georgia Community Bank Symposium. Over 80 regional community bankers have attended the educational symposium for each of the past five years. This event features industry leading speakers who focus on the many challenges and innovative opportunities for the financial services sector. Economic Summit. The Summit is an annual event co-sponsored by the Langdale College and the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. 150 business leaders and community builders gather to discuss economic development strategies. Dr. Cindy Tori, professor of economics, presented Lowndes County by the Numbers comparison benchmarks and the Economic Outlook for South Georgia. Each Summit has its own theme. Economic Summit 2015 featured the film industry opportunities for Georgia, inland port possibilities, and the small business incubator process. Faculty Outreach. Dr. Roy Copeland, assistant professor of management, has served as the chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary of the Valdosta - Lowndes County Development Authority. Its mission is to foster business and industry development and to add jobs to the regional economy. He also has served as president of 100 Black Men of Valdosta. Dr. Aubrey Fowler, associate professor of marketing, is a member of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority. Dr. Wayne Plumly, professor of economics, is a partner on the Business Incubation Development Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. INNOVATION Experiential Learning Requirements. Langdale College students are required to have either an internship, study abroad experience, or 150 community- service hours during their undergraduate programs. Our mission states, “We provide Engagement, Innovation, & Impact S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 5