Thursday, February 9, 2012

Brian McGowan Appointed to Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone Board of Directors


 ATLANTA (Feb. 9, 2012) –Brian P. McGowan (top right photo), President and CEO of Invest Atlanta, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone.

GFTZ is a private, non-profit organization providing oversight of Foreign-Trade Zone #26 in Atlanta. Foreign-Trade Zone #26 originates at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (middle left photo) and includes several industrial sites in metro Atlanta and manufacturing sites across Georgia.

McGowan’s current term on the board runs through December, and he already has been asked to consider standing for re-election to a full three-year term at that time.

“As a member of the board, [McGowan] will be a foreign-trade zone ambassador, helping to spread the word on the benefits of foreign-trade zones and GFTZ in particular, to potential users, operators, government officials and the general community GFTZ board Chairman Jose Gonzalez (middle right photo) wrote in a letter welcoming McGowan to the board.

McGowan joins a board of directors that includes some of the other top economic development officials and consultants in Georgia.

International commerce is becoming an increasingly important focus at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and for Invest Atlanta. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (lower left photo), who also serves as chairman of Invest Atlanta, has made a priority of increasing the international airport cargo business at the airport.

“It is quite an honor to be appointed to the board,” McGowan said. “GFTZ is great for Atlanta and our state as we continue to work to increase foreign direct investment. The Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone stimulates economic growth and assists in the creation of jobs.”

 Invest Atlanta (formerly Atlanta Development Authority) is the official economic development authority for the City of Atlanta. Its purpose is to increase opportunity and prosperity for the people of Atlanta by strengthening its economy and global competitiveness. 

Chaired by the Mayor of Atlanta, and governed by a nine-member board of directors, Invest Atlanta’s programs and initiatives focus on developing and fostering public/private partnerships to create jobs, grow the economy, revitalize neighborhoods, attract investment, spur innovation, and encourage entrepreneurship.

To achieve these goals, Invest Atlanta leverages the benefits of bond financing, revolving loan funds, housing financing, tax increment financing (TIF), and tax credits.

 For more information on how Invest Atlanta can provide solutions for you or your business, contact us at: 404-880-4100, or visit us at: www.InvestAtlanta.com.

 To get the latest updates, follow us on Twitter@InvestAtlanta, and Like us on Facebook.

 Contact:  ehagin@wnspr.com

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