History of Industrial Extension in Georgia

1885 Georgia Tech established by legislature
1888 Georgia Tech opens
1899 3,015 manufacturers in Georgia
1919 Engineering Experiment Station (EES) at Georgia Tech created on paper by state legislature in anticipation of federal funding bill for EES's (which never came through). Responsibilities included the "encouragement of industries and commerce." 4,608 manufacturers in Georgia
1929 4,179 manufacturers in Georgia
1934 EES (now Georgia Tech Research Institute) opened at Tech with starting budget of $5,000. No federal funds used.
1938 Industrial Development Council (IDC - now the Georgia Tech Research Corporation) formed to conduct contract research outside of the state budget. State Planning Board established by governor to provide leadership for private economic progress.
1939 3,055 manufacturers in Georgia.
1943 Agricultural and Industrial Development Board formed to advertise economic opportunities and help firms locate in Georgia.
1944 Georgia Department of Commerce established to plan industrial development (mostly recruiting).
1946 EES used matching state funds for regional economic analyses - conducted to identify opportunities for new industry and later used by industrial developers for recruiting.
1947 4,755 manufacturers in Georgia.
1956 Industrial Development Branch (IDB) of EES formed - the first time there was a specific budget for industrial development research at the EES.
1958 5,860 manufacturers in Georgia.
1959 A Preliminary Blueprint for Industrial Development in Georgia, the basis for future IES legislation in Georgia, written by Dr. Ken Wagner of Georgia Tech.
1960 Georgia assembly passes bill replacing 1919 EES legislation and creating an Industrial Extension Service (IES) within the IDB to be administered through local EES field offices.
1961 IDB funding of $330,000 ($180K state and $150K contracts). Industrial Services Branch created, formally starting the program of technical assistance to industries. First field office opens in Rome with $30,000 from governor and $75,000 from Coosa Valley Planning and Development Commission.
1964-1966 IES has 7 offices, including new offices in Carrollton, Albany, Brunswick, Savannah, Augusta and Macon. Carrollton funded in part by U.S. Department of Commerce and Area Redevelopment Administration (ARA).
1965 IDB changed to Industrial Development Division. Economic Development Administration University Center established (formerly ARA); $200,000 per year funding received to assist economically depressed areas.
1966 IDB budget $500,000+; federal funds also used.
1967 Brunswick office moved to Douglas. 6,976 manufacturers in Georgia.
1977 8,623 manufacturers in Georgia.
1979 Gainesville regional office opened - IES has 8 offices. Industrial Development Division becomes Economic Development Laboratory within the EES.
1980 Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), a high-tech incubator, started on the Georgia Tech campus.
1984 Brunswick, Columbus, Dublin, and Madison regional offices opened - IES has 12 offices.
1985 EES becomes Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).
1987 Technology Applications Center (TAC) of Georgia Power opened on Tech campus. 9,187 manufacturers in Georgia (3,878 in Atlanta).
1989 Memorandum of Agreement between NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and state signed.
1990 Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), a non-profit partnership between business, government, and research universities founded to develop science and technology-based industry, commerce, and business. Georgia Power TAC moves off campus.
1991 Warner-Robbins branch of ATDC opened - IES has 13 offices.
1992 Governors Advisory Council on Science and Technology Development established. First Georgia manufacturing technology center (MTC) proposal submitted (not funded).
1993 IES programs reorganized into the Economic Development Institute (EDI) along with ATDC. Center for International Standards and Quality (CISQ) established at EDI. Successful MTC proposal submitted under the Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP).
1994 Traditional Industrial Initiative (TTI) funded by General Assembly to support consortia of industria, academia, and government. With federal funding, IES joins the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (U.S. Department of Commerce), incorporating new name - the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Alliance (GMEA) - and expanding to 18 offices.

January 1 to March 31
GMEA starts with four members - Georgia Tech's Economic Development Institute (EDI), University of Georgia's Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Georgia Department of Technology and Adult Education's QuickStart program, and Georgia Power's Technology Applications Center (TAC); and 45 full-time equivalent personnel. GMEA implements first evaluation plan for the program.

April 1 to June 30
Center for Strategic Improvement (CSI) begins hiring. Center for Manufacturing Information Technology begins limited service assessments. Cartersville, Norcross, and South Metro Offices begin hiring.

July 1 to September 30
Technology Linkages Office (TLO) manager hired. Cartersville, Dalton offices opened. Madison office moved to Athens and co-located with the Georgia SBDC state headquarters office. GMEA-Westinghouse Savannah River company memorandum of agreement signed. Georgia Manufacturing Technology Survey completed. InfoTac begins (Georgia Tech, Appalachian Regional Commission, N.C. State, Clemson, Auburn, National Textile Center consortium all involved).

October 1 to December 31
Norcross office opened. Human Resource Development Center (HRDC) created. Energy Resource Center becomes Center for Process Optimization (CPO).
1995 10,517 manufacturers in Georgia.

January 1 to March 31
National Technology University remote access set up.

April 1 to June 30
Griffin regional office opened as satellite of South Metro office.

July 1 to September 30
Gainesville and Dalton offices relocated to co-locate with SBDC. Norcross office moves into new facilities, co-locates with SBDC. Rome office relocated to Floyd College, co-located with SBDC.
1996 GMEA served 2,100+ manufacturers via 2,647 projects and informal engagements, 11 networks, and 240 workshops and seminars from 2/94-12/96 with 62.5 full-time equivalent personnel.
  • GMEA Advisory Council has first meeting.
  • New partners added, including the Edison Welding Institute and the Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division.
  • Developed assessment tools in management, human resource, waste minimization, lean manufacturing, and industrial marketing and sales areas.
  • CISQ received ISO 9001 registration (the first university of a public university to receive registration).
  • Received state grant to create a mobile manufacturing information technology demonstration center. Along with two other MEPs, established a Technology Information Network.
  • ATDC establishes incubator in the Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technologies (GCATT) building
  • Participated in the Southeastern Automotive Supplier Network, a consortium of nine MEPs to work with suppliers to the automobile assembly companies.