17 Feb 2026
Courage and Hard Decisions in Retail and Commercial Development
Some of the most important decisions a community makes are also the hardest to explain in the moment. A while back, my colleagues and I started a book club and read Daring Greatly by Brené Brown. In the book, she reflects on one of my favorite quotes by Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man In The Arena”…
26 Jan 2026
Downtowns Don’t Market Themselves: The Work Behind Great Main Streets
Great downtowns rarely happen by accident. They are the result of consistent, intentional work by local leaders, economic development professionals, business owners, and community partners who understand that their Main Street must be actively shaped, promoted, and cared for.
13 Nov 2025
Georgia Retail Update: Retailtainment, Amenity-Driven Properties, and Public/Private Partnerships
Our retail team participated in another successful ICSC Southeast event in Atlanta this past October! The event, held at the Georgia World Congress Center, included insight into the hurdles developers continue to face.
07 Nov 2025
Young Gamechangers Graduates 2025 Class
- ECG ED Team attended the 2025 GeorgiaForward Young Gamechangers cohort graduation, where team members Jon McBrayer and Morgan Ferguson presented their final recommendations concluding the 8-month program.
At ECG, delivering excellence for our communities means more than providing expertise; it’s also about encouraging our team members to step into statewide spaces that inspire collaboration, leadership, and new ideas for community advancement.
04 Sep 2025
The Race to Be Ready: How to Turn a Location into Opportunity
Site selectors aren’t looking for perfect communities; they’re looking for prepared ones. While major metropolitan areas attract most focus regarding economic development, rural communities offer several qualities that appeal to companies: resilience, affordability, availability of resources, and long-term partnerships.