EDO Director Reynolds moves to IBA, EDO’s future yet to be determined

Paulding’s Economic Development Organization Executive Director Robert Reynolds did not accept an offer in March to take over as Interim Director of the Industrial Building Authority (IBA), but did recently move into the Executive Director role.
Reynolds began on July 27 as director of the building authority, which has the power to offer publicly-backed, tax-free financing to help recruit new employers to the county.
Upon retiring last year former Paulding Chamber President Carolyn Wright noted that the Chamber and the EDO were at times over-stepping each other, and felt their respective roles could be better aligned. “The Chamber works on helping businesses that are here to grow, the EDO works on bringing jobs to Paulding and helping with any infrastructure needs with existing businesses, and they partner, but that’s been a struggle ever since the EDO was established,” Wright said.
Georgia’s General Assembly established Paulding’s Industrial Building Authority in the early 1960s and has worked with the Chamber of Commerce for over four decades to market and recruit new industries. The IBA owns two industrial parks and a motion picture soundstage. “It will take time to integrate the operations of both entities so that we can have a dynamic economic development organization that operates in a unified and professional manner moving forward,” said IBA Chairman Robert Crouse.
The future for Paulding’s EDO was uncertain as to whether it would remain apart or if it will fold into the IBA, effectively ending its five-year run as an independent operation. Presumably, EDO offices in the Regions Bank building in Dallas will close, as well, but those decisions would be made by Reynolds together with the EDO board, according to current Chamber President Stacy Hamby. Efforts to contact Reynolds for comment by press time were unsuccessful.
Paulding’s Economic Development Organization was established five years ago and funded by the Chamber, the county, and the cities of Dallas and Hiram, though Hiram eventually withdraw support in favor of a downtown business association.
Despite the early optimism of EDO organizers controversy and litigation over Paulding’s airport may have stifled the organization from achieving as much as had been hoped.
Reynolds was hired in July of 2015 to replace first EDO Executive Director Jamie Gilbert, who resigned his position in November of 2014.
Reynolds background with Paulding County began from working in Douglas County from 1997 through 2010 as director of the Development Authority where he helped to bring a Google Data Center and an American Red Cross regional distribution center.
The IBA were scheduled to hold their Board of Directors meeting this week at the Paulding Chamber of Commerce in Dallas.

Robert Reynolds began on July 27 as Executive Director of the Industrial Building Authority.
(Photo: R. Grant)