The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission has chosen Boyd Austin as its new executive director. The former mayor of Dallas, Georgia, starts with the commission Friday.
Boyd succeeds Lloyd Frasier, who worked for the commission for 49 years - with about 10 of those years as executive director, Frasier said. On Thursday, his last day of work before retirement, Frasier spoke with the Chattanooga Times Free Press by phone about the commission and the future of the region's workforce.
"He started from the bottom and worked his way all the way up," Ted Rumley, Dade County Commission chairman and county executive, said of Frasier. "When he started, he was actually a planner with different cities and counties. Lloyd's always been a loyal and a good person."
There are 12 regional commissions in Georgia, made up of eight to 17 counties. The Northwest Georgia Regional Commission serves 15 counties and 49 municipalities, and has offices in Rome and in Dalton.
"You've got federal government and you got state government, and then there's a gap that bridges down to local government ... in that gap is where we work," Frasier said, assisting cities and counties with meeting state and federal law requirements.
The commission began in the 1960s assisting with planning and development, Frasier said, before branching out to other support roles. He said the commission has a staff of about 55 to 60, with most of those being degreed professionals.
"We provide assistance to local governments in planning, development, transportation, senior centers, Meals on Wheels ... all that comes through our office," Frasier said. The commission also administers the Federal Workforce Investment Act that coordinates technical colleges and industries to match training with what's needed in the workforce.
(READ MORE: Law enforcement studies added to Georgia's state-paid college tuition program)
A lot of new industry is moving to Northwest Georgia, Frasier said, pointing to Interstate 75 near Ringgold and between the cities of Wyatt and Emerson as areas of growth. The region has maintained a strong job market recently, Frasier said, and training for many of the positions available can be had at the region's technical colleges.
"There's a tremendous need for welders, there's a tremendous need for truck drivers and there's a tremendous need for nursing aids or nursing attendants. Not a nurse, but their assistant, because we have an aging population to take care of," Frasier said.
(READ MORE: Northwest Georgia unemployment rate remains near historic lows)
The commission helps recruit new businesses to the area, too, helps them navigate regulations and manage facility needs like access roads, drainage, site grading, utilities, water storage and internet capacity. The commission also helps communities find federal job creation funding and helps "tie that together" with private investment, Frasier said.
The commission staffs a call center for the region's aging population, too, helping older adults live independently and access services. That support staff of the Northwest Georgia Agency on Aging can be reached at 1-800-759-2963.
Frasier said Boyd was a good choice to replace him as executive director. Boyd was one of six candidates considered.
"They've picked a gentlemen who I think is going to be very good for the organization," Frasier said. "He's been around in this arena for some time, and he knows a lot of the players on the state and federal level, and he knows the local folks, too, because he was a local mayor at one time."
Dade County and Trenton just finished an update to their five-year comprehensive plan, Rumley said. Beyond that, the county is constantly working with the regional commission because about 80% of the county's federal and state funds are funneled through it, he said.
"There are very few counties that don't have something going or something in the future that they're helping with," he said, giving the examples of water resources, elder services and industrial development.
Federal grant applications are complex, and some are over 100 pages, so the regional commission has professionals to make sure those are filled out correctly, Rumley said. Commission professionals also help with reporting requirements for grants.
(READ MORE: Loans available for Northwest Georgia businesses recovering post-pandemic)
At the commission's monthly meeting, Rumley said there are representatives from United States Department of Agriculture, Appalachian Regional Commission, congressmen, senators, each of the 15 participating counties' head elected official, and the mayor of the biggest city in every county.
"There's a lot of things that happen at the regional commission. That's one meeting I don't miss," Rumley said, noting that the commission takes off in June and July for summer vacations. "There's no proxies, so if you're not there, you don't have a vote."
Contact Andrew Wilkins at awilkins@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Follow him on Twitter @tweetatwilkins.