In addition

to promotional items imprinted with a specially designed logo for the

event and a web site that will link to individual counties, a reception

for invited guests has been planned for the second night of the show.

According to Bob White, Metro South chairman and executive director of

the Henry County Development Authority, "Our members will have an

opportunity to consult on a more casual and comfortable basis with prospects

who appear to have some interest in our area."

A memento will

be given to each guest in hopes that they'll "keep Georgia on their

minds," but in particular, that the Atlanta region is foremost on

their minds.

Several members

of the organizations are working on the design and creation of a web site

built especially for COMDEX. By visiting https://www.atlantajda.org

before, during or after the event, attendees can take a virtual tour of

Atlanta and even link to individual counties and communities within the

participating region.

When they get

home, contacting any participating member will be as simple as clicking

on "contact us," and relationships begun in Las Vegas can be

developed at will.

The benefits

of regional cooperation are varied, say group members, but the most obvious

is that of an ability to pool resources, ideas and leads.

"Individually,

this venture would be cost prohibitive to the average county's economic

development organization," said Rieck, adding that financial limitations

are just one factor in planning such a huge undertaking.

"The most

valuable benefits of working together aren't tangible ones, but they're

the collaborative efforts of meeting logistical challenges and creativity

for marketing materials and so many other items that are possible through

an exchange from different perspectives."

Powell agreed,

concluding, "We have to offer, in the Atlanta region, anything an

international firm could possibly want or need, and in which county they

locate doesn't matter as long as it's in our region."

The Joint Development

Authority of Metropolitan Atlanta and Metro South expect to come home

in mid-November with a list of qualified leads, which they will share.

For information

on the groups' collaborative efforts, visit the web site. COMDEX information

is available at https://www.comdex.com .