Economic development plays an important role in strengthening communities, creating new jobs, supporting existing employers, and promoting shared prosperity. Rockdale County and the City of Conyers have a strong history of investing in and promoting economic development through a shared partnership. This economic development partnership includes the business community, residents, elected officials, educational organizations, the Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC), and the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce. Recent industry expansions and investments in the community demonstrate the impact of the community’s shared economic development efforts.

Over the past two years, leaders in Rockdale County and the City of Conyers have taken active steps to chart a new vision and strategy for economic development in the community. This effort seeks to build on the strong economic development foundation in the community and position Rockdale-Conyers for more success in future years. Specifically, in December 2018, Rockdale County Commission Chairman Oz Nesbitt created an Economic Development Task Force. The group was charged with evaluating current economic development efforts, enhancing communication between various partners in economic development, and devising strategies to boost economic development efforts in Rockdale County. The task force is composed of leaders from the county government, the Rockdale County Development Authority, City of Conyers, and the CREDC.

In early 2020, Rockdale County, in partnership with the City of Conyers and the CREDC, launched a formal effort to develop a new economic development strategy for the community. The group engaged the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to support the project and developed a steering committee of local leaders to oversee the project. This report summarizes the findings of the steering committee and details the new strategy for advancing economic development efforts in Rockdale County.