Local Development Authorities sit at the center of a community’s economic future. They approve incentives, structure deals, and make decisions that shape a region’s competitiveness for decades. In many ways, the board is the backbone of local growth—but even the most dedicated board can be sidelined by a technicality they didn’t see coming.
Most board members step into their roles as community champions, not legal experts. And without specialized Georgia board training—now reinforced by state law—well-intentioned boards can slip into procedural missteps or outdated practices that put their community at risk.
Under GA Code § 36-62A-21(b) (as amended by SB?171), Development Authority members must complete two hours of continuing training each year; failure to do so for two consecutive years results in suspended voting rights. (Note: Downtown Development Authorities are exempted by O.C.G.A. § 36-62A-22.)
That’s why CEDR created Board Boost—a free, live, two-hour training delivered virtually and aligned to the state’s continuing education requirement. Each session includes timely legal updates alongside an applied topic, so boards stay current, compliant, and confident.
Avoiding the Legal Headache
Compliance isn’t a “learn as you go” skill. Development Authorities operate within a complex framework, where small deviations can have outsized consequences.
Consider a recent example from 2025: the Cairo Downtown Development Authority successfully challenged the city’s removal of its board members. According to the ruling, the city violated Georgia’s Open Meetings Act by improperly using an executive session to vote on the removals. The court voided the city’s decision and reinstated the DDA members. It’s a clear reminder that process matters—and that missteps can trigger litigation, delay, and reputational damage. [Thomasville Times-Enterprise]
SB 171 raises the stakes on board readiness. In addition to the initial training expectations, recurring two-hour annual training now applies to Development Authority directors beginning after July?1, ?2025, with a penalty of suspended voting rights after two consecutive years of noncompliance. (DDAs are exempt from this recurring requirement.)
Common pitfalls that training helps prevent include:
- Improperly noticed meetings or executive sessions
- Gaps or inconsistencies in incentive documentation
- Procedural errors during bond approvals
- Operating under policies that haven’t been updated in years
An educated board is a protected board. Board Boost dedicates one hour of every session to Recent Developments in Economic Development Law, ensuring members stay aligned with current statutes and case law rather than “how we did things ten years ago.”
Closing the Opportunity Gap
Site selectors and project teams evaluate more than just your acreage—they assess your board’s professionalism and pace. When a board hesitates because a deal structure is unfamiliar, the project doesn’t wait; it moves to the next county.
Board Boost equips members to evaluate modern financing tools and negotiation trends with clarity. Recent sessions have featured applied topics like:
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Workforce Housing as an economic development strategy.
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The Local Impact of Data Centers (fiscal impacts and infrastructure).
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C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy): Understanding how these new resiliency improvements introduce unique lien-priority and intercreditor considerations.
Training helps members spot both the opportunity and the complexity before a vote is ever cast.
A Small Investment with a Large Return
Board training isn’t a one-time orientation; it’s a core element of your community’s risk management strategy. For Development Authorities, it’s an annual requirement with real consequences for noncompliance.
A well-trained board avoids compliance mistakes that create legal and reputational harm, builds instant credibility with developers and partners, and makes faster, clearer decisions aligned with best practices.
Stay Ready: Join an Upcoming Board Boost Session
If your community wants to reduce risk, strengthen decision?making, and maintain full compliance with Georgia’s continuing education requirement, Board Boost is the place to start.
Check the upcoming Board Boost schedule or contact us for more information. Your board—and your community—deserve to operate from a place of clarity, confidence, and strength.
