Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), designated Cobb County as a Camera Ready Community at the Georgia State Capitol on March 21. The state’s Camera Ready Community Program was launched as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to bolster Georgia’s growing film and television industry.
“We have experienced a significant increase in jobs, investment, infrastructure and film induced tourism, making Georgia’s entertainment industries among the state’s fastest growing sectors,” said GDEcD commissioner Chris Cummiskey. “The statewide response has been tremendous from Georgia counties that want to become Camera Ready in order to help bring jobs and investments to their local communities.”
Camera Ready is a designation put in place by the state to offer film and television production companies easier, faster and better access to local resources and information. Cobb CVB CEO Holly Bass is Cobb’s Camera Ready Community designated liaison to assist film and television production companies on a local level.
The 2008 Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act helped the state’s entertainment industry achieve record numbers. The economic impact of production activity increased 440 percent between fiscal years 2007 and 2010, surging to $1.4 billion. Georgia is now among the top five states in the nation for film and TV production with more than 335 productions shot in Georgia in FY2010 bringing in more than $759.3 million in investment to Georgia.
To learn more about Georgia’s Camera Ready Community Program, please visit www.georgia.org/cameraready.
Newly crowned Miss America, Teresa Scanlan, will visit American Signature Furniture to promote the Miss America Youth Collection. In addition to signing autographs and taking photographs with attendees, Scanlan will be hosting a canned food drive to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Admission is free and families are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items for donation.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, an American Civil War battlefield, has become a landmark in America’s move towards renewable energy. Leveraging more than a century of power solutions knowledge and expertise, AEG Power Solutions created a new, sustainable power infrastructure for the acclaimed Kennesaw Mountain Visitor Center. As the premier provider of turnkey solar solutions to North America, AEG Power Solutions engineered, designed and installed a solar energy system, LED lamps and a new roof with more insulating material to generate renewable energy and increase energy efficiency. In all, the photovoltaic (PV) system is expected to generate more than 67,000 kW-hr per year of energy and the LED lamps and roof with improved insulation will reduce overall power consumption throughout the facility. 
There’s nothing like the annual visit to Santa for creating family holiday memories that will last a lifetime. Bring the kids and their lists to Town Center at Cobb mall for one of the most magical and enduring holiday traditions.
Enjoy Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol presented as a tour through the Southern Museum. Scenes of the play will be acted out in vignettes. Don’t miss Fezziwig’s party in the Glover Factory or the festive finale! The Museum will be closed during regular hours on these days.
