Eric McDonald, Metro West Region

Eric supports the regional economic development in the Metro West Region of Georgia, partnering with the state and local communities to support existing industry, grow leadership skills, and prepare communities for a growing Georgia. Eric possesses a diverse skill set including land development, project management, downtown development, complex problem-solving, fundraising, storytelling, retail development, and community marketing.

Eric's economic development experience spans more than two decades and four communities with various leadership roles (including Douglas and Polk Counties, and the city of Douglasville), bringing over 4,800 jobs and attracting more than $3.6 billion in private investments.

Before joining Georgia Power Economic Development Eric served as the President and CEO of the Greater Haralson Chamber of Commerce. Notable projects under his guidance include large-scale data centers, automotive manufacturing facilities, solar panel installations, warehouses, life science companies, and rail-served sites.

A graduate of the University of West Georgia, Eric actively participates in various community and professional boards and groups.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Eric is deeply connected to his family – his wife Jenny and their three children. Outside of work, he enjoys cycling, running, camping, and exploring the great outdoors.

About the Metro West Region

Strategic Location & Connectivity

• Strategic Location: Located east of the city of Atlanta, the Metro West region includes both suburban and rural counties in North Georgia.
• Interstate Access: Interstates 75 and 575 provide direct access from the Metro West region to the city of Atlanta and North Georgia.
• Rail Connectivity: CSX rail lines run through Cobb County with short line connections to the rest of the region up to Tennessee.

Thriving Economy & Workforce

• Skilled Workforce: Home to an innovative and highly skilled workforce, with a labor force of nearly 781,000.
• Industry Leaders: Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of some of the world’s most advanced military aircrafts, is the Metro West's largest employers and is located in Marietta with 5,600 employees.
• Healthcare: Healthcare is the region's largest industry with over 79,000 jobs and some of the largest hospitals, including WellStar Cobb, WellStar Kennestone, and Northside Hospital Cherokee.

Next Generation Workforce

• Be Pro Be Proud: Launched in 2020 in Cherokee County, Be Pro Be Proud promotes 15 of Georgia's most-in demand professions through a hands-on Mobile Workshop and and interactive website.
• Career Ready Douglas: The Career Ready Training Program in Douglas County offers free training to individuals in the Douglas County area, who are looking for careers in high demand career areas.
• Kennesaw State University: As the third largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State University has over 48,000 students enrolled in over 190 undergraduate, master’s, doctoral degree and certificate programs with 2 campuses in Marietta and Kennesaw.

Quality of Life

• Knock It Out of the Park: Home to four Fortune 500 companies, The Battery Atlanta is a mixed-use development in Cobb County featuring retail, restaurants, apartments, corporate offices and more in a town square-esque neighborhood surrounding Truist Park, home to the Atlanta Braves.
• Go For a Ride: Nearly 1/3 of the 60+ mile Silver Comet Trail that starts in Cobb County runs through Paulding County.
• Get Outside: Gilmer County is nestled in the foothills of the vast Chattahoochee National Forrest and Appalachian mountains, making it an ideal location for hiking and mountain biking.