The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission honored existing industries Procter & Gamble, MillerCoors, Marine Corps Logistics Command and Phoebe Putney Health System for their achievements in global exports, innovative practices, economic impact and corporate giving, respectively, at its 2018 Albany-Dougherty Industry Awards.

"Our existing industries are a vital component of our local economy and make significant contributions to our community through investments and expansions, the employment of our citizens and volunteer support, to name just a few,” said Justin Strickland, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. “Our ‘#MadeInAlbanyGA’ campaign celebrated what it meant to have a product that is made in Albany and produced by our outstanding workforce. This week echoes the same pride in that level of world class excellence, which is what ‘made in Albany’ has come to signify.”

The EDC’s Industry Awards are the highlight of Albany-Dougherty Industry Celebration Week, during which the EDC celebrates and promotes the impact of the community’s existing industries.

Global Commerce Award: Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble is the world’s largest consumer goods company, providing a multitude of household items to consumers across the globe, with more than half of its 2017 total sales occurring internationally.

The P&G Albany plant, which produces Bounty paper towels and Charmin bath tissue - both billion-dollar brands for the company, currently employs an estimated 700 associates with 70 of those positions being added in the last two years as a response to increased consumption in the plant’s distribution areas which include the Southeastern United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

The Albany plant is the primary supplier of Bounty and Charmin products to the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico, producing as a plant enough product to sustain the consumption of those regions for an entire year.  In addition to its production role, P&G Albany is also a development site for Charmin products, responsible for gauging global consumer needs and translating those needs into product innovation.

Excellence in Innovation Award: MillerCoors

Since opening in 1979, one of the highest, uncompromised priorities for the Albany Brewery has been the stewardship of our environment.

MillerCoors and the Albany Brewery believe that producing great beer comes with great responsibility. That responsibility is ensuring the environmental sustainability of the Albany community through water stewardship, lessened energy and carbon footprints, being land-fill free and moving towards a zero waste operation – MillerCoors continues to seek out innovative practices to help further their mission of sustainability and meet these goals.

Such innovative practices, like the incorporation of natural gas machinery, adherence to a robust recycling program and comprehensive environmental protection policies, have enabled the Albany plant to drastically reduce its carbon footprint while increasing efficiency; remain land-fill free since 2013; and for the last two years, achieve the goal of having zero environmental deviations or releases.

Ninety-nine percent of MillerCoors’ generated waste is recycled or reused through innovative methods and collaborative partnerships. For example, all spent grain is donated to local farmers to be used for cattle feed, benefitting the region’s agricultural economy.

MillerCoors understands that environmental sustainability is a journey, and is committed to continuing that journey through innovative practices that keep our community safe, clean, beautiful, and on the cutting edge of sustainability.

Economic Impact Award: Marine Corps Logistics Command

Over the last year, the Marine Corps Logistics Command heavily invested in and made significant strides towards strengthening the Albany, Georgia industrial base and economy through its operations.  Today, Marine Corps Logistics Command employs over 2,500 local civilians and nearly 300 uniformed service members.

In 2017, LogCom’s Marine Depot Maintenance Command processed in excess of $378 million in new work orders generating more than $460 million in revenue, totaling to an increase of $2.7 million in new work and $4.3 million in net operating income, respectively.

Recovery efforts from the 2017 tornado impact resulted in $31.1 million in expenditures that included $1.9 million to support a labor surge and the activation of 175 Marine Reservists. The Reservists salary base of $2.6 million directly impacts local housing, dining, retail, and entertainment industries. 

Implementing a local hiring strategy, adopting better hiring practices, creating and strengthening relationships with local universities, colleges and schools, summer internship programs, and career fairs represent the significant efforts that Marine Corps Logistics Command has invested to keep locally educated people in the local work force. Their commitment to the strengthening the community and its citizens is unmatched and brings great credit upon themselves, keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

Only One Albany Award for Corporate Community Citizenship: Phoebe Putney Health System

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital was built on a foundation of community service. The hospital opened on a plot of land at 3rd Avenue and Jefferson Street in Albany in 1911 with a mission to serve all those in need of care, regardless of their race, gender or ability to pay. Today, Phoebe is still anchored on that corner and anchored to that commitment.

In the 108 years since the first patient was treated at Phoebe, the organization has expanded their mission of community service in countless ways. In the last fiscal year, Phoebe provided more than $274M in community benefit. The majority of that figure is a result of unreimbursed care for Medicare, Medicaid, indigent and charity patients as Phoebe continues to live up to their founding mission of providing healthcare to all citizens in need. But the hospital also provides millions of dollars annually in services to train nurses and other health professionals, host health fairs and education programs, conduct free health screenings, and equip public schools with nurses.

Phoebe is a leader in sponsoring important community activities from the annual Snickers Marathon to the recent Grow Albany Tift Park Community Planting Day, and is represented in virtually every major organization that is working to improve the quality of life in our community.

Following the January 2017 storms, not only did Phoebe provide housing and tens of thousands of dollars to help affected employees recover, they opened an emergency clinic and initiated a mobile clinic to treat residents, volunteers and first responders.

When the worst flu epidemic in a decade hit in early 2018, Phoebe quickly ramped its vaccination program and provided hundreds of free flu shots.  Phoebe looks forward to the health system’s next 108 years of service, pledging to improve minds, bodies and spirits from that same corner at 3rd and Jefferson, in the heart of our city.