Walter C. Sprouse, Jr., CEcD, HLM, FM, Executive Director of the Augusta Economic Development Authority in Augusta, has been named to the prestigious 2016 edition of Georgia Trend magazine’s “Most Notable Georgians”. The announcement was made today at Georgia Trend’s headquarters in Atlanta. It is the fifth time that Sprouse has been named, and he is the only Augustan on the 2016 Notable Georgians list.

Sprouse has been Executive Director of Augusta’s economic development organization since 2003. During that time, the Augusta Economic Development Authority has recruited more than $1,000,000,000 in new investment for Augusta, along with more than 17,000 new jobs. Augusta’s strong local economy has been recognized in more than twenty national rankings by organizations such as Forbes, Business Week, MSNBC, The Brookings Institute, Moody’s, and bizjournals.com, and was ranked by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as the fourth best metro in the United States for job creation.

Sprouse is a native of Monroe, North Carolina, a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Journalism, and the University of Georgia Institute for Organizational Management. Sprouse served on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council for twelve years. He was recognized by IEDC as an Honorary Life Member in 2011. He is an active member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, the University of South Carolina Alumni Academy and is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina Alumni Association. He is a Fellow of the Industrial Asset Management Council, and Past President of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Day School in Augusta, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta.

Other notables on the Georgia Trend 2016 list of “Notable Georgians” include Actor Tyler Perry, NCR President Bill Nuti, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Camila Knowles, Morehouse College President John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., and Savannah College of Art and Design President Paula Wallace.

Sprouse is married to Cookie Clyburn Sprouse. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.