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Choose Columbus Recognized as GURU Trailblazer for Advanced Mapping in Site Selection
At GIS WebTech, some of our most impactful innovations do not start in a roadmap meeting. They start with our clients.
That is exactly the case with Choose Columbus - Development Authority of Columbus, GA.
Through their hands-on, forward-thinking use of GURU Site Selection, they not only elevated their own marketing strategy, they also helped shape new capabilities that are now available to every GURU user.
About the GURU Trailblazers Program
Our GURU Trailblazers program recognizes communities that are using GURU Site Selection or GURU Ecosystem in strategic, innovative ways to:
- Market sites more effectively
- Communicate readiness with clarity
- Differentiate themselves in a competitive environment
These are the organizations that do not just use GURU. They push it forward.
Why Choose Columbus?
Their team embraced GURU Site Selection’s drawing tools as a core part of how they respond to projects, build maps, and tell the story of their sites. Their feedback and real-world use cases directly influenced the expansion of these tools, making them more flexible, more visual, and more powerful for everyone.
But what is most impressive is not just how they use the tools. It is why.
Turning Maps into a Competitive Advantage
For Choose Columbus, maps are not just visuals. They are decision-making tools.
When responding to RFIs and site selection inquiries, their team uses GURU Site Selection to quickly create customized, layered maps that clearly communicate site boundaries, surrounding assets, and key characteristics.
“As economic developers, we are focused on identifying opportunities and positioning our communities for success. By working with GIS WebTech, we turn emerging insights into strategy — supporting expanding companies, guiding investment decisions, and promoting Abilene as a competitive location for business.”
GURU gives Choose Columbus a clear competitive edge by unifying critical data, insights, and mapping tools in one place. With a faster, more strategic approach to decision-making, the team can confidently guide projects to Columbus while supporting every opportunity with clarity, precision, and impact.
From Manual Workflows to Instant Insights
Before leveraging GURU Site Selection’s drawing capabilities, creating maps often meant juggling tools, recreating boundaries, or waiting on others to provide key information.
Now, the process is dramatically streamlined.
With GURU Site Selection, the Choose Columbus team can:
- Draw and customize site boundaries with precision
- Add in different map layers such as aerial, topo, and infrastructure
- Reuse and adjust visuals without starting from scratch
- Quickly tailor outputs for specific prospects
Michelle Phillips
Driving Product Innovation
Choose Columbus did not just adopt GURU Site Selection.
They helped improve it.
Their request for more advanced drawing capabilities directly contributed to the development of expanded drawing tool features, including enhanced styling, labeling, and usability improvements.
This kind of collaboration is exactly what the GURU Trailblazers program is designed to celebrate.
A Partnership That Moves the Industry Forward
The Choose Columbus team leads with agile, strategic, and speed-driven economic development—continuously evolving to stay competitive.
Whether it is creating clearer visuals for prospects or working toward integrating infrastructure data like water and sewer, they are continuously looking for ways to improve speed, clarity, and impact.
Setting the Standard
Choose Columbus is raising the bar for how communities can use mapping technology in economic development.
Their approach shows that:
- Better visuals lead to better understanding
- Faster workflows lead to stronger responsiveness
- Stronger storytelling leads to more competitive positioning
We are proud to recognize Choose Columbus as an official GURU Trailblazer and grateful for their role in shaping the future of GURU.