Governor Barnes Announces OneGeorgia Equity Awards and Funding for Regional E-911 Projects

Governor Roy Barnes today announced $5.1 million in grant and loan awards from the OneGeorgia Authority to twelve of Georgia's most economically distressed communities to create jobs and implement economic development projects. "These twelve projects are representative of the strategic planning and collaborative efforts we are seeing throughout rural Georgia", the Governor said.

Governor Barnes, who chairs the Authority, pointed to a renewed commitment in capacity building projects including land acquisition, infrastructure and speculative facilities within our Tier 1 and Tier 2 economically depressed counties as an example of local communities taking charge of their future: "Through our experience with industrial prospects and consultants at the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the sales and marketing arm of our state, we have come to realize that rural Georgia must be ready and actively engaged in marketing their community when a prospect comes to town. The old adage 'time is money' has never been more true than in today's highly competitive and global marketplace. I am confident the projects we are awarding today will create jobs while stimulating and diversifying local economies in rural Georgia."

Lt. Governor Mark Taylor, Vice-Chairman of the Authority, agrees that the investments we are making in rural Georgia today through these projects will return big dividends in the future. "I am proud of these communities' efforts; and I look forward to seeing the results of their hard work down the road."

In addition, the board of the OneGeorgia Authority, approved regulations for a Regional E911 Program with a budget of $3 million. The approval of the regulations resulted from recommendations Governor Barnes received from a task force he authorized at the April 17th OneGeorgia board meeting. The funding for the Regional E911 Program will be made available to those Georgia counties that do not presently have this basic service. It is estimated that 31 rural counties and over 250,000 residents in Georgia do not have access to an emergency 911 network. Lt. Governor Mark Taylor, a strong advocate of utilizing OneGeorgia as a funding source, commented on the program's importance, "Emergency services are critical to the health, safety and quality of life in Georgia's communities. Every resident in Georgia deserves the security of knowing that an emergency call to 911 will be answered." The program is structured to encourage regional participation with funds available to assist with eligible activities including infrastructure, services, facilities and equipment to those counties that are willing to enter into regional service agreements to lower costs and provide better economies of scale. Governor Barnes and Lt. Governor Taylor both recognize that the lack of 911 services not only hurts citizens, but also is a critical component of rural Georgia's economic development efforts.

The Equity awards, round 3 of FY 2002 funding, are designed to assist communities and regions to build the necessary infrastructure for economic development. Project awards are given through three competitive rounds annually and are capped at $500,000. Tier 1 and 2 communities and in some cases, Tier 3 communities, are eligible for Authority Assistance. The next Equity application deadline is September 30, 2002.

Equity award recipients being announced today include:

Barnesville/Lamar County Industrial Development Authority - $381,666 grant to assist with site improvements on a 75-acre industrial tract located on the east side of I-75 south at State Highway 36. Project proposes to construct an access road and utility extensions into the park to accommodate Pennsylvania based B&G Equipment Company, a manufacturer of pest control equipment, creating 85 jobs. In addition, the improvements will provide an opportunity for the county to diversify an economy previously driven by the textile market as well as enhancing the competitiveness of the park along the busy I-75 corridor.

City of Claxton (Evans County) - $500,000 grant to assist with improvements to portions of the city's 400-acre industrial park including extension of water and sewer lines, construction of a roadway and rail spur. The improvements are needed to enhance the marketability of the overall industrial park and to support the location of a commercial truck-driving program operated under the direction of Ogeechee Technical College. The school estimates that the program will serve between 30 and 50 students per quarter, filling a regional need for qualified commercial truck drivers.

City of Sycamore (Turner County) - $500,000 grant to assist with land acquisition and infrastructure improvements in conjunction with the location of a Department of Corrections Probation Detention Center. The proposed Detention Center will house 192 detainees and create 62 jobs in an area that has lost over 300 manufacturing jobs within the past three years. A secondary benefit is the opportunity for future industrial development on a portion of the property that has rail access and is located along the developing I-75 corridor.

Montgomery County and Toombs County Board of Commissioners - $224,000 grant to assist with the purchase and development of a 56-acre tract in Montgomery County to be marketed as a joint industrial park. The proposed park is strategically located, bordered by rail access to the north and US Hwy 280 to the south, and is located 18 miles from I-16. The park will be used as a marketing tool in targeting and attracting new industry to the regional area.

City of Alamo (Wheeler County) - $500,000 grant to assist with improvements to the 40-acre Alamo Industrial Park including water, sewer, access road and drainage improvements to serve the potential expansion of a major existing industry as well as future park development in an area that has been unable to attract industry due to its' lack of a developed park and a site-ready location.

City of Bainbridge (Decatur County) - $500,000 grant to assist with construction of a full-service marina on Lake Seminole. The marina is anticipated to boost the 1.4 million recorded visits last year and enhance the $21.5 million annual impact of Lake Seminole on the regional economy. The project is seen as a necessary support facility to promote existing riverfront recreation, including three national bass fishing tournaments as well as other tourism facilities in the Bainbridge area.

Bacon County Development Authority (Resubmission) - $354,400 grant to assist with acquisition of a 437-acre tract of property located adjacent to the Bacon County Industrial Park on GA Hwy 32 West in Alma. The additional property will expand the nearly full existing park, which has water, sewer, fiber optics and fire service readily available. The applicant states that through aggressive marketing efforts in the last 14 months, 12 companies have expressed an interest in the community.

Telfair County Development Authority - $500,000 loan to assist with the construction of a 70,000 square foot speculative facility in the McRae-Telfair Industrial Park. The facility will serve as a strong economic tool in attracting new business and industry in a community that has lost nearly 700 jobs and seen double-digit unemployment rates in the last twelve months. The project will be financed as a loan at zero percent interest with no principal repayments required until the building is occupied or five years, whichever is earlier.

Wayne County Board of Commissioners - $500,000 grant to construct a 5,000 square foot terminal building at the William A. Zorn Airport. The airport, designated as a Governor's Regional Airport, is located on 245 acres of county-owned land and has above average traffic from existing and prospective regional commercial and industrial companies. The new terminal is seen as an important component in support of the region's marketing efforts. In addition, as part of the community's long-range strategic plans, the county is purchasing a 420-acre tract of land near the airport for development as a new industrial park.

Dodge County - Eastman Development Authority - $500,000 loan to assist with construction of a 40,000 square foot speculative facility and access road in the Eastman-Dodge Industrial Park. The much needed facility will play a vital role in the community's effort to enhance its' competitiveness in the recruitment of new industries. The project will be financed as a loan at zero percent interest with no principal repayments required until the building is occupied or five years, whichever is earlier.

McDuffie County Development Authority and City of Thomson - $500,000 grant to assist with Phase I development in the jointly owned 396-acre tract of property strategically located near the I-20 corridor north of Thomson. Phase I improvements include grading, water, sewer and an access road to a 73-acre section of the industrial park. Applicant indicates failure to have a developed industrial site was a major factor in their inability to attract a new industry recently with 400 new jobs.

Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (Resubmission) - $201,578 grant to assist with the development of a 23-acre incubator site within the 153-acre Lake Park Industrial Park. As part of its' overall recruitment strategy, the Development Authority will market the 8 incubator sites, ranging from 2 to-4 acres as an opportunity to assist new and expanding small businesses. The incubator sites are anticipated to create between 40 and 80 jobs.

The OneGeorgia board also recognized EDGE awards made since the
last board meeting. The EDGE (Economic Development, Growth & Enterprise) fund is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants that are being considered as a relocation or expansion site and are competing with another state for the location of the project. Five EDGE projects awarded since the April board meeting include:

Okefenokee Area Development Authority - $500,000 grant to assist with the purchase of equipment to be leased to Rich Sea-Pak in Waycross. Sea Pak, located in the Waycross-Ware County Industrial Park, is introducing a new food line. The company expects to create 55 new jobs within 24 months.

Cordele-Crisp Industrial Development Authority - $500,000 grant to assist with the build out of an existing speculative building for U. S. Timber, Inc., a manufacturer of high-end specialty wood products with plants in Idaho, Oregon and Arkansas. The company expects to invest $12.5 million and create 50 jobs.

Arabi Industrial Development Authority - $150,000 grant to assist with the construction of a 30,000 square foot facility to be leased to Engineered Stone Products, a manufacturer of cast and pre-cast architectural stone products used as accents in building facades. This expansion will retain 26 jobs and create 50 additional jobs with a private investment exceeding $1.5 million.

Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority - $462,500 grant to assist with site development and purchase of a 12.5-acre site of land off I-75 at the 201 interchange for B & G Equipment. The company anticipates creation of 85 jobs within 24 months and a private investment of $2.75 million.

Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority - $500,000 grant to assist with the purchase of specialized tooling equipment to be leased to TIMCO, Inc. This equipment is necessary for the maintenance of the Airbus 319 and 320, under contract with America West Airlines (AWA) at the Macon Regional Airport. The new maintenance line will create 60 new skilled aircraft jobs immediately and the possibility of 40 to 50 additional jobs within the next 24 to 36 months.