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Governor Announces over $13.4 million in OneGeorgia Awards
| Monday, December 1, 2008 |
Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774
|
These awards will assist with a variety of economic development projects in rural
Company officials and local leaders associated with the most recent EDGE awards were recognized at today’s meeting. The six EDGE awards, totaling $4,630,450, are leveraged against more than $119 million in total project costs and are projected to create over 1,535 jobs within the next three years.
Development Authority of
Site preparation and building improvements to support the location of
- Total Project Cost: $4,350,000
- 100 new jobs in two years
Development Authority of
Building improvements in support of the location of ASTA, Inc., to the former Kwikset/Fleetguard 209,000 square-foot facility in
- Total Project Cost: $19,024,521
- 100 new jobs in two years
Site preparation in support of the location of a distribution center for Home Depot USA, Inc. (HD), the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer. The Company plans to construct a 657,600 square-foot facility on 90 acres in the
- Total Project Cost: $36,592,287
- 570 new jobs in three years
Building construction to support the expansion of Heatcraft Refrigeration Products, LLC (
- EDGE Award: $1,000,000
- Total Project Cost: $25,492,600
- 325 new jobs in two years
Brooks County Development Authority / Crown Health Care Laundry Services, Inc.
Building improvements to an existing 80,000 square-foot manufacturing facility to support the location of Crown Health Care Laundry Services, Inc. (CHLS) to Quitman. The Company, founded in 1955 and recognized as a top quality linen and service provider, has processing facilities in Selma, AL; Pensacola, FL; and Columbia, SC. Currently all of these facilities are operating at full capacity. The Company markets to the healthcare industry and currently has contracts with hospital and nursing home facilities in the south-central regions of
- Total Project Cost: $5,190,600
- 140 new jobs in two years
Site preparation costs to support the location of Dongwon Autopart Technology
- Total Project Cost: $28,635,403
- 300 new jobs in two years
The Strategic Industries Loan Fund is intended to be used only when needed to fill a financing gap not met in the private sector and is targeted to science and technology based industries in which development-stage companies are creating commercially promising technologies and the opportunity for higher quality jobs in rural
Douglas-Coffee County Industrial Authority / Optima Chemical Group, LLC
SILF loan funds will be used to support the expansion of Optima Chemical Group, LLC (OCG) in Douglas. The loan will be used to expand the current facility located on a 32-acre site in Douglas, construct a new building containing clean rooms for product isolation and packaging pursuant to FDA requirements, and also new equipment necessary to meet the growing demands of its pharmaceutical and technical base of customers. OCG, formed in 1997, manufactures custom industrial and organic chemicals, conducts research and develops new products for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, bioscience, personal care and foods/flavors industries. OGC’s research and manufacturing operations can support projects from a pre-clinical stage to full-scale production application. Over the last five years the Company has invested over $11 million to add capacity including chemical reactors and needed support equipment to meet growing demand. As a result, OCG is experiencing significant growth which now requires an extensive expansion of its physical facility, core infrastructure services and the purchase of strategic pieces of production equipment needed to support additional production. Specifically, OCG requires additional warehousing, lab and office space to accommodate this growth. Customers include: Merck, Bayer, Lilly, Roche, Bristol-Meyers, Squibb, DuPont, and GlaxoSmithKline. OCG commits to create 40 new jobs by the end of 2010 creating a total of 96 skilled and quality jobs.
- SILF Loan Award: $2,500,000
- Total Project Cost: $7,100,000
- 40 new jobs within four years (2006-2010)
- OCG had 56 employees at project inception in September 2006
The Equity Fund is designed to assist communities and regions in building the necessary infrastructure to support economic development. The program’s flexibility also provides financial assistance to enhance publicly-owned tourism initiatives, workforce development opportunities and downtown revitalization projects. In addition, loan funds are available through the Equity Revolving Loan Fund to assist small business owners with business growth and expansion opportunities. Nine Equity awards totaling just over $3 million were made today.
City of
The Equity grant funds will be used for sewer infrastructure improvements to support the expansion of the D. Ray James State Prison which is privately owned and operated by Cornell Companies, Inc. (CCI). CCI currently houses 2,080 inmates, employs 317 and is the largest industry in the County. This fourth phase of their expansion will add 700 new inmates to the prison population, resulting in the creation of 51 new jobs. The City must expand its wastewater treatment facility in order to meet immediate and projected demands on the public sewer system. Total project cost is $35,664,430 and will be funded through various sources including $500,000 from the Employment Incentive Program (EIP), $664,430 from Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) and private investment of $34,000,000 from CCI.
Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Development Authority - Machinery and Equipment
The Equity loan funds will be used to assist with the purchase of machinery and equipment on behalf of Agri-Products, Inc./Suncoast Bedding’s (
- Equity Loan Award: $500,000
- Total Project Cost: $6,334,815
- Create 50 new jobs in 2 years
Development Authority of Bainbridge and
Equity grant funds will be used for the construction of public water, sewer and rail that will serve Phase II of Commodore Industrial Park with approximately 140 acres. Improvements include 8” water lines, sewer pump station, 4” force main, rail spur and an access road through the center connecting SR 253 to the south and Butler Ferry Road to the north. Southwest Georgia Oil Company’s (dba INLAND) new 10 million gallon biodiesel refinery is the anchor tenant in this Phase of the Park. The refinery represents increased vertical integration of company strengths into the innovative and rapidly growing alternative fuels market. Southwest Georgia Oil Company is a locally owned and operated Bainbridge company established in 1959 and a regional employer with 275 jobs. INLAND has invested over $5.7 million in construction and start-up costs and expects to create 18 jobs. Total project costs include $6,022,707 from INLAND, other public investment of $195,570 from Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and $1,721,966 in local investment.
- Equity Grant Award: $520,000
- Total Project Cost: $8,140,243
- Create 18 new jobs in two years
Development Authority of
The Equity loan funds will be used to purchase a new laser system for the metal fabrication sector of Southern Perfection Fabrication Holdings, Inc. (
The Equity loan funds will be used to assist with construction of 2,500 LF of track to handle railcars moving through the repair shop at Southeast Railcar and Locomotive Service, Inc. (SERCL), a division of the Heart of Georgia Railroad. SERCL has established a 23-acre railcar refurbishment facility west of
- § Total Project Cost: $1,538,825
- § Create 50 new jobs within 2 years
The Equity grant funds will be used to extend a water line from the City of
- § Total Project Cost: $ 14,000,000
The Equity grant funds will be used to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best use of the historic, famous Elberton "blue" granite National Guard Armory Auditorium located in downtown Elberton. This 1941 building has undergone stabilization including the roof, windows and gutters identified as Phase I using proceeds from a federal DOT TE grant. Phase II is currently underway and includes the restoration of the utilities infrastructure. Phase III will include redeveloping the main auditorium, stage and top story offices. Lastly, Phase IV will include the development of a military museum on the ground floor. The purpose of the feasibility study is to determine levels of support for the proposed facility as a conference center on the main floor with the top floor dedicated to office space.
- § Total Project Cost: $28,000
City of
The Equity grant funds will be used to assist with upgrading the City's sanitary sewer system. The City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is out of compliance and the
- Equity Grant Award: $325,000
- Total Project Cost: $4,875,000
- Retaining 93 jobs
Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority - Regional Tourism Development
The Equity grant funds will be used to assist with the development of a regional comprehensive marketing/tourism plan to effectively position the Hwy 27 corridor and the associated 18 counties as a travel and tourism “destination of choice.” The Hwy 27 Association was formed to promote economic development, tourism and the protection of cultural and scenic resources along US Hwy 27, which runs 352 miles along the western portion of the State. The Association's 18 member counties seek to build on their existing tourism industry and develop additional products. The group has provided $52,000 of "in-kind" work/investment to date and recognize the value of developing key partnerships and alliances. The group has committed an additional $17,200 of the $78,000 cost from Randall & Associates. These include working with GA DOT on their plans to four-lane Hwy 27. Senator Jeff Mullis serves as honorary chair.
- Equity Grant Award: $62,000
- Total Project Cost: $131,627
The AIRGeorgia Fund is intended to accelerate the completion of critical airport infrastructure improvements. The two AIRGeorgia awards, totaling $2,847,086, are leveraged against more than $4.9 million in total project costs.
Quitman-Brooks County Airport Authority – Level I Airport – Runway Extension
AIRGeorgia grant funds will be used to assist with the acquisition of 16 acres of land and site preparation, construction, lighting and engineering costs to extend the existing 3,600 ft Runway 9/27 to 5,000 ft. Applicant states that the Airport is currently unable to service local and prospective businesses due to its inadequate runway length. Numerous letters were included citing the inadequacy of the airport to accommodate traffic in the industrial, commercial and tourism sectors. The increased traffic will also support the development of other services such as hangar rentals and fuel sales that are currently unavailable. Local businesses have committed to using the Airport, pending runway extension, as well as two local Plantations who currently use airports in nearby communities for their transportation needs. All other funding sources are committed.
- AIRGeorgia Grant Award: $661,104 (41 percent of total project cost)
- Federal Investment: $726,000 (45 percent of total project cost)
- Local Investment: $220,368 (14 percent of total project cost)
- Other State Investment: $13,464 (1 percent of total project cost)
- Total Project Cost: $1,620,936
AIRGeorgia grant funds will be used to assist with the extension of the 3,000 ft runway to 5,000 ft, and rehabilitate and overlay the existing runway. With five industrial parks within 20 miles of the airport, the ramping up of the KIA project and location decisions by key suppliers such as Dongwon, along with the success of the tourism industry in Warm Springs, it is critical to have the capacity to land business aircraft and corporate jets in this region of Georgia. The expansion will also strengthen the competiveness of neighboring Spalding, Pike and
- AIRGeorgia Grant Award: $2,185,982 (66 percent of total project cost)
- Federal Investment: $423,402 (13 percent of total project cost)
- Local Investment: $593,183 (18 percent of total project cost)
- Other State Investment: $100,000 (3 percent of total project cost)
- Total Project Cost: $3,302,567
Governor Perdue and the board recognized the most recent recipient of technology grants from the BRIDGE (Broadband Rural Initiative to Develop
Development Authority of
BRIDGE grant funds will be used to assist a regional partnership in evaluating the feasibility and economic impact potential of extending fiber optic broadband from
- BRIDGE Grant Award: $192,000
- Total Project Cost: $240,000
The board reviewed the latest ESB Loan Fund Guarantee recipient. The Entrepreneur-Small Business Loan Guarantee Program was created over two years ago to support the growth of entrepreneurs and small businesses in less developed areas. The ESB Loan Guarantee Program is the Authority’s first public-private partnership, providing a shared risk with
Southern Fine Edibles, LLC /United National Bank (
Southern Fine Edibles, LLC, dba/Big Jack’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant is a new restaurant located in Newton/Baker County, GA. Big Jack’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant plans to serve the best catfish around while supplementing the menu with current operator, Josh Griffin’s, specialty BBQ. The loan proceeds will be used to purchase land, building and working capital. The business currently employs 2 and will create 6 additional jobs.
- ESB Loan Guarantee Amount: $76,000
- Total Loan Amount: $152,000
- Borrower’s Equity: $69,000
- Current jobs: 2
- Proposed new jobs to be created: 6
The board received an update from Ken Stewart, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, on the department’s community-based Entrepreneur Friendly program.
Governor Perdue and the board recognized the recipient of a research grant provided under the Centers of Innovation program. The Centers of Innovation program, funded by the OneGeorgia Authority, connects world-class researchers at
Recipient:
Project Description: Laboratory and Pilot Scale Production and Evaluation of Organic Grain Milk Products
To develop a grain product with improved taste to address the
The OneGeorgia Authority was created utilizing one-third of the state’s tobacco settlement to assist the state’s most economically challenged areas. The OneGeorgia Authority is expected to receive about $1.6 billion over the 25-year term of the settlement.
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