Governor Perdue Announces OneGeorgia Awards

Governor Perdue Announces OneGeorgia Awards

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today more than $1.5 million in grant and loan awards from the OneGeorgia Authority's Equity program to spur economic development in Georgia 's most economically distressed communities.  The awardees will be recognized at the OneGeorgia Authority Board meeting on Friday, March 10, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. at the Jefferson County Armory at 1841 Hwy 24 West in Louisville, Georgia.

“The $1.5 million in awards announced today support the creation of 139 new jobs for Georgians by stimulating new private investment, supporting the retention of existing jobs and enhancing regional competitiveness,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.

The Equity awards are designed to assist communities and regions with building the necessary infrastructure to support economic development.  The program's flexibility provides financial assistance to enhance publicly-owned tourism initiatives, workforce development opportunities, downtown revitalization projects as well as more traditional economic development activities including industrial parks and associated infrastructure.  In addition, loan funds are available through the Equity Loan Fund to assist small business owners with growth and expansion opportunities.  Project awards are aimed at being responsive to the needs of the rural, economically depressed counties by accepting applications at any time. 

The OneGeorgia Authority awarded seven Equity awards totaling $1,528,468, including six grants of $1,428,468 and one loan of $100,000.  The total project cost for these seven awards is $21,148,645 making the state's investment 7.23 percent.  These awards include:

Lee County – Industrial Park Sewer Improvements

Equity grant funds will be used to extend sewer lines along the Highway 82 corridor north of Albany to serve the 145-acre Lee County Industrial Park .  The park, located just five miles from Terrell County and bounded by four directly eligible OneGeorgia counties, will likely draw employees from this regional area.  The park, with 11 lots ranging in size from 7 to 27 acres, has attracted two tenants with minimal sewerage needs; however, the addition of sewer access is expected to enhance the competitiveness of the park, attracting larger and more diverse employers. In addition the improvements will support a proposed 5,700 acre mixed-use development, Oakland Plantation, consisting of 224,000 square-feet of retail space, 163,000 square-feet of commercial space, a 350 room hotel and nearly 1,000 residential units located just south of the Industrial Park.  The development will also include walking trails, a village square and an equestrian center.  The Oakland Plantation private investment could result in as much as $13.5 million of which $2 million is committed.

• Equity Grant Award:  $300,000
• Total Project Cost:  $4,716,850 (Private Investment = $2,000,000)
• Date of Award:  2/16/06
• 23 new jobs (initial job creation at the Business Park )

Development Authority of Bacon County – Industrial Park Land Acquisition

Equity grant funds will be used to support the acquisition of 73 acres in Alma adjacent to US Hwy 1 for development as an industrial park.  Bacon County and surrounding counties have unemployment and poverty rates consistently higher than state averages.  Since 1998 more than 2,000 jobs have been lost to plant closings in the region.  With the closing of the last apparel plant, agriculture and manufacturing remain major sectors of employment.  The county seeks to strengthen competitiveness in hopes of diversifying the economy through acquisition of property as Phase I.  Phase II proposes use of SPLOST funds to complete infrastructure and paving.  Georgia Power staff reviewed four parcels of property and rated this site “best location” for a small industrial park in Bacon County . 

• Equity Grant Award:  $200,000
• Total Project Cost:  $352,672 (Other Public Investment = $152,672)
• Date of Award:  2/16/06

Pike County – Industrial Park Sewer Improvements

Equity grant funds will be used for sewer infrastructure improvements to the 148-acre Pike County Business/Industrial Park strategically located south of the intersection of US Highway 19 and GA Highway 18 in Zebulon.  The property, purchased in 2000 by the county, is part of a long-range plan to diversify the economy, heavily dependent on apparel manufacturing in the past plus preparing for significant projected population growth over the next decade.  The community has lost several strong prospects over the last several years due to a lack of infrastructure.  With notification of a USDA loan totaling $587,700 for water improvements and public awareness of application to OGA for sewer, two prospects have just committed to locate in the park with a projected employment of 36. 

• Equity Grant Award:  $300,000
• Total Project Cost:  $2,433,912 (Other Public Investment = $2,133,912)
• Date of Award:  2/16/06
• 36 new jobs 

Dodge County-Eastman Development Authority – Matos Industries

Equity loan funds will be used to support the expansion of Matos Industries, a local textile manufacturing company started in 1993.  The expansion, supporting the existing 42 jobs and the creation of 30 new jobs, will add 8,000 square foot to the existing 10,000 square foot facility located in the Dodge County Industrial Park . The company produces aprons, chef wear, cobblers, vests and scrubs.  The planned expansion will add a graphics division, Chameleon Apparel, which will be engaged in manufacturing, sourcing, distributing and decorating garments.  The loan provides an opportunity to nurture a “home-grown” business as well as support its competitiveness and diversification in a global marketplace. 

• Equity Loan Award:  $100,000
• Total Project Cost:  $227,000 (Private Investment = $125,000)
• Date of Award:  2/16/06
• 30 new jobs 

Development Authority of Columbia County – John Deere

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with the construction of public road infrastructure to provide greater access and reduce safety concerns at the entrance of the 600,000 square foot John Deere manufacturing plant, a regional employer with 700 jobs.  Breakdown of employees indicate that 52 percent reside in 12 directly eligible rural counties.  The road, originally designed for one facility but now serving three in the Horizon South Business Park , is needed to support a major capital improvement program currently underway by the company which is expected to create an additional 20 jobs.  The public access road for which state resources are requested is the employee entrance which needs to be widened to accommodate the high volume of employee traffic and alleviate a public safety hazard.

• Equity Grant Award:  $115,968
• Total Project Cost:  $6,115,968 (Private Investment = $6,000,000)
• Date of Award:  2/16/06
• 20 new jobs

Joint Development Authority of Franklin , Hart and Stephens Counties – Feasibility Study

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with a study evaluating the economic feasibility of constructing two “mega” boat ramps along Lake Hartwell in Franklin and Hart Counties .  Given the geography of the region and the abundance of natural resources, enhancing tourism appears to be an excellent strategy.  The proposed ramp locations on Lake Hartwell are in Gum Branch/Hart County and Tugaloo State Park/Franklin County.  Current ramp infrastructure cannot support the large number of boats necessary to host increasingly popular fishing tournaments.  The tri-county partnership seeks to market their strongest natural asset, thereby attracting more visitors to the area and strengthening the economic impact of the lake.

• Equity Grant Award:  $12,500
• Total Project Cost:  $25,000 (Other Public Investment = $12,500)
• Date of Award:  2/16/06

Development Authority of McDuffie County – Thomson Plastics

Equity grant funds will be used to support rail construction and drainage improvements to serve Thomson Plastics, a manufacturer of custom plastic injection moldings, located in the West Thomson Industrial Park .  A regional employer with a workforce of 235 from McDuffie and 14 surrounding counties is also expanding into a second facility in Sandersville with a two year projected employment of 75.  The McDuffie project will increase production efficiency at its facility by making use of rail rather than solely trucking.  The Thomson site is prone to flooding during heavy rains, and drainage improvements are needed to reduce safety hazards and allow for the more efficient loading and unloading of materials and products from truck platforms.  The rail spur will allow for easier transportation of raw materials/finished products between not only the Thomson and Sandersville plants, but the marketplace as well.  Company officials estimate 100 new jobs will be created at both facilities with total regional employment estimated at 325.  

• Equity Grant Award:  $500,000
• Total Project Cost:  $7,277,243 (Private Investment = $6,722,243)
• Date of Award:  2/16/06
• 30 new jobs (Thomson facility)

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.

Since the authority was created in October 2000, more than $143.2 million has been awarded in grants and loans.  These projects support the creation and/or retention of 29,998 jobs in 110 of Georgia 's most economically depressed counties. For additional information, please refer to the authority's website:  www.onegeorgia.org .

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