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Governor Perdue Announces $17.5 million in OneGeorgia Awards

Wednesday, November 7, 2007  Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

MACON, Ga. – At the OneGeorgia Authority board meeting today on the campus of Central Georgia Technical College in Macon, Governor Sonny Perdue announced nearly $17.5 million in grant awards administered or financially supported by the OneGeorgia Authority.  The grants are meant to spur economic development in rural Georgia

“The OneGeorgia Authority is a valuable resource for rural Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “The investments we are making today will pay dividends by retaining and creating jobs, stimulating private investment and enhancing regional competitiveness.”

Governor Perdue and members of the OneGeorgia Authority Board approved grants from the OneGeorgia Authority’s portfolio of financing programs including EDGE, Equity, BRIDGE and ESB as well as Centers of Innovation Research Grants, Entrepreneur Friendly Implementation Grants and “Entrepreneurial Friendly” community recognition. These projects, along with their respective local leadership and company representatives, were recognized at the OneGeorgia 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 or country for the location of the project. The seven EDGE awards, totalling $9,707,000 are leveraged against more than $358 million in total project costs and are projected to create over 1,464 jobs within the next five years. 

The EDGE recipients include: 

Development Authority of Washington County / Trojan Battery Company

EDGE funds will be used to assist with site preparation costs for the construction of a manufacturing facility to support the location of Trojan Battery Company (TBC), a leading manufacturer of deep cycle (long-life) battery technology. TBC will construct a 132,000 square-foot facility situated on 42 acres in the Sandersville Industrial Park. The Sandersville facility will manufacture 6, 8 and 12 volt deep cycle batteries that will be used by the golf cart industry. The Company’s battery products are used in aerial work platforms (lighting), floor machines, golf and utility vehicles, boats, recreational vehicles and solar platforms. In addition, its products are sold worldwide through an extensive dealer network.

  • EDGE Award:  $500,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $34,780,000
  • 150 new jobs in two years increasing to 170 new jobs in four years
  • Interstate competition: California, Mexico, China, Utah

Valdosta-LowndesCountyIndustrial Authority / Roberts Irrigation Products, Inc.

EDGE funds will be used to assist with the acquisition of two existing buildings situated on 6.4 acres in the Azalea City Industrial Park to locate a sprinkler manufacturer to Valdosta. This acquisition is in support of the location of Roberts Irrigation Products, Inc. (RIP), a recently acquired subsidiary of Deere and Company, to the Southeast which will allow additional capacity and close proximity to an existing and developing customer base. RIP, started in 1968, is a privately held company based in San Marcos, California. The Company sells products in the agricultural and horticultural industries in 40 countries and is a recognized industry leader.

  • EDGE Award:  $200,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $5,793,610
  • 65 new jobs in five years
  • Interstate competition:  Greenville, South Carolina

Development Authority of Bainbridge & Decatur County / Three Rivers Aluminum Company (TRACO)

EDGE funds will be used to assist with infrastructure improvements.  TRACO is a leading manufacturer of windows and doors. Founded in 1943, the Company offers building products for the residential, commercial, retail and corporate industries. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida and Iowa. The Bainbridge facility, an 80,000 square-feet speculative building, is situated on 28 acres in the Decatur County Industrial Park. TRACO plans to expand the building to 178,000 square-feet and add approximately 17,000 square-feet of office space.

  • EDGE Award:  $437,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $12,319,604
  • 300 new jobs in three years
  • Interstate competition:  Florida, Alabama

Macon-BibbCountyIndustrial Authority / MBM Corporation

EDGE funds of $140,000 will be used to assist with the expansion of a cooler/freezer distribution center to support the relocation and expansion of the MBM Corporation’s existing Macon facility. MBM is one of the largest privately owned food service distributors in the nation. The Company specializes in food and other related products to national restaurant chains including Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Red Lobster and Olive Garden. MBM, founded in 1947 and based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, operates 32 distribution centers throughout the continental United States. The Macon location will relocate to a 16-acre site in Macon’s Ocmulgee East Industrial Park

  • EDGE Award:  $140,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $8,224,191
  • 100 new jobs in five years; Retention of 80 jobs
  • Interstate competition:  Nashville, TN

Okefenokee Area Development Authority / Enhanced Recovery Corporation

EDGE funds of $600,000 will be used to purchase telecommunications equipment, specifically, the hardware and software components of the auto dialer system, in support of the location of Enhanced Recovery Corporation (ERC), a call center. The company will occupy 35,000 square-feet of a vacant Winn Dixie building. ERC, a privately held company, started in 1999 and operates as a collection agency. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, ERC has call centers operating in Florida and the Caribbean. ERC provides debt collection services for Wells Fargo, Chase, SunTrust, BMW, Nordstrom and other notable companies.

  • EDGE Award:  $600,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $5,750,000
  • 300 new jobs in two years
  • Interstate competition:  Florida

TreutlenCountyDevelopment Authority / Range Fuels, Inc.

EDGE funds will be used for equipment acquisition and street improvements to support the location of a cellulosic ethanol plant. Range Fuels, Inc. (RFI), a privately held company headquartered in Colorado, focuses on the development of alternative, clean (green) energy systems, including the conversion of biomass materials into fuel-grade ethanol. RFI plans to construct a highly modular, scalable cellulosic ethanol plant on 110 acres in the Treutlen County Industrial Park near Soperton. The Company will convert pine tree scraps and other biomass into ethanol to be used as a commercial alternative to fossil-based fuels. At full production the plant will produce about 40 million gallons of ethanol and nine million gallons of methanol annually.  .

  • EDGE Award:  $6,250,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $225,324,000
  • 69 new jobs in five years
  • Interstate competition:  South Carolina, Florida, Alabama

Development Authority of the City of Jeffersonville and Twiggs County / Academy Sports + Outdoors

EDGE funds will be used to assist with land acquisition and public infrastructure to locate a sporting goods distribution center in Twiggs County for Academy Sports + Outdoors. Academy originally intended to construct a 600,000 to 750,000 square-foot distribution center on a 150-acre site in the new Twiggs County Industrial Park. However, the RFP recently went out for a 1.2 million square-foot facility. Academy is one of the nation's largest sporting goods retailers, operating 95 stores in the southeastern U.S. with 9,000 sales associates. The Company currently has one distribution center at its headquarters in Katy, Texas, and retail stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Academy needs a new distribution facility to serve stores in its growing Southeast market.

  • EDGE Award:  $1,580,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $66,590,832
  • 250 new jobs in two years increasing to 380 jobs in three years
  • Interstate competition:  South Carolina, Alabama

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.

Twelve Equity awards totalling over $4.2 million were made today. These awards include:

PutnamCounty– Building Improvements / Judicial Museum       

Equity grant funds will be used to restore the old Eatonton/Putnam County Jail to a Law Enforcement Museum. The building is located in the historic downtown area of Eatonton and will feature a 1950's jail and other artifacts. The applicant states that "the museum will be the home of the regional Judicial Archive, an impressive collection of rare memorabilia spanning the history of law enforcement from 1895 to today. The museum will also feature an on-line tour, "The History of Law and Order in rural Georgia.”  A feasibility study conducted by Georgia Southern states that the museum will add a complementary asset to Georgia Lake Counties' rich collection of history and cultural sites.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $153,190
  • Total Project Cost: $492,099 

 GeorgiaMedical Center Authority – Equipment / Augusta BioBusiness Center

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with equipment needed at the Augusta BioBusiness Center.  The center will house between three and six businesses engaged in the life sciences industry. Three businesses which include ClariPath Laboratories, Inc., Science Systems, Inc., and ReachMD Consult, Inc. have committed in writing to lease space.  The BioBusiness Center is needed due to the Medical College of Georgia’s (MCG) Life Sciences Business Development & Innovation Center being at full capacity, as well as the continuing demand from companies needing this type of facility. The incubator will include a wet lab, dry lab and office space. MCG is unable to expand at its current location on the medical campus.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $345,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $1,023,356 
  • Create 22 new jobs immediately

City of Greensboro – Sewer Infrastructure / NIBCO & NAPCO

Equity grant funds will be used for the construction of sewer infrastructure to the Airport Industrial Park to serve two of the region's largest manufacturers: (1) North American Pipe Company (NAPCO), a producer of PVC pipe products with 129 employees; and (2) NIBCO, a manufacturer and distributor of PVC-DMV drainage fillings with 58 employees. The addition of a public sewer will allow these two companies to remain in their current location as well as enhance their opportunity for further expansions.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $500,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $3,832,051 
  • Retain 187 jobs and Create 15 new jobs (202 total jobs)

Brooks County Development Authority – Roastwood Materials  

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with the cost of water, sewer and road infrastructure extensions into the county's first industrial park to support its anchor tenant, Roastwood Materials. This 250-acre industrial park was purchased by the Brooks County Development Authority in 2005 for $1.25 million. The company will construct a new wood drying kiln facility and saw mill in order to process lumber products for use in the construction of decks, exterior siding and interior paneling for Lindal Cedar Homes and Lindal Additional. Lindal Cedar Homes, started in 1945 and with nearly 300 sales outlets nationwide, are designed from the patents, copyrights and trademarks of Sir Walter Lindal. The company has a patented tongue & groove interlocking design requiring no nails or screws for assembly and a patent/trademark for the kiln processing. Roastwood and Lindal have executed a 5-year renewable contract for production of wood products. In addition, the Company will purchase lumber from Georgia wood suppliers.

  • Equity Grant Award: $500,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $4,170,921  
  • Create 52 new jobs

JenkinsCounty Development Authority – Capacity Building / Land Acquisition

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with land acquisition of 180 acres to begin developing an industrial park known as the Paramore Hill Industrial Park. An option on an additional 60 acres yields a total of 240 acres under local control (the entire tract is +/- 400 acres). The site, with access to GA Hwy 17 and direct access to Norfolk Southern rail service, is large enough to attract industries needed to boost both the local and regional economy. The site is listed with GA Power, Georgia EMC and GDEcD.  With a $25,000 Georgia DOL grant, the county is preparing brochures to market the property.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $433,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $577,350  

Joint Development Authority of Franklin, Hart and Stephens Counties – Rail Spur

Equity grant funds will be used to improve and extend a publicly owned rail spur on the Hartwell Railroad main line to serve businesses in Hart County. Specifically, 330 LF of existing rail spur would be refurbished, 1,130 LF added, and a required switch on the main line of Hartwell RR will be installed. Contingent on the rail spur, Quality Industries, with a private investment of $1.7 million and 50 employees to date, has committed to an additional $300,000 investment and will hire 25 new employees.  Best Powder plans to invest $500,000 and create 4 jobs. Liberty Pultrusions will invest $435,000 and create 15 jobs.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $235,807
  • Total Project Cost:  $1,664,402
  • Create 44 new jobs

Middle Georgia Regional Development Authority – Ocmulgee River Community Market

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with the renovation of a historically significant structure, the 90-year old, 11,200 SF former Pillowtex Mill site located in downtown Hawkinsville for use as the Ocmulgee River Community Market. The local economy was devastated in 2001 when the plant closed and 519 employees were displaced, leaving behind slum and blight. Specifically, the redevelopment will feature 37-40 sheltered vendor stalls for agricultural products and crafts from local and regional artisans, a restaurant and two retail shops. The existing unsheltered farmers market has been operated by Better Hometown since 2004; has expanded from 16 weeks annually to year-round; and vendor membership has increased from 10 to 30.  Up to 65 residential units (Cottonmill Lofts) will be constructed by NC-based developer, Landmark Group as a part of this mixed-use redevelopment along the Ocmulgee River.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $500,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $8,303,975 

 GlascockCounty Industrial Development Authority – Capacity Building / Land Acquisition

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with land acquisition of 140 acres to establish Glascock County's first industrial park. The county currently has no land to recruit industry and recently had to turn away a trucking and freight company that would have created 150 jobs. The county's current industries are limited to farming, forestry and one kaolin plant. The proposed site is adjacent to GA 102, 21 miles from I-20, just outside the county seat of Gibson and was selected from four potential sites.   

  • Equity Grant Award:  $500,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $574,480  

Clay County Board of Commissioners – Sutton’s Corner Museum

Equity grant funds will be used to acquire, stabilize and market Sutton's Corner Frontier Country Store Museum in Fort Gaines as a tourist attraction for the entire region of Southwest Georgia. The Museum, located in the renovated Globe Tavern & Stagecoach Inn, chronicles the life and lifestyle of rural Georgia from 1850 to 1927 and is an excellent example of "heritage tourism." The store was originally opened in 1864, locked in 1927 at the height of the Great Depression and rediscovered in 1992 by David Campbell. Mr. Campbell spent years organizing, chronicling and expanding the contents of the now 2000+ item collection. A recent appraisal estimated the value of the collection between $600,000 – $850,000; the building appraised at $95,000, for total value of close to $1 million. The archives include sales records, deeds, (some back to the Creek Indians), legal documents, wills and letters. 

  • Equity Grant Award:  $320,700
  • Total Project Cost:  $519,349  

Town of Tallulah Falls – Water Improvements

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with public infrastructure improvements to the town's water system by providing a backup source of drinking water and upgrading/replacing their 30-year old PVC waterlines with 6-inch ductile iron pipe. The town has a population of 200; however, an estimated 250,000 visitors travel to Tallulah Gorge State Park and YMCA camp each year, pushing the Town's current infrastructure  beyond its limits. Improvements, including a second well would allow for the development of a 55-room lodge and a U.S. Forest Service district office that will employ between 30 and 35.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $268,973
  • Total Project Cost:  $293,393  

Baldwin County Board of Commissioners – Airport Terminal

Equity grant funds will be used to assist construction of a new 2,500 square feet terminal at Baldwin County's Level III airport. The existing 1,280 square feet terminal constructed in 1958 is outdated, too small and too close to the runway -- in violation of FAA regulations. The new terminal will have a flight plan room, pilot waiting and training areas and a corporate meeting room.  The new terminal will help the county and the large surrounding regional area to recruit prospects and encourage greater economic development activity. 

  • Equity Grant Award:  $353,954
  • Total Project Cost:  $564,428  

HartCounty Industrial BuildingAuthority – Sewer Infrastructure

Equity grant funds will be used to assist with sewer infrastructure extension from Gateway Industrial Park to 114 acres of developable land adjacent to the park which is owned jointly by Hart and Franklin counties. The site is located along I-85 between Atlanta and Spartanburg.  This project is anticipated to be a tremendous stimulant to future industrial development and to the Hart County economy where unemployment is high due to numerous plant closings.

  • Equity Grant Award:  $150,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $1,819,186  

Governor Perdue and the board recognized the most recent recipients of technology grants from the BRIDGE (Broadband Rural Initiative to Develop Georgia’s Economy) Fund. The four BRIDGE awards total $2,723,500.

The BRIDGE award recipients included:

City of Roberta

BRIDGE grant funds will be used to assist with the cost of a feasibility study needed to determine the economic benefits and costs of providing wireless broadband access to underserved parts of the City of Roberta and Crawford County

  • BRIDGE Grant Award:  $9,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $10,000

City of Commerce

BRIDGE grant funds will be used to assist with the cost of a feasibility study to determine the economic benefits and costs of providing wireless broadband access to underserved parts of the City of Commerce and Jackson County

  • BRIDGE Grant Award:  $7,500
  • Total Project Cost:  $10,000

City of Waycross

BRIDGE grant funds will be used to assist with the cost of a TechSmart feasibility study to determine needs, assets, limitations and costs of providing wireless broadband to underserved areas of Ware County

  • BRIDGE Grant Award:  $7,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $10,000
  • Date of Award:  11/7/07

South GeorgiaRegional Information Technology Authority

BRIDGE grant funds will be used to construct a wireless broadband system across the 5-county area. A feasibility study conducted by TechSmart reflects a great demand for high speed connectivity in the counties of Baker, Calhoun, Early, Miller and Mitchell. The backbone of these rural counties is agriculture and, more recently, nature-based tourism. Wireless broadband provides an opportunity to support their economy while protecting their valuable resources. This project supports a system that will allow farmers to implement precision agricultural practices increasing profits, preserving natural resources and decreasing chemical and water usage. There will be multiple benefits to the counties in the area of business development, tourism, education and local government efficiency.

  • BRIDGE Grant Award:  $2,700,000
  • Total Project Cost:  $3,772,686

            The board also reviewed the latest ESB Loan Guarantees made since the last board meeting. 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 Georgia lending institutions for loans ranging from $35,000 to $250,000.

Eight ESB Loan Guarantees in the amount of $454,475 were approved by the board today:

Storage Solutions, LLC/Pinnacle Bank (Elberton)

Storage Solutions, LLC is a start up self-storage company in Elberton, GA.  The company is offering personal storage units of different sizes ranging for 5 x 5 feet up to 10 x 10 feet.   

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $20,000               
  • Current jobs: 2; Proposed new jobs to be created: 1

Moore’s Monument & Vault Company/Planters First Bank (Cordele)

Moore’s Monument and Vault Company is an existing monument company in Cordele. Moore’s Monument Company has been in operation since 2002 and wishes to expand his business by purchasing Community Vault Company in Cordele. Community Vault Company has been in existence for approximately 15 years. The vault company presently owns all of the equipment to dig graves and install vaults. 

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $45,000                           
  • Current jobs: 1; Proposed new jobs to be created: 1

Lee’s Family Meat Market/Atlantic South Bank (East Dublin)

Lee’s Family Meat Market is a start up full service meat and seafood shop specializing in the highest quality of fresh meats, seafood and grocery products. Mr. Shane Lee, owner, has over seventeen years experience in the grocery business that began under the guidance of his father, A.B. Lee, in his family owned and operated meat business. Lee’s Family Meat Market will also offer catering services and employ three to five people.

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $30,000
  • Current jobs: 2; Proposed new jobs to be created: 3

Your Name Here/Citizens Bank (Cairo)

Your Name Here provides embroidery, screen printing and ad specialties for individuals and businesses.  The business was started in 1999 and recently expanded to include a retail store selling some of their clothing merchandise. The company also works with schools to provide a school uniform program for their students. Your Name Here currently employees five individuals, and this expansion will allow them to add an additional machine operator.

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $45,000
  • Current jobs: 5; Proposed new jobs to be created: 1

Deep South Tire/ United National Bank (Cairo)

Deep South Tire and Brake is a start up commercial tire retailer. Deep South Tire and Brake sells repairs and replaces commercial tires. ESB loan guarantee was used to assist the owner with the purchase of land and the tire shop.  The loan was used to purchase the property which includes seven acres and a commercial building. Business is expected to create five new jobs in Climax, Georgia.

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $71,975
  • Proposed new jobs to be created: 5

T.J.’s Italian-American Restaurant/ Planters First (Cordele)

T.J.’s Italian American Restaurant is a start up 80 seat restaurant offering family style service of popular Italian and American foods in Cordele.   The restaurant was a successful business in Cordele for 20 years. The Sears’ son plans to re-establish the same friendly atmosphere and good food provided by his parents for many years. Future projected expansion of the business in four to six months will offer a full delivery service menu.

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $20,000
  • Proposed new jobs to be created: 10-12

Radio Elberton, Inc. /First Citizens Bank (Toccoa)

Radio Elberton, Inc. is an existing radio station located in Lavonia  recently purchased by a company already owning and operating five other radio stations. Loan proceeds were used to construct a radio tower, rehabilitate the building and purchase/install radio broadcasting equipment.

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $110,000
  • Current jobs: 25; Proposed new jobs to be created: 2

Gilliard’s Store, LLC/United National Bank (Cairo)

Gilliard’s Store, LLC is a start up country meats and small grocery store located in Pelham, GA. The stores origins actually began in 1945 by Marion and Thelma Gilliard. “Miss Gilliard” would open the store each morning by 6:00 am providing breakfast to her five children and others who would stop by.  In the early years, the store was a full service grocery store with pork, beef, produce, groceries, hardware, clothes, fish and gas. As the community’s needs changed so did the Gilliard’s Store, and sausage became the primary draw for customers. In 1995, Mr. and Mrs. Gilliard (now Grandpa and Grandma Gilliard) decided to retire. Unable to let the store sit idle, Kermit Gilliard and Dinah Gilliard Bond decided to reopen the store fulltime in February 2007. The loan proceeds were used to purchase the store.

  • ESB Loan Guarantee Amount:  $112,500
  • Current jobs: 1; Proposed new jobs to be created: 2

The OneGeorgia Authority announced research grants today supporting the Centers of Innovation program totalling $220,171.  The Georgia Centers of Innovation program, launched by Governor Perdue in 2003, builds on the state’s world-class assets and home-grown industries to provide support for researchers and entrepreneurs in the areas of aerospace, agriculture, biotech, information technology and maritime logistics. 

“The centers work together in a seamless network connecting state leaders, academic research, business experts and entrepreneurs to nurture innovative ideas and forge new relationships,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “The objective is to grow long-term economic opportunities, create jobs and attract new companies all across rural Georgia.”

The four recipients of the Centers of Innovation Research Grant program were recognized at today’s board meeting.  These awards will provide matching research funds to support the following entrepreneurial research projects:

1.   GIS-Enabled Ship Recognition System

      Georgia Institute of Technology – Industry Partner: National Academy of Science and El Paso Energy

      Grant Award: $100,000

      Center of Innovation: Logistics

2.   Catalytic Conversion of Glycerin and Woody Biomass into Synthetic Natural Gas and Liquid Fuels

      University of Georgia – Industry Partner: Alterra Bioenegy, LLC

      Grant Award: $100,000

      Center of Innovation: Agriculture

3.   Development of Elastomer-Impregnated Foam Wheelchair Cushions

      Georgia Institute of Technology – Industry Partner: Cushion by Design

      Grant Award: $10,171

      Technology Outreach: Northwest Region

4.   TAG Machine Engineering

      Georgia Institute of Technology – Industry Partner: DeLong’s Gizzard Equipment

      Grant Award: $10,000

      Technology Outreach: East Region

The board also received an update on the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s community-based Entrepreneur Friendly program. Ben Hill, Bryan, Crisp, Columbia, Decatur, Emanuel, Franklin, Haralson, Laurens, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Tift, Ware, White, Whitfield, and Wilkes Counties were recognized as the most recent communities to earn the Entrepreneurial Friendly designation. To date, 64 communities have earned this designation, and more are working toward this important certification. 

Once a community has earned the Entrepreneur Friendly designation, they have the opportunity to apply for entrepreneur and small business implementation grants of up to $25,000. At today’s meeting, grants from the Entrepreneur Friendly Implementation Fund (EFIF) were awarded to Berrien County - $19,660, Athens-Clarke County - $25,000, Bacon County - $8,500, Upson County - $25,000, Lowndes County - $25,000, Brantley County - $5,200 and Walton County - $25,000. The grant program is funded by the OneGeorgia Authority and is only available to communities who have successfully earned the designation “Entrepreneur Friendly.” 

The board also approved a request from Dean Scott Angle and Dr. John McKissick at the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development for $70,000 to be used to develop and implement a comprehensive, statewide Georgia Food System database.  The software will include market analysis capabilities, census track demographics, economic information and will enable connections to a national food business database and information system.  The system will be known as “Georgia MarketMaker.”

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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