Georgia County Government - March 2009 - (Page 13)

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA continued from page 11 Jacksonville to Ware; and Enhanced Recovery Operations moved a call center for recovering debts from Jacksonville. Sensing the chance to leverage this trend to the region’s economic benefit, the Municipal Elected Officials Authority of Georgia, representing 12 local communities, has organized an effort to recruit Florida industries. “We’re selling our communities,” notes Lewis, “but we’re mostly selling our region. If a particular business turns Coffee County down, we direct their attention to a neighboring county.” “All local governments are cooperative when it comes to recruiting economic development for the region, and remarkable progress has been made,” asserts Futch of the RDC. The RDC provides the region’s local governments with strategic planning, GIS services, community development and grant assistance, as well as community services for the aging, comprehensive transportation coordination, economic development technical assistance and workforce development. Southeast Georgia RDC Executive Director of 18 years Lace Futch (seated) and Bacon County Chairman Roger Boatright share a long association as local government leaders in the region, as well as state government affiliations. Both are also former mayors – Futch of Willacoochee in Atkinson County, and Boatright of the Bacon County seat, Alma. Transportation Network Facilitates Diversification Ware County Chairman Jimmy Brown adds, “The region has a lot to offer in terms of being favorable to business, and an accessible transportation network tops the list.” The east-west four-lane route, Corridor Z, brought something of a roadway revolution to the entire Southeast Georgia region several years back, bolstering any and all commerce not dependent on railroad freight lines and opening vital access to the Georgia Coast and Savannah, including I-16, I-95 and U.S. 1. To the west, Corridor Z connects to U.S. 10, and, perhaps most importantly, intersects I-75, the north-south economic artery connecting the region to Middle Georgia’s commercial centers, Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta and Chattanooga to the north, as well as Florida to the south. “We really have an outstanding position for commerce,” Brown notes. “You can be in many major commercial centers SOUTHEAST GEORGIA continued on page 14 HOK is proud to be the jail planner and designer of the Coffee County Jail, which is currently under construction. For more information about this project or other County projects, please contact: Michael Katzin at michael.katzin@hok.com 191 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 4100 Atlanta, GA 30303 404.439.9000 | www.hok.com MARCH 2009 www.accg.org 13 http://www.hok.com http://www.jjg.com http://www.accg.org

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Georgia County Government - March 2009 Contents President’s Message County Matters Focus on Southeast Georgia The Georgia Public Service Commission Jerry R. Griffin MPA Scholarship Recipients Named Extension News Research Corner Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - March 2009

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