Georgia County Government-August 2008

PARADE continued from page 39 vides customizable healthcare management programs for the pharmaceutical industry, announced today it is expanding its domestic operations center network with a new location in Americus. “The company’s newest location demonstrates that Georgia has a quality workforce that will accommodate a growing company’s needs,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “In the wake of the March 2007 tornadoes, it is especially heartening to see a strong company invest in Americus.” PharmaCentra plans to create between 85 and 150 jobs in the new facility, which is located at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Rucker Street in Americus and is 12,000 square feet. This is the third operations center PharmaCentra has opened in southern Georgia in the last year and a half. PharmaCentra also has locations in Swainsboro and Fitzgerald. “We chose to locate our operations centers in rural southern Georgia communities because of the exceptional quality of the workforce,” said Dan Berman, chairman and CEO of PharmaCentra. “Americus is home to Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College. As such, PharmaCentra has access to a very skilled, educated and motivated workforce.” The new facility will accommodate the tremendous growth of WellTouch™, PharmaCentra’s signature patient compliance and persistency program. WellTouch™ Healthcare Specialists encourage patients to immediately fi ll their first prescription, remind patients about refi lls, schedule physician appointments and provide medical resources. without the involvement of contractors, but used state prisoners and inmates from the Henry County Jail, who assisted in demolition and construction. “It was a great saving for taxpayers,” Clack concluded. HENRY Construction Complete on New Government Annex Henry County public safety facilities will now have room to grow thanks to the completed Henry County government Annex, a 50,000-square-foot building that will serve as the new headquarters for the Henry County Police Department and Fire Department. The project’s budget was $2.5 million, and was funded through Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) proceeds. The move allows the police and fire departments to operate more efficiently, giving the police department in particular much needed room, as well as the efficiency of being on one level instead of two. Integrating fire and police into one public safety complex also augments communication between the two, said Roy Clack, capital projects supervisor. The complex also allowed the county to use a site that a formerly vacant shopping center was on, which would have continued to deteriorate. Clack said most of the work at the annex was completed LAURENS Oconee River Park Landing Receives ‘Go Fish’ Funding At the end of May, Governor Sonny Perdue announced that East Dublin’s Buckeye Park landing on the Oconee River would be among eight locations in Georgia to receive funding from the “Go Fish Georgia” program. All communities involved in receiving funding have committed to a 100 percent match for construction, Perdue said, and there are good fishery resources at each location. “With adequate ‘Go Fish’ funding in place to complete all eight sites, it’s a ‘win/win’ situation for everybody,” the governor said. Both Laurens County and the City of Dublin must contribute to the project, with the county’s share being $2,500 per year and the city of East Dublin’s $5,000. Local funds may be used as fishing tournament prize money or to advertise and promote fishing tournaments – among the requirements for the grant are that each site hold at least four fishing tournaments per year. “Go Fish Georgia” is a $30 million initiative that will leverage $19 million in state funds with private donations and financial support from local communities to promote Georgia’s boating and fishing tourism and boost economic development in communities receiving the funds. ■ 4931 Riverside Drive Macon, Georgia 31210 478-474-9092 Proudly Supplying Quality Asphalt Products and Pavement Solutions to Georgia Counties Since 1955 Visit www.reevescc.com for locations in your area. 40 GEORGIA COUNTY 351133_Moreland.indd 1 GOVERNMENT 11/7/07 10:44:14 AM 385057_Reeves.indd 1 6/23/08 8:52:28 AM http://www.maai.net http://www.reevescc.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government-August 2008

Georgia County Government- August 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Georgia’s Transportation Issues More Critical to Counties than Ever Expanding Rural Airports: Partnering for Economic Development in Upson County Meet DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham Bridge Infrastructure and Risk Counties and the Law: Georgia’s Fair Employment Practices Act Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Coffee County Extension News: Infrastructure Investments Save County Funds Research Corner: Getting the Most Out of Your Research Discover the New Georgia Encyclopedia NACo News Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

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