Dooly County Economic Development Council

Donna Wall PADM 7040

Mission

“Dooly County Economic Development Council’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Dooly County. The Authority serves to promote and assist in the retention of existing jobs and improvement of new job opportunities for the citizens of Dooly County. Recruiting new business investment in Dooly County will mean jobs and strengthen the tax base”.

2005 Progress Report Dooly County Economic Development Council

Objectives

Dooly County EDC facilitates grant applications for the cities and towns, along with the county. These grants are improving infrastructure and thus making better opportunities for Dooly citizens and prospective businesses.

The Economic Development Training Center serves to improve the education and technical skills of Dooly citizens. The Training Center offers adult literacy (GED) classes, industrial training, job training, computer classes, nursing and weekend college.

2005 Progress Report Dooly County Economic Development Council

Legal Description

 The Dooly County Economic Development Council, Incorporated is designated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  Status was filed in 2000  The Dooly County EDC is a quasi-governmental. The EDC salaries are funded by the county.

 The Dooly County EDC is able to write grants under a non profit status. K.Greer (personal communication, September 6, 2005)

Why 501(c)3?

 The 501(c)3 status affords the Dooly County EDC eligibility for more grants  It provides the structure to work on more diverse projects  Allows a diversification of the mission-As an example, the EDC was able to add their Training Center  Enables donations given to the Council to be tax deductible for the donor K. Greer (personal communication, September 6, 2005)

History & Organization

 In 1987, the county decided they needed an economic development concept for the county to grow.  Governed by a board of directors that is made up of the five county commissioners for the county of Dooly, the Mayor of the City of Vienna, the mayor of the City of Unadilla, the Mayor of the City of Pinehurst, the Mayor of the City of Byromville, the Mayor of the City of Lilly, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Superintendent of Dooly County School System and their successors

History and Organization

 The Dooly County EDC employs a full time Executive Director, Robert Jeter, who’s main responsibility is the Economic Development end  Kristi Greer is the Deputy Director, the Deputy Director handles the day to day operations and manages the training center facility.

 Both positions work closely with their board of directors and the local community to promote their mission and goals.

 The Dooly EDC has no membership. They are set up in a way as not to need any per se.

R. Jeter (personal communication, September 7, 2005)

Goals

  Economic Development- Creating GOOD jobs, sustainable and smart growth for the county  Education of the citizens in Dooly County is a main goal for the Dooly EDC. The training center was built with grant money to provide a place for schools to come to.

Another goal is to continue to get grants for infrastructure improvements throughout the county.

 Currently there are no volunteers in the organization, but they would add that to the list of thing they want for the future.

Accomplishments

         Successful Location of Businesses John Bleakley Motor Homes, Unadilla Flint River Services, Unadilla (Bond Issue $9.5 million) Expansion of Sun Air Conditioning, Vienna (Bond Issue $3 million) Negotiated Georgia Pacific Pump to stay in Vienna Hydro-Tech-Vienna Industrial Park Pilot Travel Center (Bond Issue $5 million) Pinehurst Travel Center Advanced Peanut Trailers

Accomplishments



Grants- Total of $770,000 over five years

 RBEG Furnishings for the EDC Training Center, $60,000  Revolving Loan Fund, Dooly County EDC $100,000  Technical Assistance for Crisp/Dooly Regional Industrial Park, $140,000     City of Lilly Fire Department, $55,000 Lilly Schoolhouse Renovations, $22,000 Drayton Fire Station Expansion, $64,000 RBEG Unadilla Water Tank & Road Expansion, $110,000    CF Railroad Crossing at Vienna Industrial Park South, $64,000 CF Courthouse Renovations, $70,000 RBEG New Road at Rubo’s, $90,000

Accomplishments

 Training Center-Served over 450 Students to Date  Adult Literacy/GED, day and night classes  Computer Classes, Credit and Continuing Education  Industrial & Job Training  Weekend College  Nursing Classes  Graduate Level Education 2005 Progress Report Dooly County Economic Development Council

Accomplishments

Economic Development Projects  80,000 square foot speculative building, Vienna  Expansion of Vienna Industrial Park South ($100,000) including signage and railroad crossing improvements  Purchase of 100 acre industrial park in Unadilla, GA 2005 Progress Report Dooly County Economic Development Council

Clients

 Prospects looking to locate business and industry are clients. The Dooly EDC works with state agencies like the Georgia Department of Economic Development as well as federal agencies like USDA.

 Anyone wanting to further their education is a client as well. The training center has a world of educational opportunities available for the asking.

Obstacles

 “Too many chiefs, not enough Indians!”  Dooly is a small county with few dominant leaders who overlap  The Chamber of Commerce is a separate entity that performs some of the same functions as the EDC. Recently some Chamber board members have approached the EDC board about consolidating the two offices.

Obstacles

 Competing with neighboring Houston and Crisp Counties, which are large and have resources, for big industries  Simply not having money to put up to get big projects into Dooly County K. Greer (personal communication, September 9, 2005)

Sources

 Personal Interview- Robert Jeter, Executive Director, Dooly County Economic Development Council  Personal Interview- Kristi Greer, Deputy Director, Dooly County Economic Development Council  Articles of Incorporation of Dooly County Economic Development Council, Inc.  www.doolyedc.org

 501(c)3 Designation- Secretary of State Office  2005 Progress Report Dooly EDC, K. Greer

Website

 www.doolyedc.org