A. LOCATION:  We are located 120 miles south of Atlanta on I-75 at exit 101.  We are also at the junction of us 280 as well as GA 300, the Ga-Fla Parkway.
       In addition, Crisp County is served by three rail lines, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Heart of Georgia.

B. INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND SITES: Our community has several different site locations and parks that offer a variety of ideal locations on the West of Interstate 75, on Ga. Hwy. 300 and adjacent to Ga. Highway 280 East. All sites are easily accessible and contains all infrastructure for  business location.

C. ELECTRICAL POWER SAVINGS: Crisp County built its own Hydroelectric Power Plant in 1927. Due to this investment and the fact that we are members of the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG), our low cost, debt-free hydroelectric power plant enables us to offer power less than other major Georgia utility companies.

D. MUNICIPAL UTILITIES:  The City of Cordele provides industrial water and sewer while maintaining a large reserve of excess unused capacity. Presently, 3.5 MGD of excess unused water and 2.5 MGD of excess sewer is available. Natural gas is also offered for industrial use through the City of Cordele.

E. JOBS TAX CREDIT:  This incentive will provide the company with a state corporate income tax credit of $4,000.00 for each new job created. The company is entitled to the tax credit for a period of five years (minimum of 5 jobs required) with ten years allowed to claim the 5 years of credit.

F. GEORGIA SALES TAX EXEMPTION ON NEW MANUFACTURED EQUIPMENT:  State sales tax exemption on certain classes of manufacturing equipment . Exemption for 4% state sales tax and up to 3% local sales tax authorized for eligible machinery. There is a possible 7% total sales tax exemption on eligible manufacturing and/or pollution control equipment that is available. As an empowerment zone, businesses are eligible for accelerated depreciation.

G. CRISP REGIONAL HOSPITAL:  The 65-bed hospital was built in 1989 with an expansion in 1993. There is an active medical staff of 25 doctors and an additional 40 consulting physicians practicing in the hospital.

H. INDUSTRIAL BOND FINANCING:  Both taxable and tax-exempt industrial Revenue bond financing is provided through two local development authorities within the Cordele/Crisp County area. We have the ability and experience to structure either an owner-occupied or leaseback project with this mechanism that affords fixed asset financing for business  projects. Details and specifics are available upon request through the IDC.

I. SOUTH GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE: Our new technical college opened in March of 1999. This 6.9 million dollar facility provides expanded vocational, technical, and adult education to as many as 500 area students. It is a premier workforce development asset and can individualized training programs to meet specific business and industry needs.

J. LABOR FORCE:  Crisp County is a Union Free county. With a strong workforce drawing from over a 12 county region.

K. NEW CORDELE-CRISP COUNTY RECREATION COMPLEX: Funded by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), this multi-use complex is a state of the art facility providing for the recreational needs of the community. Phase II of this facility will include an Olympic size indoor swimming facility as well as additional and expanded sports venues.

L. BUSINESS INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTION: Both Cordele and Crisp County offer a Free port 100% tax exemption on the following classes of personal property:

1. Manufacturer's raw materials and goods-in-process inventory
2. Manufacturer's finished goods held by the original manufacturer, and
3. Warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing firms with finished goods destined to be shipped outside Georgia.

M. LOCAL REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS: Both the City of Cordele and the Board of County Commissioners administer revolving loan funds that have been capitalized by CDBG projects previously approved by the state of Georgia.  Rates for these fixed asset loans are generally determined by the economic life of the assets financed and are available at below prime rate financing in most cases.

N. CRISP COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM:  A new state of the art high school with 80 classrooms, learning labs for industrial technology, 4 computer labs, horticulture, home and family management, child/elder care and business and marketing classes opened its doors in the fall of 1995. The school campus is home to an 11,000 volume library media center, a mall-like concourse, a theater-like cafetorium with three level seating and a full size stage, a college size gymnasium with adjoining weight training, aerobics and health classrooms, a JROTC laboratory with indoor firing range and an art laboratory.  In addiction the county has an excellent private school, Crisp Academy, which also serves the Pre-k through 12 years in a stringent college prepatory curriculum.

O. QUICK START:  The Quick Start program will conduct a Training Needs Analysis, develop a Training Plan and conduct the training to ensure that a company is ready with a trained workforce on the first day of its operation. This is done at no cost to the new or expanding company should they meet all the State of Georgia qualifications.

P. HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS AND HOPE GRANTS:  In the state of Georgia any student (who has a B average or better and maintains it) may choose any college or university within the state and the state will pay the tuition. Hope Grants are available through technical colleges provided the student maintain a C average, The grant also provides for tuition and book vouchers.

O. LAKE BLACKSHEAR. GEORGIA VETERANS STATE PARK. AND THE RETREAT AT LAKE BLACKSHEAR:  This 8700-acre lake offers the perfect setting to enjoy boating, swimming, fishing and a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Each year the lake is the site of national bass fishing tournaments that bring participants from all over the nation.

     The 1300+ acre multi use park has two war museums, which includes planes and tanks from several different wars beginning with WWI and ending with the Gulf War. There is also a camping area that offers tent and RV sites, 10 rental cottages and group shelters for picnics or reunions.

     In addition, The Retreat at Lake Blackshear offers a hotel facility with 80 hotel rooms, an indoor and outdoor pool, workout room, restaurant and lounge as well as conference facilities for up to 500 people. A full service Marina will be available by the spring of 2005.

R. GOLF:  Crisp County has three (3) 18-hole and one (l) 9-hole golf courses. Our weather is perfect for playing golf year round.

S. HOUSING:  We have a variety of lifestyles to choose from in housing: suburban neighborhoods, country club residential development, lakeside homes or Neo-Classical/Victorian style homes in our historical district.

T. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:  Crisp Area Arts Alliance brings cultural activities by hosting and promoting the arts, symphonies, and performances by various artists.

U. SPEC BUILDING:  Cordele/Crisp County is building a 100,00 SF expandable to 230,000 SF building. This building is located in the Cedar Creek Corporate Park and has Heart of Georgia Rail service. This building may be leased or purchased.

V. AIRPORT:  The Crisp County Airport has two 5,000 Ft. runways with, instrument approaches and full service fuel for the corporate aircraft inventory available. It also has AWOS weather system and as well as full internet service in the terminal for visiting air crews and visitors.  Complimentary transportation is available to local area businesses and services..

W. EMERGENCY SERVICES: The City of Cordele firemen and police work hand in hand with the Crisp County firemen and the Sheriffs department. Our EMT's are some of the best in the state. Our highly trained staff of emergency service personnel can reach any location in the county within 8 minutes of dispatch and the county maintains a 24/7 E-911 Service.

X. QUALITY OF LIFE:  Our community offers a unique laid back pace of life that is inductive to pleasurable interest as well a productive work environment. Cordele-Crisp County offers residents a variety of lifestyles in a growing and progressive community. Crisp County's quality of life provides the best in educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities in order to accommodate both the corporate executive and his family.

Y. THE CORDELE/CRISP COUNTY TEAM: Our leadership is the key to getting the job done and helping our community grow and prosper.  Let us show you how we can help your company improve "its bottom line" and enjoy life at its best in the mean time.