**These figures
do not take into account people whose U/E has run out and are no longer
eligible, but they still have not found employment.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WHAT
MAKES CORDELE/CRISP COUNTY SO SPECIAL FROM A TO ZZZ?
A.
LOCATION:
We are located 130 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. EMPOWERMENT
ZONE JOB TAX CREDIT: This incentive provides the company
with a federal tax credit of $3,000 per job created each year through
calendar year 2009. the credit is applied to the company's net Federal
tax liability.
G. 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.
H. 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.
I. 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.
J. 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.
K. LABOR
FORCE: Crisp County is a Union Free county. With a strong
workforce drawing from over a 12 county region.
L. 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.
M. BUSINESS
INVENTORY TAX EXEMPTION:
Both Cordele and Crisp County offer a Free port 100% tax exemption on
the following classes of personal property:
Manufacturer's raw
materials and goods-in-process inventory
Manufacturer's finished goods held by the original manufacturer, and
Warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing firms with finished goods
destined to be shipped outside Georgia.
N. 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.
O. 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.
P. CRISP
ACADEMY SCHOOL: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.

Click on photo for larger view
Q. 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.
R. 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.
S. LAKE
BLACKSHEAR. GEORGIA VETERANS STATE PARK. AND LAKE BLACKSHEAR RESORT
AND GOLF CLUB: 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, Lake
Blackshear Resort and Golf Club 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.
T. GOLF:
Crisp County has three (3) 18-hole and one (l) 9-hole golf courses.
Our weather is perfect for playing golf year round.
U. 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.
V. CULTURAL
ACTIVITIES: Crisp Area Arts Alliance brings cultural activities
by hosting and promoting the arts, symphonies, and performances by various
artists.
W. 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.
X. 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..
Y. 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.
Z. 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.
ZZ.
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.
ZZZ.
They understand the meaning of "TEAMWORK"
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