I
 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
2007-2012
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2007-2012
MIDDLE FLINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
Middle Flint Economic Development District Middle Flint Regional Development Center 228 West Lamar Street Americus, Georgia 31709 229-931-2909 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1TABLE OF CONTENT
A. EDA FUNDED CEDS 1.. Planning Organization....................................................................................................5 A. District Membership and Organization..............................................................5 1. Participation of Member Counties……………………………….11 2. State Participation………………………………………………..12 3. District Organizational Structure………………………………...13 4. Operational Organization………………………………………...14 2. CEDS Strategy Committee............................................................................................15 A. Process………………………………………………………………………16 B. Forums – Meetings…………………………………………………………..17 B. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS A. Background..................................................................................................................18 B. CEDS Goals and Requirements...................................................................................44 C. Community Private Sector Participation......................................................................53 D. Strategic Projects, Programs and Activities.................................................................54 E. CEDS Plan of Action....................................................................................................57 F. Benchmark and Performance Measures......................................................................60 C. MAPS……………………………………………………………………………………….68 A. Region B. Counties C. Cities and Commercial Centers D. General Topography E. Physiographic Provinces F. Area Topography G Transportation: Airports H. Transportation: Highway I. Transportation: Railroad J. Utilities: Gas K. Industrial Parks D. TABLES, CHARTS, AND COMMUNITY INDICATORS………..…………………...80 A. Population B. Per Capita Income C. Average Weekly Wage D. Employment Levels E. Unemployment Levels F. Employers Levels G. Poverty Level H. Education Levels E. LETTERS OF PARTICIPATION AND APPROVAL…………………………………94 A. Georgia B. WIA C. Counties, Cities D. Middle Flint Economic Development District Chairman of Board Letter SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2007-2012
The CEDS and Regional Planning process brings original insights and clarity to the evaluation and revitalization of the places where people live, grow, and work. The planning process inspires trust in all community stakeholders because the proactive process takes into account all the aspects that shape community life. Through informed assessments the planning and evaluation process can equip the region with the tools to create meaningful change. The solutions merge the vision with the economic and social realities.
This document is the 2007 - 2012 Five Year Planning Document for the Middle Flint Economic Development District. This 2007 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Document effort is a part of a continuing economic development planning process aimed at providing an analysis of the Middle Flint EDD economic successes, problems and opportunities; setting forth a plan of action including goals and objectives; and establishing measures to determine whether and to what extent goal and objectives have been met.
The results of this planning effort will be presented to the U. S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for evaluation. This plan conforms to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Reform Act of 1998 that requires an economic development strategy in order to qualify for assistance under most EDA programs.
The plan will be submitted to the State of Georgia to assure the Region is in alignment with the State of Georgia in the planning and development programs of the EDD. Each Regional Development District utilized as a part of this planning effort the Governor’s and State of Georgia’s initiatives, which lay out a strategy for economic development that recognizes Georgia’s cultural, natural, and historic assets. It is a requirement of EDA that the State of Georgia approve the document.
This CEDS document will be unique to the Middle Flint Regional Development Center and Economic Development District, reflecting it’s specific situation, challenges, and opportunities.
Upon the completion of this analysis, the strengths and weaknesses of the Region will be identified within these same categories. A section detailing the regions accomplishments over the last five years will be completed, including showing how EDA funds have impacted the Region.
As required by legislation, the District is governed by a Board of Directors composed of 51% elected officials. This includes the County Chairman and the Mayor or Chairman of each County Seat. The remaining members represent labor, low income, industry, finance, utilities, the aged, business, minorities, women and education.
The Area Development District’s staff is made up of professionals with a wide range of backgrounds in such areas as development, human services, management and planning. By sharing the expertise at the Regional Development District level, local governments are collectively able to afford the professional staff that many counties and cities could not afford otherwise.
The Economic Development District is a product of local efforts, local money and Federal funding of the Public Work and Economic Development Act of 1965. The intent in forming the Middle Flint Economic Development District (MF EDD) was for economic development through the involvement of locally elected officials, business and civic leaders, as well as representatives of minorities and the educational system.
This CEDS is a result of a continuing economic development planning process, developed with broad based and diverse community participation, and contains the following: 1 An analysis of economic and community development problems and opportunities including incorporation of any relevant material or suggestions from other government sponsored or supported plans; 2 Background and history of the economic development situation of the area covered, with discussion of the economy, including as appropriate: geography, population, labor force, resources, and the environment; 3 A discussion of community participation in the planning efforts; 4 A section setting forth goals and objectives for taking advantage of the opportunities and solving the economic development problems of the area serviced; 5 A plan of action, including suggested projects to implement objectives and goals set forth in the strategy; and 6 Performance measures that will be used to evaluate whether and to what extent goals and objectives have been or are being met.
A. SECTION A : EDA FUNDED CEDS
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
1. PLANNING ORGANIZATION
The Middle Flint Economic Development District (MFEDD) was formally organized to serve eight Counties and their Cities in September of 1963. The Middle Flint EDD is one of 16 regional area planning and development districts in the State of Georgia and is recognized by the U. S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). Planning a detailed program of preparation for future economic and social development is recognized as an important factor in the region. Planning seeks to prevent the haphazard development of conditions for human existence. The need for planning in rural economically depressed areas as well as large metropolitan areas is a must.
The Purpose of the EDA Planning investment is to provide support to Planning organizations for the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) related to short term planning investments and state plans designed to create and retain higher skill, higher wage jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the nations most economically distressed regions. The purpose is to implement programs to reduce unemployment and increase incomes.
The eight Counties which make up the Middle Flint EDD is Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, and Webster Counties. The Counties have similar backgrounds, problems, and potentials. The primary objective of the EDA’s five year planning document is to decrease unemployment and increase income thought the creations of job opportunities for the area’s residents. The Planning Organization works to create, promote, and foster the development of industrial, civic, commercial, and natural resources of the participating communities and Counties.
For the CEDS process the Planning Organization will: Appoint a Strategy Committee Develop a CEDS which complies with 13 C.F.R. 303.7 Make new and revised CEDS available for review and comment Obtain approval of the CEDS from EDA Submit annual performance reports Submit a new CEDS every five years unless required earlier
FY 2008 GOAL AND WORK PROGRAM The approved SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1FY 2008 Goal and Work Program for the Middle Flint Regional Development Center and the Middle Flint Economic Development District is as follows:
GOAL: The purpose of the Middle Flint Regional Development Center is to create, promote, and foster the orderly growth, economic prosperity, and continuing development of the industrial, civic, commercial, human, and natural resources of the Middle Flint Region and member communities. WORK PROGRAM: The Middle Flint Regional Development Center will conduct a continuing work program beginning July 1, 2007, and running through June 30, 2008. Staff efforts will continue to be directed toward the carrying out of the adopted Goal of the RDC, and the goals of the several grant programs which the Board of Directors authorizes the Staff to undertake/administer. These programs shall include the following, as well as others which the Board may from time to time approve.
A. Economic Planning and Coordination
1. Maintain district designation and funding eligibility by the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
2. Prepare and submit to EDA by September a new Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) in compliance with the CEDS Guidelines for District Organizations. This includes utilizing a regional CEDS Strategy Committee.
3. Continue quarterly meetings for Area Economic Developers.
4. Continue to promote orderly growth and assure compliance with federal regulations and local and district plans through the Intergovernmental Review Process.
5. Supply EDA with timely information on plant closures or prospective plant closings, as well as the number of employees affected by these actions.
6. Coordinate with Workforce Development in planning and coordination for economic development activities aimed at providing increased training/employment opportunities for WIA eligible, and other unemployed/under-employed, persons.
B. Community Development
1. Continue technical assistance to governments regarding the availability of grant-in-aid programs, and the preparation of applications for growth and development supporting facilities such as water and sewer facilities, highways, buildings, housing, airports, etc., and administer such grant programs upon the request of the local governments.
2. Continue technical assistance to local governments in regard to planning and zoning, and development standards.
3. Utilize WIA generated socio-economic data in application preparation.
4. Finalize Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans for Macon and Schley counties. This will complete the preparation of such plans for all eight member counties.
C. Economic Development
1. Continue industrial development technical advisory, coordination, and education assistance to local development groups and governments.
2. Provide information and/or financing (through the local and District RLFs and SBA 504 Programs) to businesses seeking loans for new ventures and/or expansion including agri-business and agri-industry.
3. Promote the addition or expansion of industrial parks and/or industrial support infrastructure throughout the area including adequate access roads and utilities. Assist in securing a diversity of desired industries within the Middle Flint Area.
4. Assist local governments in the establishment and operation of Revolving Loan Funds for commercial and industrial development through the Community Development Block Grant/Employment Incentive Program and/or USDA-RD/Rural Business Enterprise Grant.
5. Coordinate with Workforce Development in the development of projects aimed at increasing training and employment opportunities for WIA eligible and other unemployed and under-employed persons.
D. Local Government Assistance
From its inception, Middle Flint’s staff has been called upon by the member governments to provide assistance in an assortment of ways. From time to time these have included such items as preparing and updating local ordinances, mapping, house numbering systems, street naming and signage plans, development and adoption of revenue producing ordinances, coordination of training workshops, and many others. This will continue as time, funds and personnel are available. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Position Systems (GPS) are used to create digital base maps using shared data sources and data collected by the RDC. GPS locations of fire hydrants are collected to create maps to be used by cities and counties for Insurance Services Offices (ISO) . The RDC has developed maps of five (5) road miles coverage from each fire station. A road index map can be created from the GIS/GPS data of all the roads location in the cities and counties. Elements selected for continuation this year include parcel maintenance mapping for county tax assessors, and digital mapping of water and sewer systems with GPS locations of fire hydrants, water valves, and manholes. The RDC currently has on-going contracts for parcel maintenance with Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley and Webster Counties.
E. Comprehensive Land Use Planning
Growth Strategies legislation enacted in 1989 established policies and procedures for local and regional planning which apply throughout the state. To maintain eligibility (Qualified Local Government) for numerous state-awarded grants and loans, and state-issued permits, local governments must comply with state-mandated planning standards, policies and procedures
Each local government must prepare or be included in a twenty-year comprehensive plan, the Short Term Work Program (STWP) element of which must be updated at least every five-years, and perform a complete plan review (and update as necessary) after ten years. RDC Staff will be working with Taylor and Marion Counties to complete the review/updates of their comprehensive plans during FY 07/08. The RDC is responsible for reviewing all new, local plans for compliance with state standards. Staff will also be updating the Regional Agenda element of the Middle Flint Regional Plan during the first calendar quarter of the 2008.
F. Historic Preservation/Tourism
The general goals of the Region’s Historic Preservation Program are to provide preservation planning assistance including, but not limited to: 1) Federal and state tax incentives, 2) National Register of Historic Places nominations, 3) Preservation education, 4) Historic Resource survey assistance, 5) Historic Preservation technical assistance, and 6) Grants assistance for the retention of, and planning for, historic properties, landscapes and archaeological sites. These programs can assist local governments, organizations and individuals to better understand and plan for historic preservation and incorporate preservation into community development decisions. This Staff person also is responsible for the regional tourism assistance effort. This work helped obtain OneGeorgia Authority Equity Fund grants of $491,498 and $500,000 respectively in support of the Sam Shortline Excursion Train and the Drummer Boy Museum in Andersonville. Both of these projects have been cited by the State for their innovation. An idea being promoted is the construction/renovation of an outdoor drive-in theater along U.S. 41 in Crisp or Dooly Counties. Cordele is the beginning point for the Sam Shortline, while the Historic U.S. 41 Corridor transverses both Crisp and Dooly. The goal of the project is to increase over-night stays in the region. More time = more tourist dollars benefiting local businesses and their employees.
G. Solid Waste Management Planning
In FY 2008, as part of the local comprehensive planning process, RDC staff will continue to provide the necessary assistance to member counties to update their Solid Waste Management Plans as required by the State. Plans due for completion this year include Dooly, Marion and Taylor counties.
H. Transportation Planning
In the Fall of 2000 the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) contracted with the RDC to provide the state with a greatly expanded level of transportation services. The largest component of the contract provides for utilization of Global Position System (GPS) technology to collect the location of highway centerlines and other items of interest to GDOT so the interconnecting network of local, state and federal highways can be updated and maintained in a computer data base. The work element for FY 2007 was bridges. The new item for FY 2008 will be rail crossings.
Other aspects of the contract provide for a higher level of RDC involvement in generating increased public participation in state development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, technical assistance with designation of scenic byways, pedestrian and bikeway planning, development of transportation enhancement projects, assistance with historic and archaeological reviews of proposed transportation projects, and providing the GDOT with information about the sale of land on which wetlands may be located.
I. Workforce Investment Program
The Middle Flint RDC Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services offer education and training opportunities to eligible clients ages 14 and up within the eight (8) county area. One of the key principles of WIA is to provide local flexibility to design WIA services based on local needs. WIA services are governed by the local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB). WIB membership is comprised of local area public and private sector members. WIA services are designed to aid eligible clients to receive education and training opportunities which will lead to employment.
Services are offered for Adults (ages 22 and up), Youth (ages 14-21), and Dislocated Workers (any age group). WIA funded services included In-School and Out of School Youth activities, On-The-Job (OJT) training, and occupational classroom training for employment. This coming year, over 300 clients in the Middle Flint area will be served through the WIA services.
The Middle Flint Workforce Development System is part of the area’s economic development effort and assists area businesses in getting skilled workers, information on the labor market, employee recruiting, tax credits, training and more.
Middle Flint RDC is the Administrative Entity and Grant Recipient for WIA funds for the area. Services funds are distributed to service provider agencies and organizations via contracts. A competitive bid process is used to recruit service providers.
J. Business Loan Program
In 1982, the Middle Flint Area Development Corporation (ADC) began participating in the SBA 504 Loan Program through the Department of Commerce/Small Business Administration’s Certified Development Corporation (CDC) Program. This program provides fixed-rate, long term financing for 40 percent of the cost of new or expanded business ventures.
In 1991, the Middle Flint ADC was awarded a $50,000 grant by USDA for the purpose of lending to area businesses. These monies were used to capitalize the ADC’s Rural Development Revolving Loan Fund. Since then the RDC/ADC have obtained additional grants and loans from USDA, EDA and the Georgia Forestry Commission. RDC staff is contracted with the ADC to operate its programs. Additionally, RDC staff administers local RLF programs for several member governments.
While most of the monies in the RDC’s Revolving Loan Fund are available for use throughout the eight Middle Flint counties, some funds are targeted to specific areas such as the Empowerment Zone of Crisp and Dooly Counties, the Macon, Schley and Sumter Counties in the new three county Industrial Development Authority, and funds in the Dooly County Economic Development Council. RDC staff prepared the application and administers this RLF.
Each of the above mentioned revolving loan funds has/will have monies available for lending during FY 2008.
1. Planning Organization Participating Member Counties and Cities
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