Early History of Our RDC

The Middle Flint Area Planning and Development Commission did not just happen. Prior to the first formal organizational meeting on September 11, 1963, much necessary effort was put forth, both within the area and around the State. Already, thirteen other areas in Georgia had organized or were in the process of organizing their own "APDC's." Representatives from the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Power Company, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, the State Department of Industry and Trade, and the University of Georgia were meeting together with local people to explain the purposes and values of the area planning and development concept. The Georgia Legislature had previously become convinced of the potential of this new type organization and had passed laws which enabled cities and counties within Georgia to voluntarily band together for the common good and create their own, locally controlled, area planning and development commissions.

Thus, it was that a group gathered at the Flint EMC office in Reynolds in September of 1963 and again on December 16th at the Georgia Power Office in Buena Vista. During these two meetings the eight county size of the organization and the original board membership were established. Acting as Temporary Chairman during the two organizational meetings was Mr. H. M. Turton, Sr., of Cordele. During the December meeting, Mr. Turton challenged those present to develop the resources of their area, particularly stressing the potential of attracting tourists to Lake Blackshear. Monthly meetings were begun in January of 1964 with Senator Jimmy Carter of Sumter County being appointed as Acting Chairman. The Constitution and By-Laws for the new organization (known then as the West Central Georgia APDC) were adopted in March of 1964. In April, the Board Members first discussed the proposed Kinchafoonee Lake in Webster County. The first permanent officers were elected in May. They were State Senator Jimmy Carter, Chairman, and Mr. L. H. "Bud" McKenzie of Macon County, Vice-Chairman. In June the first Executive Committee was named, consisting of James Dekle of Preston, Jack Hamilton of Crisp County, and Robert L. Swearingen, Jr., of Taylor County. At the September meeting, the City of Montezuma's offer of free office space was presented and accepted, and a twelve month lease was signed. The Board also discussed for the first time, the possibility of seeking federal funds for staff and programs. During the November 25, 1964, meeting, the Board officially adopted its first project, the development of the Andersonville Cemetery and Prison Park and made plans for a special meeting of interested local persons and state tourism experts to discuss ideas concerning development of the facility. At the December meeting, the Board hired Mr. Hugh W. Davis as the first Executive Director of the Commission. They also voted to accept a proposal by the University of Georgia to prepare a Preliminary Development Study for the Andersonville Facility at a cost of $500.

Thus passed the first thirteen months of existence of the Middle Flint Area Planning and Development Commission. During this period, its boundaries and board makeup were determined, several projects of regional importance were identified, and the first staff and offices were obtained.

During 1965, the Commission entered into sponsorship of the Office of Economic Opportunity's Neighborhood Youth Corp, Head Start, and other programs. It also joined with the Lower Chattahoochee Area Planning and Development Commission at Columbus in securing federal funds for a study of the economic development potentials of this area, and signed a contract with the Industrial Development Division of Georgia Tech for continuing industrial services. A decision was also made to relocate the headquarters of the Commission from Montezuma to Ellaville. The Thomas Edwin Wall Post # 191 of the American Legion had offered to build the Commission a new office and to provide it rent free.

The year 1966 saw the movement of the Commission headquarters to Ellaville; the employment of an engineer, Judson Allen, Jr., of Montezuma to work on the Lake Blackshear Stump Clearance Project; and the Commission's transferring of the OEO sponsored program to the newly organized West Central Georgia Community Action Council, Inc. Also during 1966, two new regional impact projects were adopted. These were the development of Whitewater Creek Park and the Columbus to Brunswick, South Georgia Limited Access Highway.

The Commission started 1967 with a new Chairman, Joseph Eason of Schley County, and a new Executive Director, Frank B. Moore of Dahlonega. During the year, two staff members (community development (Don ten Bensel) and economic research) were added and a grant for county water and sewer systems planning was obtained from the Farmers' Home Administration. During the Summer of 1967, the Commission's first student intern, T. Harry Hurt, of Cordele completed an industrial development oriented survey of manufacturing, warehousing, and transportation within the area.

The year 1968 was an important one for the Middle Flint APDC for in December of that year it was officially designated as an Economic Development District by the Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce. Not only did this designation bring much needed funds for staff, but also provided for 10 per cent bonus grants to any eligible community seeking EDA funds for industrial development projects. It also made the newly designated Growth Center, Americus, eligible for 50 per cent grants from EDA. During 1968, the Commission added two new staff positions, drafting-graphics and industrial development (Bobby Lowe).

In 1969, the Commission changed its name from West Central Georgia to Middle Flint. Two new programs were added during the year. These were the Local and Regional Planning Program, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Law Enforcement Improvement Program funded by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. The Commission also organized the Andersonville Trail Association to aid in the promotion of the newly designated route running from Perry to Andersonville and then to Cordele. Another first was the preparation of a recommended color scheme for the paint-up of downtown Oglethorpe.

Tourism and economic development highlighted 1970. The much sought after designations of Andersonville Complex as a National Historic Site by the Department of Interior, and Whitewater Creek Park as a State Park by the State of Georgia were finally achieved. Much Commission and individual effort was put forth on these two projects. Industrial park grants from the Economic Development Administration and the Coastal Plains Regional Commission were obtained for Americus and Butler. Commission membership netted these communities almost $1.5 million which they otherwise were ineligible to receive. The year 1970 also saw the first grants to communities under the Law Enforcement Program, and the initiation of the Regional Comprehensive Plan. The Commission also formed the Middle Flint Area Development Corporation, the first of its kind in the State, to assist in the rehabilitation of housing in the Area. Leadership changes included the election of L. H. McKenzie as Chairman of the Board of Directors and the promotion of Bobby L. Lowe to the position of Executive Director. Hired during the year was Buddy Kidd.

In 1971, the Commission added a Planning and Action Program for the Aging which led to the formation of the Middle Flint Council on Aging. Also begun was a Regional Highway Plan and a Regional Housing Code Inspection Program. The first grant for recreation facilities through the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation was obtained (Americus Swimming Pool), as were the first federal funds for airport development (Marion County). Several years of work were rewarded with the final approval of the Tri-County Country Club to serve Marion, Schley, and Taylor Counties. Hired during the year were Sarah Henry and Mickey Holloway.

Highlights of 1972 included approval of industrial park grants for Preston and Buena Vista and a special job creation grant to Vienna for a new city hall. The regional Health Planning Program was initiated. Identification signs were developed and placed along the Andersonville Trail, and a Trail brochure was printed. The Planning Department prepared its first Comprehensive Plan for a local community, Buena Vista. James R. Dekle from Preston was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In 1973, the Commission added programs aimed at assisting the local governments in meeting their solid waste handling and disposal problems and improving their housing stock. Also begun was an agricultural project centered on the promotion of commercial Muscadine Grape production. To this end a number of Demonstration Vineyards were developed. Funds were obtained for the implementation of the Health Planning Program. These were grants from the State for ambulances for five area counties. The first county comprehensive plan was completed by the Planning Department. It was for Crisp County.

The year 1974 brought to fruition one of the oldest projects of the Middle Flint APDC, the clearing of stumps and timber from Lake Blackshear. With the help of Governor Jimmy Carter, the federal, state, and local governments, and private groups, a $700,000 project was developed. Due to this effort, over half of the 8,800 acre lake is now free of boating obstacles. Another major project completed in 1974 was the Regional Comprehensive Plan to provide a general guide for the area's development over the next fifteen years. Several important grants for community development were obtained during the year. Through the Law Enforcement Program Marion County was granted $180,000 for a new detention center. State grants were obtained for solid waste handling projects (collection equipment and sanitary landfill development) in five area counties. A new program of preparing Codes of Ordinances for local municipalities was begun. The Chairman of the Board of Directors for the year was John J. Neely, Jr., of Butler.

In 1975 Congress instituted a new program to be administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, named the Community Development Block Grant program. Commission staff members wrote successful applications for five local governments that first year. They were Taylor County, Pinehurst, Oglethorpe. Vienna, and Buena Vista. A short-term federal job creation program provided funds for a much needed expansion of the Commission office in Ellaville. Elected Chairman of the Board of Directors was B. Lewis Brinson of Dooly County.

The year 1976 was the Bicentennial Year, and a number of local communities honored America's 200th birthday with fairs and other celebrations. New programs for the Commission included landscape planning (parks and plantings) and governmental management assistance (budgeting, personnel manuals, etc.). The Commission also worked to obtain funds for the area's first county-wide fire protection program, in Dooly County. And, right at the end of the year, the Commission's first chairman, Jimmy Carter, was elected to the presidency of the United States.

Tourism highlighted the year of 1977. Thousands of visitors were streaming into Plains. The Commission provided planning assistance, and also obtained grant funds to help the small community meet its new challenges. A new term "Plains Country" was coined. Also during the year, a major tourism goal was achieved with the approval by the Coastal Plains Regional Commission of a grant to the Town of Andersonville to allow it to redevelop its downtown into an attractive, historic-oriented tourist shopping area. During 1977, the Commission also established its Aging Program by studying the need for nutritional programs for the elderly and in setting up the Area Council on Aging, Inc., whereby future delivery of services could be achieved. This was the first such Council to be so formed in the state of Georgia. Hired during the year was Gerald Mixon.

In 1978 the Commission expanded its staff by hiring an Historic Preservation Planner to provide technical assistance to governments, businesses and individuals in the Area. It began implementation of service delivery through the Area Council on Aging, by obtaining funds for the opening of nutrition programs for the elderly in Americus, Cordele, Montezuma, Butler, and Ellaville, and for Homemaker Aid programs. The Commission staff obtained the first Urban Development Action Grant approved in Georgia. A $5.72 million grant was obtained for the City of Montezuma to construct needed roads to serve the new $200 million Buckeye Cellulose Pulp Plant which the Commission had helped to locate in Macon County. Mr. B. I. Thornton of Crisp County was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. Hired during the year was Grace Howell.

Highlights of 1979 included the receipt of a total of $1.6 million of special Local Public Works "job creation" funds from the Economic Development Administration. Projects utilizing these funds were approved for Crisp County, Dooly County, Macon County, Schley County, Sumter County, Americus, and Montezuma. Also in 1979, the Commission bought its first off-set printer and began in-house printing of all reports.

The year 1980 brought designation of the Commission as an Area Agency on Agency (AAA) by the State of Georgia, Office of Aging. This designation was necessary in order for the Commission to function as the directing agency for programs for the elderly within the Middle Flint Area. The Commission also added temporary staff to assist with the 1980 U.S. Census. The Commission was instrumental in obtaining approval of Farmers Home Administration funds for a new water system for Lilly, and a very much needed community sewer system for Marshallville. Marshallville had long been the largest city remaining in the Middle Flint Area without a public sewer system. Elected Chairman of the Board of Directors was C. M. "Mike" Murray of Marion County.

In 1981, the Commission gave a good boost to Cordele/Crisp County. Their application for funds for expansion of the Penia Road Industrial Park was approved by the Economic Development Administration. The City received a 20 percent larger EDA grant because of its membership in Middle Flint. This "bonus" grant amounted to $219,200. During the year, the Commission worked on the Farmers Home Administration funded Sec. 111 Rural Economic Development Strategy, and updated the Areawide Solid Waste Management Plan.

The year 1982 was a bumper year in regard to the Community Development Block Grant program. The Commission had six of its applications funded for a total of $3.5 million in CDBG monies. The Commission also began to expand its interest in agribusiness development, helping a farmer near Unadilla to secure financing for a new cantaloupe packing/cooling facility. This was also the first use of CDBG funds for a business loan by a local government. At the Commission, the print shop was expanded and printing of forms and letterhead for member governments was begun.

Highlighting the year 1983 was the designation of the Middle Flint Area Development Corporation as a Certified Development Corporation "CDC" by the Small Business Administration. This designation allowed the Corporation to begin providing SBA 503 long-term, fixed asset financing to new and expanding businesses in the eight county area. Another new program begun during the year was application assistance for public transportation. Both Vienna and Unadilla were aided in obtaining new 15 passenger busses for public transportation in the respective communities. Elected Chairman of the Board of Directors was Lewis Lowe of Sumter County.

The year 1984 saw the Commission enter into another new area of service. The State designated the counties covered by Middle Flint and adjacent Lower Chattahoochee APDC as Service Delivery Area "SDA" # 6 for the new federal Job Training Partnership Act. Several additional staff members were hired to administer and carry out this new program, designed to provide needed job training and retraining for unemployed/underemployed persons. Commission staff assisted a number of communities in applying for special job creation CDBG funds. Successful were Crisp County, Ideal, Arabi, and Montezuma. The Commission also began assisting member communities to apply for funds under the State's new CDBG Employment Incentive Program. This program offers grants to communities for use in loaning to new/expanding industries or to provide needed industrially related public facilities. Approved the first year were Unadilla and Vienna. Hired during the year was Susan Devane

In 1985 The Commission again accepted a new program This was the Rural Transportation Planning/Implementation Program sponsored by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The purpose of the program is to promote wise use of energy resources through such means as ride-sharing and public transportation. Commission staff also provided technical assistance to a large number of the member governments so as to assist them in meeting the federal requirement of equal access for the handicapped (Sec. 504 standards). Communities not meeting these standards faced a cut-off of federal revenue sharing funds. Mr. Jeff Couturier of Crisp County was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. Hired during the year was Danny Giddens and Albena Moore.