Development Authority of Ben

Hill CountyGeneral Statute – O.C.G.A. 36-62-1

Created 3/18/1970

Independent – Single Jurisdictional

The Development Authority of Ben Hill County

County-Appointed Board MembersO. D. Netter, Jr. - Chairman

Ronny Branch

Delene Clark

Dwain Parrish

Charles Graham

Jim Casper

Herbert Jones

Toni Sawyer, County Attorney (Non-Voting)Courtney Whitman, Executive Director (Non-Voting)

Purpose of a Development Authority

Means of providing certain services on behalf of the local governing body to the community

“Promote and further the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities”

• Article IX, Section VI, paragraph III of the Georgia Constitution

Development Authority’s powers, membership, and purposes all depend upon how the authority was created

The Development Authority of Ben Hill County was created under GENERAL STATUTE (O.C.G.A. 36-62-1)

The Development Authority of Ben Hill County is duly registered with the Department of Community Affairs through December 31, 2015, as required by the Local Government Authorities Registration Act (O.C.G.A 36-80-16).

Powers under General Statute

• Bring and defend actions

• Adopt and amend a corporate seal

• Make and execute contracts

• Receive and administer gifts, grants, and devises of any property and administer trusts

• Acquire, by purchase, gift, or construction, any real or personal property desired to be acquired as part of any project

• Sell, lease, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, mortgage, dispose of or grant options for any real or personal property

• Dispose of any real property

Powers Continued……

• Mortgage, convey, pledge, or assign any properties, revenues, income, tolls, charges, or fees owned or received by the authority

• Appoint officers and retain agents, engineers, attorneys, fiscal agents, accountants, and employees and to provide for their compensation and duties.

• Extend credit or make loans to any person, firm, corporation, or other industrial entity for the planning, design, construction, acquisition, or carrying out of any project

• Acquire, accept or retain equitable interests, security interests, or other interest in any property, real or personal………. In order to secure the repayment of any moneys loaned or credit extended by the authority

• Construct, acquire, own, repair, remodel, maintain, extend, improve, and equip projects….. And pay all or part of the cost of any such project from the proceeds of revenue bonds

• Borrow money and issue revenue bonds and bond anticipation notes from time to time and to use the proceeds for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of any project

Powers Continued…..

• Pledge, mortgage, convey, assign, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber property, real or personal, and execute any trust agreement, indenture, or security agreement….. As security for repayment of authority obligations

• For any authority authorizing an air transportation facility, to contract with county or municipal corporation in the state for such purpose

• Expend for the promotion of industry, agriculture, and trade within its area of operations any funds of the authority determined by the authority to be in excess of those needed for the other corporate purposes of the authority.

• Do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly conferred by the statue

DEFINITION OF “PROJECT”

• Statutory Authorities (O.C.G.A. Section 36-62-2) Buildings and structures to be used in the production, manufacturing,

processing, assembling, storing, or handling of any agricultural, manufactured, mining, or industrial projects, along with all necessary or useful furnishing, machinery, equipment, parking, landscaping, and other infrastructure

New and existing industrial facilities

Any real or personal property which any industrial concern may desire in connection with the operation of any plant or facility

Certain air or water pollution control facilities

Certain sewage disposal and solid waste disposal facilities

Certain “peak shave facilities”

Certain transportation facilities

DEFINITION OF “PROJECT” (CONT.)

• Any real or personal property in connection with

Sports facilities

Convention or trade show facilities

Airports, docks, wharves, mass commuting facilities, parking facilities, or storage or training facilities

Facilities for the local furnishing of electricity or gas

Facilities for the furnishing of water

Hotel and motel facilities adjacent to convention or trade show facilities

Amphitheaters with seating capacity of more than 1,000

DEFINITION OF “PROJECT” (CONT.)

Acquisition or development land as a site for an industrial park

Acquisition, construction, leasing, or financing of any office building facilities for any business enterprise or charitable corporation, association, or similar entity

Skilled nursing homes or intermediate care homes

Improvements designed to reduce energy or water consumption

Community antenna television facilities

Research and development faculties

Any other project that promotes the essential public purpose of the development of trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities

Development Authority of Ben Hill CountyFunding

• SPLOST – 1.0 % - Budgeted $ 150,000 over 6 years – Collecting Average of $ 1,950 per month

• Ben Hill County Budget - $ 45,741 per year

• Owns 3 parcels; 2 with clear titles

Development Authority of Ben Hill County

Natural Partners• USDA and Rural Development

• UGA Agricultural Extension

• City of Fitzgerald

• Fitzgerald – Ben Hill County Development Authority

• Fitzgerald Downtown Development Authority

• Wiregrass Technical College

• Ben Hill County Schools

• Chamber of Commerce

Revolving Loan Fund of Ben Hill County

• GA Department of Community Affairs Program

• Loans for Small Businesses

• Local Board Reviews Applications

• Auditor Reports to DCA in June and December

Revolving Loan Fund of Ben Hill County

County-Appointed Board MembersO. D. Netter, Jr. - Chairman

Cam Jordan, Vice-Chairman

Scott Downing

Constance Manley

Roffie Sheppard

Toni Sawyer, County Attorney (Non-Voting)

Courtney Whitman, Executive Director (Non-Voting)

Fitzgerald/Ben Hill County Land Bank Authority

O.C.G.A. 48-4-100 (The Land Bank Act of 2012)

Inter-Governmental Agreement

Independent – Multi Jurisdictional

Fitzgerald/Ben Hill County Land Bank Authority

City & County Appointed Board• Scott Downing – County

• Albert Webb – City

• Frank Feild – County

• Cam Jordan – City

• Vacant – Board Recommended/City-County Appointed (School District)

• Kyle Cook – Attorney (Non-Voting)

• Courtney Whitman – Operations & Administration (Non-Voting)

• Whitney Justice – Finance & Accounting (Non-Voting)

• Vacant – School Board (Non-Voting)

2015 Deliverables

4 Areas of Work

Economic Development

Revolving Loan Fund

Land Bank

USDA RBEG Demonstration Project

Economic Development Deliverables

• Promote and Assist in marketing Millennium Technology Point Park

• Cooperate with FBHCDA, DDA and Chamber of Commerce to promote business attraction, relocation, start-up and expansion

• Maintain liaison with various local, state, and federal agencies

• Prepare grant proposals and applications, contracts and other necessary documents as required for necessary community services (ex: Queensland Water Well Trust)

• Plan and implement business attraction and development strategies**

• Inland Port*

Revolving Loan Fund Deliverables

• Develop options and procedures for: Combining RLF Board with the Development Authority

Putting the RLF Board under the Development Authority

Continue to operate as two separate organizations

• Outreach and Education Seminars about the RLF

• Assist entrepreneurs and small business owners in completing business plans and RLF application

• Coordinate meetings with RLF Board and applicants

• Plan board retreat

Land Bank Deliverables

• Conduct Organizational Meeting

• Appointment of 5th Board Member

• Establishment of Policies, Procedures and Accounts

• Inventory of Tax Deeds and Available Properties

• Development of Program of Work and Priorities

USDA RBEG Demonstration Project Deliverables

• Coordinate and monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the USDA contract

• Provide teleconference links between clients, pro-bono attorneys and McSEED

• Develop and document exportable methodologies that can be applied in other Strike Force Communities

AccomplishmentsNovember 2013: Traveled to Washington, D.C. in 2013 to meet with Deputy Assistant

Secretary for Administration Malcolm Shorter and the Department of Agriculture staff to seek funding for the RBEG Demonstration Project

February 2014: Coordinated the 2014 USDA Strike Force Meeting at Wiregrass Technical College

March 2014: Launched www.dabhc.com website Summer 2014: Served as a coordinator for the Bright from the Start Summer Food

Program which served 16,838 meals to students and the disabled June – August 2014. Created 3 summer jobs 2nd year: June 9th – July 31st 2015

Summer 2014: Organized and hosted 4 free community concerts called “Summer Nights in the Park”, to promote local skills, revolving loan fund and encourage small business start-ups 2nd Annual 2015: June 9th, July 11th, August 1st and September 7th

Accomplishments (cont.)….

Summer 2014: Assisted residents in completing applications for the Queensland/ Water Well Trust Project and served as the liaison between Ben Hill County and Water Well Trust.

August 2014: Coordinated USDA RBEG Award Ceremony

November 2014: Coordinated meeting with local ranchers and FPL Foods (one of the largest privately owned processors of fresh beef products and value added meat selections in the United States.)

2014: Conducted two orientation tours of the GA Olive Farms in Lakeland, Georgia

2014-2015: 4 Revolving Loan Fund applicants approved; thus helping create a total of 56 jobs; two small business start-up (5 jobs) , one business expansion (16 jobs) and one business relocation (35 jobs)

2014-2015: Researched grant opportunities to support African Art Museum

Accomplishments (cont.)….

2014 & 2015: Coordinated community trips to South Metro Development Outlook Conferences, The Georgia Logistics Summit, Georgia State of the Port Address and Savannah Port Tour

2014 & 2015: Participating member of the Community Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee

2014 & 2015: Counseled small business start-ups and expansions into new markets

January - July 2015: Coordinated Wills and Estate Planning Workshop and one-on-one meetings with McSEED. A total of 30 wills legally drafted. A total of 80 people in Ben Hill County received information or assistance with drafting a will or applying for the USDA 502/504 housing applications.

May 2015: Coordinated a High School Graduation Celebration at Blue and Grey Park. Obtained sponsor donations for 4 ($100) and 1 ($150) scholarships for High School Graduates.

Accomplishments (cont.)….

May 2015: Coordinated meeting with USDA’s Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Administration, USDA Rural Development Georgia’s State Director, Georgia Farm Service Agency USDA State Executive Director, Georgia NRCS State Conservationist, USDA NASS Southern Region Director and local leaders

June 2015: Partnered in application to build Phase 1 of a TAX-CREDIT affordable housing community. Phase 1 will create $9 million in construction and 4 long-term jobs. Phase 2 is being planned.

June-July 2015: Supervised 5 summer jobs for youth; assisting with Summer Food Service Program and Summer Nights in the Park

July 2015: Connected Cold Storage & Warehousing Construction Company with an expanding local industry (20 jobs), and helping identify financing assistance

Working to establish a community computer lab; which will offer code writing classes