Economic Development Workshop Agenda

July 21, 2015• Introduction

• Organizational Summary:• Chamber of Commerce

• Fitzgerald Downtown Development Authority

• Fitzgerald – Ben Hill County Development Authority

• Development Authority of Ben Hill County• Revolving Loan Fund

• Land Bank

• RBEG

• Questions & Comments

Fitzgerald-Ben Hill CountyChamber of Commerce, Inc.

A private organization

with a civic purpose

Chamber of Commerce – By Laws

• The Fitzgerald – Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. shall work and help to develop, encourage, promote and protect the commercial, professional, financial, agricultural, and general business and civic interest of the City of Fitzgerald, the County of Ben Hill …

• The Chamber in its activities shall be non-sectarian. The Chamber shall not endorse political candidates or political parties, but may endorse or support public or political issues.

Chamber of Commerce - Practice

• The goal of the Chamber is ultimately to build a better community and quality of life for all by furthering the interest of local businesses. We believe there is no better way to serve the community than by supporting strong and prosperous private enterprise.

Chamber of Commerce - Focus

• Our focus is on small to medium sized local businesses. We offer support to those businesses in the form of advertising, cost sharing, community involvement, good will building, and networking. We are the voice of the small business community and represent local business interest to the local government.

• The Chamber also acts as a support staff for the FBHDA; providing office sharing, administrative assistance, and promotional help.

Chamber of Commerce - Funding

• The Chamber is funded by its members, fund raising activities, and from fees earned from our local governments.

• The Chamber is not… • Engaged directly in industrial recruitment or expansion, or in large

commercial recruitment or expansion.

• Controlled by any government. The chamber performs certain functions for the government for which we receive compensation. Fee for Services

Chamber of Commerce - Direction

• The Chamber is directed by a board elected from its membership by its members. Chamber staff is accountable to that Board of Directors.

• We provide direct support for the FBHDA, and work closely with the City and County Governments. We are ready and willing to serve in any capacity with any government agency or partner so long as the activity is in the best interest of our members.

Downtown Development Authority of

The City of Fitzgerald (DDA)• 7-member, quasi-governmental corporation

• Members must be City Taxpayers and/or Owners/Operators of Businesses Within the District

• Revitalize & Redevelop Central Business District

• Develop & Promote Trade, Commerce, Industry, & Tourism by Creating Favorable Climate for their Growth

• Finance Projects Within Designated Area to Promote Public Good & General Welfare

• Acquire, Manage, and Dispose of Property Within the District to Accomplish These Goals

DDA - Accomplishments

• Participated in 29 Building Restorations

• Participated in 36 Façade Restorations

• Public/Private Partnership with Rochfort Project to Bring $ 1 M Investment and 35 jobs Downtown

• Owns Six Buildings; Five Dedicated to Rochfort Project

DDA - Funding

• Pass-Thru from Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority of 10% of its SPLOST Revenues for First Ten Years of SPLOST. No Longer Feasible Under Current Legal Interpretation.

• Rental Income and/or Sale of Properties

• Direct Inclusion in SPLOST – 1.33% - Budgeted $199,500 over 6-years – Collecting Average of $2,600 per month

DDA – Natural Partners

• City and County

• Redevelopment Program

• Historic Preservation Commission

• Chamber of Commerce

• Development Authority of Ben Hill County

• Downtown Merchants, Agencies, Property Owners

• Tourism & Conventions Board

DDA

• Nothing Precludes DDA from Functioning Under a Fitzgerald/Ben Hill County Development Authority (FBHCDA) - Led Economic Development Plan

• The Current Constitutional Authority of the FBCHDA Joint Authority Precludes it From Investing Downtown; Participating in Broadcast, Film, Tourism, Retail, or Service Job Creation; or Distributing Money to or Through the DDA. There is no Current Legal Framework to Mesh the Job Creation Efforts of the two Entities.

Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority (FBHCDA)

• Joint Authority Governed by a Five Member Board: County Commission Chairman, Mayor, Chamber of Commerce Chairman, a County Appointee, and a City Appointee

• Created in 1963 by Amendment to the Georgia Constitution

• Created to Develop, Promote, and Expand Fitzgerald & Ben Hill County for the Public Good and Welfare of their Residents

• Authorized to Acquire Land and Real Property and to Improve and Develop Same for Industrial Purposes

• Creating Act has been Amended Several Times; Most Recently to Establish the Compensated Position of Executive Secretary (1999), and to Allow Authority Funds to be used for Promotional Purposes (2014)

FBHCDA - Accomplishments

• Enabled Nearly 6,000 New Jobs

• Enabled Some 45 New Industries

• Enabled Ten (10) Expansions

• Made Three (3) Land and Three (3) Building Acquisitions

• Developed an Industrial Park

• Enabled Two (2)Airport Expansions and a Reorganization of a Major Industry

FBHCDA - Funding

• Sale of Properties and Rental Income

• Direct Inclusion in SPLOST – 10.0 % - Budget $ 1,500,000 – Collecting Average of $ 19,500 per month

• City and County (for Operations) - $140,000 per year

FBHCDA – Natural Partners

• Private Investment Companies

• City and County

• Chamber of Commerce

• Ben Hill – Irwin Joint Development Authority

• Fitzgerald Water, Light and Bond

• Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

• Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Power Company ED Offices

FBHCDA - Summary

• At 12-31-14, the Authority had Net Assets of $ 6,479,345; Which Included 13 land parcels totaling over 700 acres and three (3) buildings

• Authority has Traditionally led Industrial Recruitment and Job Creation in the Community, and its Executive Secretary (Director) has been Primary Contact Person in Those Efforts

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

o 7 member board appointed by County Commission

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

o Created Under GENERAL STATUTE (O.C.G.A. 36-62-1)

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 statute

Development Authority of Ben Hill CountyFunding

• Direct Inclusion in 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

• County-Appointed Local Board Reviews Applications

• Auditor Reports to DCA in June and December

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

5-member, jointly-appointed board

USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant

Strike Force Demonstration Project • $80K Rural Small Business Development Grant

• Entrepreneurial Start-Ups and Expansions into New Markets

• Develop Public Outreach & Education Methodologies that Strike Force Counties can use to Overcome Perpetual Poverty

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

Questions & Comments

Comments From July 9, 2015 Meeting

• 1) Work Force: Priority to increase jobs and have adequate work force. Make unemployed employable. Continually utilize Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Fitzgerald High School to address the weaknesses and needs of the current work force.

• 2) Development Authorities: A hierarchy of Development Authorities should be established with the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority as the lead Authority. Both the City and County Governments should include a line item in their budget to contribute to the Development Authority. Also, there should be public input related to the appointed positions.

July 9 Comments (Cont.)

• 3) Development Contact: Recommend there be one contact person for Economic Development projects involving the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Area. The Economic Development Director of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority would be the logical choice and should be designated as such.

• 4) Job Description: There should be clearly defined roles and expectations of governmental staff and the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority Economic Development Director.

July 9 Comments (Cont.)

• 5) Economic Development /Growth: Fitzgerald Utilities, Ben Hill County School System, the Department of Leisure Services, Dorminy Medical Center, Wiregrass College, the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Fitzgerald, and Ben Hill County all should be involved in Economic Development. All should work together toward a common plan for Economic Development.

• There needs to be a clear and working definition of what Economic Development is for this community and determine the specific type of projects that are to be included in the Economic Development through the Development Authority.

Comments from July 9 (Cont.)

• Our local government should support physician recruitment as part of Economic Development

• Our natural resources/assets should be identified and industries specific to these resources should be considered and recruited

• Government leaders should develop and nurture good relationships with those in the private sector that have invested in the community

• Utility rates should be reviewed

Comments from July 9 (Cont.)

• 6) Housing: Additional low income housing construction should be curtailed

• 7) SPLOST: Develop and prioritize specific plans for the use of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and inform the public of initiation of such projects prior to start up

• 8) Long Range Plan: Initiate dialogue and consider the consolidation of services and/or governments

Economic Development

• Research & Analysis• Strategic Planning• Business Retention & Expansion• Workforce Development• Marketing & Attraction• Entrepreneurial & Small Business Development• Finance & Capital Market• Real Estate Development & Reuse• Technology Transfer• International Trade• Credit Analysis• Community Development• Infrastructure Development

City-County Collaboration

• Joint Services Budget:• Department of Leisure Services

• Airport

• Airport Construction

• Grand Theater

• Grand Conference Center

• Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Humane Society

• Library

• Code Enforcement

• Animal Control

City-County Collaboration (Cont.)

• Fee for Service Agreements with Chamber of Commerce

• Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority

• Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Landfill Authority

• Urban & Rural Redevelopment Planning

• Comprehensive Plan

• Service Support Agreements

• SPLOST

• Infrastructure Planning & Maintenance