Our Payroll Development Authority Team
Stands Ready to Assist Business Prospects...
W
E DEVELOP PROPERTIES, initiate marketing programs and provide finance packages for qualified companies
in the form of loans or grants. If you have an interest, we are ready to discuss economic development opportunities
in dynamic Sumter County! Our team firmly believes that strong local leadership and a cohesive, progressive attitude
are essential assets for economic development. As shown in the photo above, we have two industrial parks and
we will be delighted to give you a guided tour of the existing properties. Full utilities are in place. Acreage is also
available for new or expanding industry. As you will discover on this four page spread, Sumter County provides firstclass amenities and advantages, yet our living costs are below the national average. We extend a cordial Welcome.
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Pictured left to right: Paul Hall (Chairman), Mike Donnelly, Juanita Wilson, David Garriga (Executive Director), Jared
Stevens, and Scott Ivey. Not pictured: B.T. Johnson (Accountant), and Michael Fennessy (Attorney at Law).
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Sumter County is
a community where family
virtue,
treasured
treasured,
values are a
historic attractions are
and
diverse educational,
recreational and
cultural advantages are
abundant.
abundant.
Student Success Center,
Georgia Southwestern State University
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• Close proximity to major growing Southeastern markets with
efficient by-pass routings for trucks connecting with US 19 and
GA route 49 in route to nearby interstate connections
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• International flights two hours away at Hartsfield
International Airport in Atlanta
the
dynamic
balance
• Two fully developed industrial parks equipped with maximum
allocation for electric, natural gas, water and sewer capacity;
excellent rail service provided by three companies
• Aggressive spec building programs
• Georgia Southwestern State University is a cosmopolitan
center of higher learning and recently completed a $22 million
state-of-the-art Student Success Center. Students form 25 states
and 36 countries are represented in the student body. GSW is
a unit of the University System of Georgia.
• Progressive public and private schools emphasize academics
and student involvement
• Both taxable and non-taxable revenue bonds possible for
qualified applicants
• First-rate medical services through Sumter Regional Hospital;
60+ health-oriented professional firms serve Sumter County
• Industrial revenue bonds are available to finance land,
buildings and equipment at below market rates
• As a “tier-one” county, state job tax credits allow $4,000 job
tax credits for every job created.
• Diverse cultural experiences and events; two restored gems,
the fabled Rylander Theater and the historic Windsor Hotel
(circa 1892), serve as a venue for many of these events.
• 108 holes of challenging golf in a 22 mile radius!
• “Freeport” provides 100% ad valorem tax exemptions on
certain inventories.
• Efficient, full-service Souther Field Airport for corporate craft
(6,021 feet asphalt and lighted runway)
• Acclaimed “Quick Start” training for new or expanding
industry is provided by South Georgia Technical College. The
John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center offers splendid
facilities for business seminars, workshops and community
events. The college boasts a 99% job placement record and
is one of the few institutions of its kind to offer on-campus
housing.
• World-famous historic sites and attractions include: the
Andersonville National Historic Site (also the location for the
National Prisoner of War Museum); The Jimmy Carter National
Historic Site, Plains High School, the Plains Depot Museum and
the Jimmy Carter boyhood home and farm; the Lindbergh
Memorial statue at Souther Field Airport near Americus; Habitat
for Humanity’s International Headquarters and “Global Village” in
downtown Americus; and the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum
in Leslie. The SAM shortline railroad (main depot in Americus),
will even take you on a scenic excursion to points east: Plains, or
points west: Leslie and the Lake Blackshear area, providing more
than 8,700 aquatic acres for boating and fishing.
Distance to
Major Markets
miles
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B[ib_[
4VNUFS$PVOUZ(FPSHJB
I-75..............32
Atlanta.......134
Macon.........65
Albany.........35
Jacksonville,
FL...........240
Birmingham,
AL...........220
Charlotte,
NC..........286
Miami, FL...510
A Cooperative Spirit & Warm Welcome
Awaits You in Sumter County!
“South Georgia Technical College is pleased to support the economic development efforts in our
community through partnerships with area businesses like the one that we have with our electrical
utility companies. We developed a short term training course that allows us to train apprentice
electrical lineworkers to replace the Power Company workers who are approaching retirement age.
We support workforce development through these kinds of partnerships not only in our six county
area, but also state-wide.”
South Georgia Technical College President, Sparky Reeves
Facts of Interest
Americus - Sumter County’s
24 Largest Employers
Variable
Sumter County Schools...................920
City of Americus ..................................180
Cooper Lighting ...................................725
Zavata, Inc...............................................180
Sumter Regional Hospital ...............700
South Georgia
Georgia Southwestern
Technical College ...........................150
City of Americus Sumter County
Land area in square miles
10.48
485.28
Total population
17,013
33,200
Average household size
2.52 persons
2.64 persons
3.14 persons
3.15 persons
State University.............................500
Con Art, Inc. ...........................................150
Average family size
Habitat For Humanity .......................400
Caravelle Power Boats, Inc. .............150
Percent of population under 18 yrs.
28.0%
27.8%
Magnolia Manor .................................400
Hickory Springs Manufacturing ......110
Percent of population 65 and over
13.7%
12.3%
Wal-Mart ............................................... 340
Glover Food Service.............................95
Median age
30.2
32.6
Middle Flint Behavioral Health......320
Windham Casting, Inc..........................75
Median household income in 1999
$26,808
$30,904
Sumter County Govt..........................247
Williams Furniture Industries ...........75
Percent of population 16 years
Weyerhauser Company ................... 250
Agrium........................................................ 73
and older in labor force
58.2%
61.0%
Mullite Company of America ........242
Tri-wood Corporation .........................70
Percent high school grad or higher
69.4%
69.9%
Container Marketing ..........................225
Sumter EMC..............................................71
Percent bachelor's degree or higher
21.4%
19.3%
4.4%
5.7%
Percent of households with income
in 1999 of $100,000 or more
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(Information provided by Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority)
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(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary Population and Housing
Characteristics, PHC-1-12, Georgia, Washington, D.C. Compiled by The University of Georgia, Business
Outreach Services, Small Business Development Center, Applied Research Division, 2003.)
To Review Our Community Online Visit:
www.americus-sumtercoga.org
Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority
P.O. Box 724 • 400 West Lamar Street
Americus, Georgia 31709
Agricultural Impact Exceeds $95 Million
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FARMERS
have learned the lessons of hard
work and persistence while
tending the rich farmland of
Sumter County.
When you take a drive around
the county you will see some
of the best farmland in south
Georgia. It’s quite a beautiful
sight... Fields of yellow canola
and sunflowers in the spring... The
greens of summer include green
beans, tasseled corn, watermelons
and turf grass... The fall brings the
beauty of cotton fields and the
pungent earthy smell of peanuts
being tilled in the rich, red
Georgia soil... The amber-toned
silhouette of cattle in the field at
sunset is an awe-inspiring
memory.
Fresh local vegetables, peaches
and pecans are readily available
at roadside stands, much to the
delight of local residents and
visitors alike.
million). In recent years, the
poultry industry has exploded
in south Georgia and broilers
account for nearly $12 million
in gross sales while layers gross
nearly $2.4 million. Dairy
cattle accounts for $5.6 million.
Another impressive industry is turf
grass at $4.2 million.
Other notable cash crops include:
pecans, corn, bell peppers,
watermelons, greenhouse plants
and forestry.
Sumter County’s agricultural
impact totals more than $95
million in gross sales annually.
The leading cash crops are snap
beans ($19.65 million), cotton
($18.49 million), peanuts ($12.6
million), and cucumbers ($4.36
View this publication online at: www.americus-sumterchamber.com or www.buygeorgia.com
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Commercial Services:
Committed to quality service and dependability while serving the food service
and retail food industries in Georgia and Alabama for over 100 years.
Serving the Finest Establishments in the Southeastern States
Glover Foods
Americus, Georgia • (229) 924-2974
Glover-Auten Foods
Columbus, Georgia • (706) 324-3547
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• 5 strong financial institutions
• Three local newspapers, The
Americus Times Recorder,
Sumter News, and the Sumter
Free Press (weekly); Deliveries
are also made by several other
regional newspapers.
• Two local radio stations
(WISK and WDEC)
• One university-sponsored ‑TV
station
• Americus & Dawson are
part of the Georgia Public
Television Network (GPTV)
• 54 channel cable TV access
View this publication online at: www.americus-sumterchamber.com or www.buygeorgia.com
The Source for Lighting Solutions
www.cooperlighting.com
Americus, Georgia & Ellaville, Georgia manufacturing locations
Halo
Lumière
Invue
Metalux
Lumark
McGraw-Edison
Sure-Lites
Neo-Ray
Streetworks
Corelite
Fail-Safe
Portfolio
MWS
Iris
DLS
Shaper
RSA
Ametrix
Municipal & Emergency Services:
Contining to
Proudly Serve
Sumter County!
• City of Americus provides excellent fire and
police protection (fire classification of 4); the
Sumter County Sheriff and Deputies serve the
county from new facilities. The smaller towns
provide their own police and volunteer fire
departments. E-911 serves the entire county for
emergencies. The Americus Transit Authority
provides valuable bus and trolley service for
residents and visitors.
®
1120 Felder Street • Americus, GA 31709
229-924-8041 • 1-800-342-6978 • www.sumteremc.com
• Garbage service provided
by the towns of Americus,
Andersonville, Leslie and Plains.
• Towns control their own
zoning and design ordinances.
Utilities:
• Electricity supplied by
the Georgia Power Company
(The Southern Company) and
Sumter EMC (GAEMC). The
community boasts excellent
capability to supply industrial
demands at costs well below the
national average.
• Natural gas is supplied by the
City of Americus and is readily
available in industrial quantities.
• Strong infrastructure for
water and sewer as supplied by
the City of Americus.
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View this publication online at: www.americus-sumterchamber.com or www.buygeorgia.com
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Americus: An International &
Regional Center:
Transportation:
• Headquarters of Habitat For Humanity International
• Headquarters for Georgia Southwestern State
University’s Asian Studies Program, the Rosalynn
Carter Institute (for Caregivers), and the Center for
Elderhostel Services
• Americus & Sumter County works closely with the
Georgia Department of Industry & Trade, the Georgia
MainStreet program, and a multitude of other state
agencies.
• The NASA Aerospace Education Lab is housed in the
Griffin B. Bell Aerospace Technology Center on the
campus of South Georgia Technical College. It is only
one of three such “learning experience” labs in Georgia,
and the only one to be
located on a technical
college’s campus.
• Headquarters for
the Middle Flint
Regional Development
Commission
• 25 motor freight
carriers and
1 terminal
• Norfolk Southern,
CSX and the Heart of Georgia Railroad (local service)
all serve the county and piggy-back services are available
within an hour’s drive at Cordele and Columbus.
• Souther Field Airport in Americus provides a 6,000
linear-feet asphalt runway for corporate craft and other
up-scale amenities not normally found in a community
of this size. Commercial flights are available in Albany
(35 miles), Columbus (60 miles) and Macon (65
miles). Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport is a
two hour drive from Americus.
• Major highways include U.S. 19 (north and south) and
U.S. 280 (east and west)... A new connector bypass
links U.S. 19 with route 49 for maximum commercial
efficiency.
• Interstate 75 is located only 32 miles east of Americus
following U.S. Route 280.
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View this publication online at: www.americus-sumterchamber.com or www.buygeorgia.com
Building
houses
Building
hope
A
mericus is home to Habitat for
Humanity International, a nonprofit nondenominational
Christian housing ministry that welcomes
all people regardless of race, religion,
ethnicity or any other differences to build
simple, decent affordable houses with those
who lack adequate shelter. Habitat’s mission is to eliminate poverty housing from
the face of the earth and to see that every
person has a place to live where they can
grow into all that God intended.
Habitat partners with people who
would otherwise not be able to own a
home. Partner families contribute “sweat
equity” by building on their house and
other Habitat houses. They also make a
down payment and pay back a no-profit
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mortgage. Payments are put into a local
revolving “Fund for Humanity” that is used
to build more houses.
Homeownership builds self esteem and
a community feeling among new homeowners and the volunteers who help them
achieve homeownership. Other valued
Habitat partners include individuals,
churches, foundations and corporate
donors that provide funding for the work.
Habitat for Humanity has its roots in
the partnership housing model developed
by Clarence Jordan, founder of Koinonia
Farm, and Millard Fuller. Koinonia is an
intentional Christian community near
Americus that is best known for its unwavering stand for racial equality beginning
with its founding in 1947.
Building Decent Shelter
Around the World
With more than 2,300 affiliates (independent community-based organizations)
around the world, Habitat for Humanity’s
work never stops. Since its founding in
1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000
houses, providing shelter for more than
1 million people in nearly 90 countries.
Somewhere in the world, a new Habitat
house is completed every 21 minutes.
As you visit or get to know Sumter
County, schedule a tour of Habitat for
Humanity’s Global Village & Discovery
Center on West Church St. to learn about
Habitat’s work here and in communities
worldwide. This six-acre center in
Americus features examples of substandard
housing conditions many families experience and Habitat for Humanity’s answer to
the devastating impact of those conditions.
By viewing the Global Village & Discovery
Center’s life-size Habitat houses from
countries worldwide, visitors get a first-
hand look at the difference homeownership makes in the lives of people all over
the world.
At the Global Village & Discovery
Center, Habitat for Humanity International
also coordinates its Global Village volunteer program. Habitat for Humanity
International’s Global Village trips give participants the opportunity to become active
partners with people of another culture.
Team members work alongside members
of the host community, raising awareness
of the burden of poverty housing and
building decent, affordable housing worldwide. As partners, team members help
build a true “global village” of love, homes,
communities and hope. For more information call 1-800-422-4828, Ext. 2373.
From its roots in Americus and Sumter
County, Habitat for Humanity, is building
homes and hope with families here and
around the world. Visit www.habitat.org
for more information about Habitat and its
mission to eliminate poverty housing.
121 Habitat St. Americus, GA 31709-3498
(229) 924-6935 (800) HABITAT
www.habitat.org
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Global Village
The view below was taken from Rylander Park in
downtown Americus where world-renown Habitat for
Humanity is headquartered. Impressively, more than 2,300
affiliates around the world have built more than 225,000
houses in 90 countries! Habitat for Humanity’s Christian
mission is to eliminate poverty housing from the face of the
earth and to support the premise that every person should
have a decent place to live. At Global Village & Discovery
Center on West Church Street in Americus, you can view
representative homes being built from a variety of global
cultures. Visit the website: www.habitat.org to learn more.
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Sales & Services
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