Development Authority
of Ben Hill County
General 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 Members
O. 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
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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 County
Funding
• 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
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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
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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 Members
O. 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
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Scott Downing – County
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Kyle Cook – Attorney (Non-Voting)
Albert Webb – City
Frank Feild – County
Cam Jordan – City
Vacant – Board Recommended/City-County Appointed (School District)
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
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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
Accomplishments
 November 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