Bill Text: GA HR257 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority; commend
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2009-02-06 - House Read and Adopted [HR257 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-HR257-Introduced.html
09 LC 94
0364
House
Resolution 257
By:
Representative Sims of the
169th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending the Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority and more
than 50 years of successful economic planning and development in Douglas-Coffee
County; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
in 1953, the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce made a commitment to
develop a plan to bring industry to Douglas County, Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
two years later, Douglas became one of only two southern cities awarded a
federal urban renewal grant, which included the designation of more than 200
acres of land for industrial development; and
WHEREAS,
industrial development continued to be a vital part of the overall plan for the
City of Douglas and Coffee County, and a ground breaking was held for an urban
renewal project in the City of Douglas in 1957; and
WHEREAS,
in 1958, Mr. Wendell Sears, a member of the Industrial Development Committee,
made a motion for an effort to raise $200,000 in support of industrial
development; and
WHEREAS,
that same year, County Commissioner Dan Jardine chaired a capital campaign to
raise funds for industrial development and succeeded in raising $250,000 within
a two-week period from school children, factory workers, small business owners,
and business leaders throughout the community; and
WHEREAS,
these funds were used for construction of a facility for Swift & Company,
which brought 200 new jobs to Coffee County and the region and provided for a
continuous local poultry operation for more than 50 years, which now operates as
Pilgrim's Pride with more than 800 employees; and
WHEREAS,
a commitment to economic growth through industrial development allowed existing
local industries to prosper and for the recruitment of new diverse industries to
Coffee County, including Fleetwood Enterprises, Williams Institutional Foods,
and Crider Poultry (now Wayne Farms), which have celebrated more than 50 years
of continuous operations in Coffee County; and
WHEREAS,
in 1958, Mr. Elie Holton ran for mayor on the platform of establishing an
Industrial Development Authority, and the citizens of the City of Douglas and
Coffee County voted to support industrial development through an increase in
their millage rate; and
WHEREAS,
in 1959, State Representative Tom Fellows introduced legislation calling for the
creation of the Douglas-Coffee County Industrial Authority to develop and
promote industry within the City of Douglas and Coffee County, which was adopted
by the General Assembly of Georgia through a constitutional amendment;
and
WHEREAS,
for 50 years, the City of Douglas, Coffee County, the Douglas-Coffee County
Chamber of Commerce, the Douglas-Coffee County Industrial Authority, and the
citizens of Coffee County have embraced a never-ending commitment to partnership
and collaboration for the good of industrial development and the retention and
recruitment of jobs; and
WHEREAS,
it is evident that Douglas-Coffee County has prospered from the work of the
authority and has become known as a leader in rural economic development
throughout the State of Georgia and the nation.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body recognize the Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority and
its members for the significant programs and projects supporting economic
development, job retention, and job growth for the community, the region, and
the State of Georgia and congratulate Douglas-Coffee County on 50 years of
leadership and partnership for economic development.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the
Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority.
