Twenty seven of the state’s top economic development project managers were in Americus earlier this week to meet with community leaders. This was part of a bus tour of Southwest Georgia sponsored by Georgia Power Co. The project manager group consisted of statewide economic developers from both Georgia Power and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“These are the people who bring companies looking to locate operations to communities who can compete for facility locations”, said Mike Donnelly, a member of the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority (PDA).

The visiting delegation chose to spend Monday evening in Americus. The Pope Center at South Georgia Technical College was the gathering place for a reception and dinner. The event was attended by leaders from the Cities of Americus, Plains, Desoto, Leslie and from Sumter County. Also attending were leaders representing the PDA, the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Southwestern State University, South Georgia Technical College and Sumter Regional Hospital.

David Garriga, executive director of the PDA, gave a power point presentation which highlighted industrial and business park properties, four available manufacturing buildings and a large 450-acre rail site with access to utilities. The presentation also focused on properties that adjoin Southerfield Airport that are in close proximity to the Griffin Bell Aerospace and Technology Center. The 6,000-ft. runway at Souther Field is seen as a plus because it can accommodate jet traffic.

Tuesday morning the visitors were taken on a tour of available properties and a visit to Apollo Health Street which located in Americus three years ago and has grown to 300 employees. Director of Operations Joe DiValerio addressed the group and spoke favorably about the quality of the local workforce and low turnover experienced. He was especially complementary about the incentives offered to the company to locate and the superior training offered by South Georgia Technical College.

“This was a very special event for Sumter County. It allowed our community to demonstrate that it has all the amenities to compete for new companies and expanding local businesses”, said Americus Mayor Barry Blount. County Commissioner Brent Williams said, “The event gave us the opportunity to show economic development leaders that local government and the private sector could recover from tragedy in seamless, cooperative manner and go on to compete for new and better jobs for our citizens.”

During the meeting Clint Taylor of Georgia Power told the participants that Sumter County has the leadership and resources to attract companies and that statewide project managers have a new perspective of the community’s marketable assets and incentive programs.