Search for industry is ongoing
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Paula Herrington, Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce executive director, displays the new sign to be placed on property recently purchased by the Jenkins County Industrial Development Authority. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

Local citizens should not assume that nothing is being done to recruit industry for Millen and Jenkins County just because they cannot see immediate results. That is the message from Paula Herrington, Millen/Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce executive director.

"The chamber, Jenkins County Industrial Authority, city and county are all working to bring job opportunities to Jenkins County. Progress is being made," Herrington said, noting that much of the work that has been successfully accomplished is aimed at maneuvering Jenkins County into a better position for attracting industry.

Some of these accomplishments include: the purchase of two additional pieces of property as industrial parks; designation as the state's 10th Scenic By-way; development of a bike lane along U.S. Highway 25; designation as a Civil War Heritage Trail; designation as an Entrepreneur Friendly com- munity; implementation of the Georgia Work Ready program; recipient of two TE-grants for downtown revitalization; addition of two cabins at Magnolia Springs State Park and construction of a train-viewing platform at the chamber office as a tourist attraction.

"These accomplishments indicate to those looking at our community that we are striving to improve our community and are willing to actively support any new industry that locates here," said Herrington.

Currently, Herrington said the chamber is working on developing an attractive website that will list the county's assets, including industrial parks, and other pertinent data that will be available online to prospective industry. The website should be up and running within a month's time. Also, funds secured through a $25,000 grant from the Department of Labor have been used to develop a brochure that lists local industrial properties. It is being distributed statewide. And, the Jockey International and Augusta Sportswear buildings have been listed on the Georgiafacts.net website as available industrial sites.

In addition, the chamber, in conjunction with the Jenkins County Family Enrichment Center, has applied for a $500,000 grant through the Georgia Work Ready program to secure funds to be used to educate the local workforce.

Herrington also noted that she is working closely with the Governor's office, state and congressional representatives and a number of state agencies to pursue any leads on prospective industries that may surface.

"We also need to develop a sense of community pride and stop 'downing' our community," she added, calling attention to the fact that the appearance of a community is one of the first things prospective industries consider.

"Several prospects that have looked at our community and declined to locate here have indicated that we are lacking in these areas. They figure if we won't take care of our community's appearance, we won't take care of them. Also, when we speak negatively of Millen and Jenkins County to others, we are hurting our community," she said.

"The recent job losses we have suffered should not be a reason to just give up and quit. We have got to push even harder and support our local leaders. It is going to take all of us working together to climb out of this hole," Herrington said.