JAMES HENRY Jenkins County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Henry has been elected chairman of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Regional Commission, formerly known as the Regional Development Center (RDC).

The CSRA Regional Commission is a planning and development agency that serves 13 counties and 39 cities in the Central Savannah River Area. Under legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2008, the Regional Commission was established to develop, promote and assist in establishing coordinated and comprehensive land use, environmental, transportation and historic preservation planning for the state. Additionally, the state's 12 Regional Commissions serve to advance positive governmental relations among the state, regional and local levels, and to prepare and implement comprehensive regional plans which will develop and promote the essential public interests of the state and its citizens.

"The new Regional Commission law enhances the Regional Commission's ability to serve its member jurisdictions, which creates new opportunities for the CSRA's local governments," said Chairman Henry. "The new law also creates the Georgia Commission on Regional Planning which will give our region unprecedented access to Georgia's Governor and other state leaders."

Effective July 1, Gov. Sonny Perdue created the Georgia Commission on Regional Planning for the purpose of coordinating state contract terms, identifying appropriate state and federal funding for the pursuit of share service delivery goals, coordinating planning of state and federal resource allocation and state service delivery and identifying issues and opportunities requiring state, regional or local action. Each of the 12 Regional Commission chairs will serve on the Commission, as will the Governor and a variety of state department heads and other leaders.

"This will mark the first time in Georgia's history that its regional entities have been asked to serve with the Governor and other state leaders to truly discuss regionalism in Georgia," said Chairman Henry.

The CSRA Regional Commission provides services to member governments in the areas of planning, economic development, local government administration and geographic information systems development. In addition, the agency serves as the CSRA's Area Agency on Aging, providing funding to nonprofits that deliver services such as Senior Center activities, home-delivered meals and other activities designed to improve the quality of life for elderly citizens in the area. It also operates CSRA Business Lending, component units of the CSRA Regional Commission that provide loans to small businesses for a variety of purposes.

Andy Crosson, CSRA Regional Commission director, said that he looks forward to working with the new officers to ensure that the agency continues to meet the needs of member jurisdictions.