$15 million for mega site tops local spending in state budget

Funding to provide infrastructure access to the Heart of Georgia Mega Site tops allocations for local spending in the state budget signed recently by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. 

About $15 million is tapped  to provide water and sewer access to the 2,000-acre industrial park near I-16 in eastern Laurens County. 

“We’ve got some very large, well-known companies looking at our mega site to expand their operations,” said state Rep. Matt Hatchett, who serves as chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. “It’s not sexy, putting stuff in the ground, but it provides for the things that are.” 

With its centralized location and easy access to major roadways and railroads, local officials have worked vigorously to position Dublin-Laurens County as a prime spot for manufacturing and logistics operations. Much investment has been made to prepare industrial property for easy development. Large corporations, which generally seek quick return on their investments, look for sites that are ready-to-build, with existing roads and easy access to utilities. 

Such a site is the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority’s Ga. 257 Rail-Served site, which lured in Korean auto part maker Hwashin. Work continues to improve that property, with funding from state and federal sources. 

The Heart of Georgia Mega Site is owned by land management firm Weyerhaeuser and marketed in partnership with the development authority. Improvements to the mega site, will make it more attractive to large scale employers, whose investment could have a massive regional economic impact. 

“We’re doing some great things,” he said of local efforts to recruit industries and maintain a workforce. 

Other large allocations secured by Hatchett include $1 million for the City of Dudley to improve its sewer system. Dudley has been combating an aging water system that has slowed growth for the small city. City leaders are working with engineering students in conjunction with the University of Georgia Archway Partnership. 

Laurens County will also be getting $1 million for outdoor recreation. The City of Wrightsville has been allocated $250,000 to expand its emergency management agency, while East Dublin will see $100,000 for its recreation operations. 

The new spending plan, which goes into effect next month, focuses heavily on education and tax relief. Taxpayers will see another drop in the state income tax rate, which will drop to 4.99 percent from 5.19 percent. Taxes will also be waived on the first $1,750 of tips and overtime wages. There will also be increases in the state’s standard and dependent deductions. 

In education, $70 million has been set aside to increase literacy rates. House Bill 1193, signed earlier this month by the governor, provides literacy coaches to all public elementary schools, more resources to teachers and permits schools to hold back first graders who read below the appropriate measure. 

“That’s got to be done,” Hatchett said on the focus on literacy. “We’re behind Alabama and Mississippi. They’ve made some good strides in their efforts, so we’re copying what they’ve done.”