Authority lands $2 million for Ga. 257 site

The Dublin Laurens County Development Authority has been awarded a $2 million grant for further improvements to its Ga. 257 Rail-Served Site. 

“Good things happen when you work hard,” said Roger Folsom, who chairs the authority’s governing board. “We’re very excited about receiving this. It is a compliment to the community and a culmination of the work and foresight of our community leaders.” 

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s Office announced the award Wednesday. It is the second round of funding from the state’s OneGeorgia Authority Rural Site Development Initiative. The program, geared toward rural areas, aims to identify and develop sites for easy economic development.  

The grant will be used to further develop the Ga. 257 site in hopes to attract additional business investment in the property. The site has already lured in Korean auto part manufacturer Hwashin, whose plant is in mid-construction on 60 acres of the 331-acre site. That $176 million investment is expected to create 460 jobs in the next six years. 

The $2 million grant will go toward funding infrastructure improvements like water and sewer systems, roads and utility access. 

“This is that next step,” said authority President Mitch Griggs. “The local community has invested in that site to bring Hwashin, and they have been a catalyst to bring more infrastructure improvements to the site. What the $2 million means to us is that we can take the next step in making the rest of the site ‘pad ready.'” 

“Pad ready” is property that is essentially ready to build on, a great draw for companies not willing to spend time and money preparing land for development. 

Griggs said the authority would be reviewing their plans for the site and he hoped people would see work on the site begin soon. 

“We’ll be making some strategic decisions,” he said. 

Other grants were awarded to: the Development Authority of the City of Milledgeville and Baldwin County, which also received $2 million for improvements to a 1,500-acre industrial site; the Bulloch County Development Authority, which was awarded $1.5 million for development of a 69-acre site; and the Worth County Economic Development Authority, which received $2 million to invest in the 196-acre Worth County Industrial Complex. 

Griggs gave his thanks to Kemp; Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn and Deputy Commissioner Rusty Haygood; Gina Webb, director of the OneGeorgia Authority; and Wylly Harrison with the Georgia Department of Economic Development for awarding the authority the grant, as well as state Rep. Matt Hatchett; and state Sen. Larry Walker for their legislative support and advocacy of the area.

“They believe in Dublin, Laurens County and they are making a great investment in Dublin, Laurens County,” Griggs said. “And they believe we can take it and turn it into great jobs for Georgians.”