The continuing economic revival in Cook County was arguably our #1 local news issue for 2016, and most likely will continue to be so in the coming year.
The December issue of Georgia Trend magazine recognized that positive trend. The local unemployment rate has declined to the lowest level in years, below 5 percent. The population appears to be growing from the 2015 estimate of 17,124, while per capita income seems to be rising from $18,858 in 2014. Sales tax, Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, and education SPLOST revenues are on the upswing. Retail growth is highly visible with a new Zaxby’s restaurant under construction on West Fourth Street and land reportedly being cleared for a new Dollar Tree store.
According to the Georgia Trend article, “Cook County leaders also have the healthcare needs of area residents on their minds as they consider a new facility for Cook Medical Center, a part of Tift Regional Health System. Plans are still being determined for the proposed hospital project, says Michael Purvis, CEO of Cook Medical Center.
“The scale of some current services at Cook Medical Center may not be the same in the new facility, but it should be offset with the introduction of new ambulatory services,” says Purvis, regarding one of the county’s top employers. “The Tift County Hospital Authority, which runs the health system, is applying for project financing through the USDA Community Facilities Program. The authority will also benefit from the GeorgiaRural Hospital Tax Credit bill recently passed by the Georgia General Assembly, allowing $50 million in tax credits in 2017 and opening the door for many rural hospitals to receive up to $4 million in contributions annually.
“Lisa Collins, director of economic development for Cook County, says everything from graduation rates to community assets are on the rise there.
“Touting themselves as the ‘Steel Building Capital of the South,’ Cook County is home to a number of steel building fabricators, including Lariat Steel, which is currently planning an expansion.
“Collins uses the availability of the local steel building industry to entice new business and industry to a county that has a limited inventory of available buildings. Collins frequently connects prospective companies with local steel building fabricators to discuss new custom steel buildings, a method that proved successful in luring California-based Custom Ag Formulators to invest $1 million in Cook County and then hire 16 employees. Collins says they plan to double in size over the next 24 months, as 37 percent of their business is done in Georgia.
“In addition, Collins says three active prospects are nearing announcements regarding a total $44.3 million capital investment and the creation of 135 new jobs, while another three prospective companies plan to locate in Cook County over the next 18 months with a potential capital investment of $163 million and more than 400 jobs. A new Walmart in Adel this year created over 200 new jobs and generates $400,000 in annual sales tax for the county.
“Since 2009, Brazilianbased combine and equipment manufacturer Colombo North America has operated its only North American facility in Cook County and is currently planning an expansion with a new building on 10 acres off Interstate 75. The 40,000- square-foot project is a $1.25- million investment that will add about 10 positions. A second line is expected to be added in the near future, says Collins.”
The article continues to state that Moody Air Force Base is certainly integral to Lowndes County. However, growth at Moody also will also have a positive economic impact on Cook and other counties surrounding the base.
“A couple of years ago, sequestration and budgetary issues threatened to remove the A-10 squadrons from the Southwest Georgia base. Fortunately, that hasn’t happened,” Georgia Trend states.
“ ‘I guess the climate in our world and the need for close air support pushed off any immediate retirement of the A-10s,’ says Michael Lee, chair of the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce. There’s currently not a specific time frame for future retirement of the A-10s, though there is discussion about a replacement aircraft in five or more years, he says.
“In addition, Moody is among the five bases being considered for one of the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper missions, he says. ‘Moody would be more of a control base rather than actually house the [remotely piloted aircraft]. Nonetheless, we’re open to any opportunity to expand the mission of the base.”
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