JDA pushes forward on new spec building project

The Grady County Joint Development Authority continues to make progress on its goal of constructing a new speculative building at the Milestone Industrial Park addition.

On Tuesday, authority members received a report from JDA executive director Julian Brown on the proposed project.

Brown is in the process of obtaining construction cost estimates as well as engineering costs to include in a package for possible grants or loan opportunities for which the authority may qualify.

GFA Design Build of Cairo produced a cost estimate of $500,000 for the 20,000 square foot proposed spec. building.

“We were looking at about $1.1 million, but since we dropped the size of the building it cut significantly the estimated construction cost,” Brown said.

The JDA executive director said that he is also recommending a facade that includes some glass and is more attractive than a typical spec. building.

Brown said that the new building will be located next door to Performance Food Group’s facility and he did not want the spec. building to detract from the neighboring structure.

According to Brown, the estimate he had developed was not an actual bid and would only be used in seeking financing for the project.

Brown said he was anticipating having an estimate on the engineering for the project from consulting engineer Stacy Watkins by the end of the week.

The JDA executive director also updated the authority members on the Industrial Park Drive Extension project. Brown previously had thought the authority might be eligible for a transportation enhancement grant to fund the project, but has since learned that it is not. He is now working with officials of the Georgia Department of Transportation in hopes of qualifying for a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant from the state for the project.

“Would this include everything or just paving the road?” Vice Chairman Robbie Burns asked.

Brown said if the authority is successful in being awarded some LMIG funding it would be for paving the street only. He said he would have to look into other possible grants for other amenities.

Vice Chairman Burns presided Tuesday in the absence of Chairman Charles M. Stafford.

In other business Tuesday, the authority:

Heard from Brown that the loading dock improvements for the section of Heritage Industrial Complex leased by Big Bend Agri-Services has been completed at a cost of $10,000. Brown said he would be sitting down soon with Big Bend officials to determine what improvements would be desired in 2020.

Unanimously approved funding the Archway Partnership for July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.

Heard Brown’s plans to entertain participants involved in the Electric Cities of Georgia’s Bus Tour, which will pull into Cairo on Thursday, Aug. 15. The JDA executive director is planning to meet with the bus tour participants at the Zebulon Theater and make his presentation there. The tour includes economic developers from various statewide organizations and agencies and is designed to showcase Georgia communities for potential economic development.

Learned plans are being made for a southwest Georgia industry roundtable to be held at Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomas County on Nov. 20.