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The ADVANCE, January 27, 2021/Page 12A
Downtown
continued from page 1A
tion was demolished, and
in its place, a new strip of
businesses began to devel
op. On January 21, 2021,
these businesses celebrat
ed their collective grand
opening: Edward Jones
Investment Company; J.
Leigh Hair Studio; and
the Georgia Peach bou
tique. At the center of this
L-shaped strip is Farmers
Insurance.
Their united invest
ment in the community
has created jobs even in the
midst of the COVID-19
pandemic. Since their start
in 2019, this collection of
businesses has brought, at
present, 18 to 20 new jobs
to Vidalia. In the last week,
owner of J. Leigh Hair Stu
dio, Jessie Carter, hired
two additional employees.
Edward Jones financial
advisor, Brad Owens, con
structed his offices for fu
ture growth as well. Owner
of Georgia Peach, Jessica
Moore, opened up her bou
tique during the pandemic
in November 2020, and yet
the growth of her business
has exceeded her expecta
tions.
When asked about
their investment in down
town Vidalia, there is a
theme among these busi
ness owners. “Our tenants
are more than just tenants,”
Morris said. “They’re like
family.” This mirrors what
Morris says of his Farmers
family: “Treat people like
your own family.” While
styling a client’s hair, Cart
er similarly described her
workplace: “We’re a fam
ily here first.” Brad Owens
also sought to establish a
home-like feel within his
office. Due to the pandem
ic, “we’ve not been able to
take full advantage of this
space,” Owens said. How
ever, they’ve since made
the necessary adjustments
to virtually serve their cli
ents and continue to invest
in the community.
“My family has a his
tory of investing in Vi
dalia,” Allen Morris said.
Four new businesses and
numerous new jobs have
grown out of the desire to
contribute to that history.
Though tested by the pan
demic, his investment con
tinues to prove fruitful as
his new “family” grows.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATONS - Owner of Georgia Peach, Jessica Moore, shown above,
far right opened her boutique during the pandemic in November 2020 and yet the
growth of her business has exceeded her expectations, Shown with Moore are bou
tique employees, from left, Natalie Clifton, Brandy Scott, Jessica Moore, Laural Dis-
muke and Kati Bryant.
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PART OF THE FAMILY - Edward Jones Investment Company Financial Advisor Brad Ow
ens and Branch Office Administrator Amanda Moye consult in their office on East 1st
Street, The office is part of a "family" of businesses whose investment in the community
has created jobs even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,
Submitted photo
LIBRARY EXPANSION BENEFITS FROM SOC - The Vidalia branch of the Ohoopee Re
gional Library System receives funds for its expansion project from the Sweet Onion
Classic, a nonprofit entity with the sole purpose of raising funds for local charities and
community needs through an annual golf tournament and auction. SOC Chairman
Tim Truxel said, "The Sweet Onion Classic is proud to continue its mission of making our
community a better place live. This $10,000 donation will go to help complete a new
expansion of our local library." Left to right are Brian Bishop, SOC and Library Board;
Wendell Dixon, SOC; B.J, Davis, SOC and Library Board; Mike Walton, Library Board; Ja
son Davis, Library Board Chairman; Rose Anne Holman, SOC Secretary/Treasurer; Pat
Dixon, Library Fundraising Chair; and Greg Hudgins, SOC,
Photo by Anslie Mead
GROWING THE LOCAL ECONOMY - Since their start in 2019, a collection of businesses
on 1st Street has brought, at present, 18 to 20 new jobs to Vidalia. In the last week,
owner of J, Leigh Hair Studio, Jessie Carter, hired two additional employees. Shown
above at the J, Leigh Hair Studio in this pre-COVID photo are, at left, Andrea Hogue,
Stylist, Rosa Aguilar, Stylist, Madison Mimbs, Assistant, and Whitney Phillips, Stylist. Shown
at right are Kati Bryant, Stylist, Amanda Moore Assistant/Cosmetology Student and
Jessie Carter Owner/Stylist, Not pictured are Amy Beckham, Apprentice, and Madison
Garret, Assistant/Cosmetology Student.
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Rural
continued from page 11A
Innovation Fund’s help.
The governor’s broad
band initiative comes in ad
dition to $325.5 million the
Federal Communications
Commission allocated last
month to expand broad
band service in rural Geor
gia through the first phase
of the agency’s $9.2 billion
Rural Digital Opportunity
Fund.
Georgia’s electric
membership cooperatives
(EMCs) also are working
with telecom providers to
add broadband service in
rural communities through
legislation the General As
sembly passed last year.
The pandemic has
given the need to expand
rural broadband a greater
sense of urgency as com
panies have been forced to
conduct business via Zoom
meetings and schools have
had to hold classes online.
“Internet access is
one of the most important
things that impacts us in ru
ral Georgia” said state Sen
ate Majority Whip Steve
Gooch, R-Dahlonega, who
represents a rural district
Shea Thompson,
Marquita Woods,
PTA
in North Georgia. “If you
don’t have internet access,
you can’t reach out across
the world as a small busi
ness and do the kind of
things that other people do
who are in bigger cities.”
“This is just another
step forward,” Kemp said
of the $30 million he is re
questing for broadband.
“Getting broadband to ru
ral Georgia is going to be a
grind we have to methodi
cally work on year after
year.”
With the need for a
permanent state commit
ment in mind, Kemp’s new
budget proposals call for
annual funding for rural
broadband. He’s asking for
$20 million for the current
fiscal year and $10 million
for each year going forward.
Georgia Rep. Ron
Stephens, chairman of the
House Economic Develop
ment & Tourism Commit
tee, said the state Depart
ment of Transportation is
exploring the possibility of
extending broadband into
parts of rural Georgia by
running cable along state
highway corridors.
Stephens, R-Savannah,
who sponsored last year’s
broadband bill, said he’d
also like to see the state sub
sidize the private sector to
spur more broadband proj
ects.
“I hope there’s some
sort of tax incentive or cred
it that will jump-start this
state,” he said. “It might as
well be the Sahara Desert
in rural Georgia as far as
broadband.”
The $20 million Kemp
is seeking for rural broad
band during this fiscal year
could start flowing soon.
The General Assembly has
put the governor’s $26.3
billion fiscal 2021 mid-year
budget on a fast track for
passage in case the CO-
VID-19 outbreak worsens
and lawmakers are forced to
call a temporary halt in the
legislative session.
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