Newspaper Page Text
THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 24, 2008 - PAGE 5A
Depressed Economy Weighs
Heavily On County Chamber
By Mark Beardsley
As businesses struggle
to cope with an economy
in recession, it’s no sur
prise that the bleak eco
nomic times dominated
last Friday’s meeting of
the Jackson County Area
Chamber of Commerce.
But while the chamber
is struggling along with its
members, the news is not
all grim, nor members’ atti
tudes depressed.
There was plenty of that
— concerns over meeting
the 2009 budget, declining
membership, fewer pros
pects for new industry,
cost-cutting and even staff
cutbacks — but members
also expressed some of the
optimism generally expect
ed from chambers of com
merce.
Scott Martin, who chairs
the chamber’s Development
Council, spoke on com
ments about the economy
made by Steve Forbes
before 1,000 people at the
recent Georgia Economic
Outlook event in Atlanta.
Forbes, Martin reported,
suggested that if the federal
government makes just a
few fundamental changes
in fiscal policy, “it would get
the economy going.’’
A key component, added
director John Buchanan, is
Forbes’ suggestion that the
government “back the mort
gage-backed securities with
the full force of the U.S.
government,’’ just as it does
treasury notes.
“He seemed to think if
they would do that, we
would come out of this a lot
quicker,’’ he added.
Both reported that a
speaker on the state of the
Georgia economy project
ed a very difficult first six
months in Georgia followed
by a turnaround in fall and
modest growth in 2010.
“Unfortunately, the next
six months is going to be
really, really bad,’’ Martin
advised. “Unemployment
could get as high as nine
percent.’’
On the local front, Martin
reported that 11 industrial
projects remain pending,
although all but one are
on hold. But another four
potential industries made
initial inquiries during the
past week, he added.
“Despite things looking
bad, we are still seeing some
opportunities for growth,’’
Martin told the board.
In addition, a yet-to-be-
named company has indi
cated it will locate a $40
million operation in the Dry
Pond area of Interstate 85 in
the city limits of Jefferson.
The company will break
ground in June and is work
ing through the Jefferson
Industrial Development
Authority.
“We are certain they
are going to be locating
here. That’s good news
for Jackson County,’’ said
Martin.
The board approved the
organization’s 2009 bud
get calling for revenue of
$467,000. That compares to
the current budget project
ing revenues of $520,000.
To offset the revenue slide,
the chamber has reduced a
receptionist’s position from
full time to part time and
opted not to fill the posi
tion of vice president for
economic development — a
new position created this
year but currently vacant.
That job was created to
help the chamber cope with
the high volume of econom
ic development work — but
with the economy in a tail-
spin, the position is not so
vital.
“The best thing for the
chamber is to try to get by
for the next few months,’’
said Martin.
Outgoing chairman Roy
Stowe praised the chamber
staff for its focus on keep
ing costs down.
“The budget can be
revised and revisited,’’
noted incoming chairman
Gina Mitsdarffer. “If after
the first quarter we need to
revisit it, we can.’’
State's Unemployment Rate Hits 7.5%
Georgia’s unemployment
rate rose to 7.5 percent
in November — the high
est rate in more than 25
years, according to the state
department of labor.
In Northeast Georgia, the
unemployment rate through
the end of October was
reported at 7.3 percent.
“Job losses are acceler
ating throughout most of
the state’s economic sec
tors, with the exception of
health care, education and
the federal government,’’
State Labor Commissioner
Michael Thurmond said.
“Although it may be dif
ficult to find a job in this
environment, it is not
impossible.’’
The last time Georgia post
ed a seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate at this
level was in July of 1983,
— Mary’s Birth Story
Cont. from Page 4A
For those of us who
know the story, we
should tell it with just
as much excitement and
awe as if we were there.
We should tell it with
such joy and happiness
as if we were there. We
should remind people
that Jesus was born for
me and for you.
Mary was a human
who experienced all the
joys, pains, and emo
tions of delivering a
child. Jesus lived his life
to tell others of our Lord
and then gave the ulti
mate sacrifice — his life.
May you take some
quiet time Christmas
Day and say a special
thank-you prayer for
Mary and a prayer of
thanksgiving for Jesus.
Mary delivered the one
who has given us ever
lasting life, and Jesus
has given us the best gift
ever.
May your Christmas
be a remembrance of
Christ's birth, his life,
his death and his pur
pose.
Merry CHRISTmas!
Tricia Massey is a
stay-at-home mom, a
member of the Commerce
Downtown Development
Authority and chair of
the Commerce Public
Library's capital cam
paign.
FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH,
YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS!
Let your members know when your group is meeting!
Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date In...
• The Jackson Herald • The Commerce News • The Braselton News
• The Banks County News • The Madison County Journal
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks Co. Historial
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer pa-07/09
Citizens Organized for
Pipeline Safety
investigating the health risks to citizens from
underground pipelines and booster stations in
Madison Co. Meetings 6:30 p.m. at the Colbert
Grove Baptist Church the 2nd Thurs. of each
month. 706-783-4702. Pd.04/09
when the rate was also 7.5
percent..
Over the last year, the
number of payroll jobs
decreased 94,400 or 2.3 per
cent. Manufacturing, con
struction, and trade, along
with administrative and
support services, includ
ing temporary employment
agencies, were especially
hard hit.
For more area counties,
the unemployment insur
ance claim dropped from
October to November.
However, most counties
are experiencing an overall
increase in the number of
unemployment insurance
claims in the past year.
In Jackson County, unem
ployment insurance claims
have decreased by 12 per
cent from 382 in October
to 336 in November. Over
f
the past year, claims have
climbed 48 percent in
Jackson County.
In Barrow County, unem
ployment insurance claims
dropped 13 percent from
526 in October to 457 in
November. Over the past
year, claims have risen 90
percent.
In Madison County, unem
ployment insurance claims
have decreased by three per
cent from 227 in October to
219 in November. Over the
past year, claims have risen
47 percent.
In Banks County, unem
ployment insurance
claims have increased
by 53 percent from 81
in October to 124 in
November. Over the past
year, claims have actually
decreased by four per
cent in Banks County.
\
n
i
We wish you a very
Merry Christmas!
from all your good friends at PeachMac
Thank you for another wonderful year!
r
peachmac
macs • ipods • software • service • peachteach
1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy (across from Lowe's) • Athens • 706-208-9990
visit peachmac.com • also in Augusta!
IDA To Spend $2,000
On 'Georgia Trend' Ad
By Mark Beardsley
The Jackson County
Industrial Development
Authority voted last Friday
to spend up to $2,000 to
buy a magazine advertise
ment.
“Georgia Trend’’ plans
to feature the county in
February, and the IDA’s
vote would cover up to a
quarter of the cost for a
two-page ad. The rest of
the cost would be paid
by the Jackson County
Board of Commissioners,
the Jackson County Area
Chamber of Commerce
and the county’s munici
palities, according to
IDA Chairman Scott
Martin.
Jackson has been fea
tured several times.
“Georgia Trend,’’ in turn,
will publish stories about
the county’s economic
development successes
and efforts. It has featured
Jackson County on several
prior occasions.
“It says something about
our community that they
highlight us so often,’’
Martin commented.
In other business, the
board approved modifica
tions to its bond agreement
with the Toyota-Denso
Automotive Compressor
plant to cover some $9
million in new equipment
added during the year.
Attorney Daniel
Haygood reported that
the tax abatement for the
company is winding down.
It will pay county property
taxes at a 60 percent rate
this year, at 80 percent
next year and at 100 per
cent thereafter.
School taxes were never
part of the abatement;
TDAC pays them in full.
Martin told the board
that the weak economy
is putting the brakes on
active industrial projects.
“A lot of them are on
hold because of the econ
omy, because they can’t
get financing for their
projects,’’ he said. For
example, developers can
get about half of the loan
amounts they used to be
able to get for speculative
buildings.
“The good news is that
we are getting some looks
on our existing spec build
ings,’’ Martin added.
He also said Jackson is
“still in the hunt’’ for a
German company’s $8
million project, but offi
cials have almost no infor
mation about the project,
including its name, num
ber of employees or what
it makes.
In addition, Martin said
he’d sent a response to an
inquiry for a distribution
project with a similar lack
of information. He indi
cated that in response to
a request for information
about tax incentives, that
he informed the company
it would “need to be able
to demonstrate why we
would take this off the tax
books’’ in terms of infor
mation about the number
of jobs, the growth poten
tial and the amount of
equipment.
“We’re not in such bad
shape that we need to buy
a pig in a poke,’’ comment
ed member Jim Shaw in
agreement with Martin’s
position.
Friday’s meeting was the
last for Chas Hardy. The
four-year veteran will leave
the IDA in January as he
takes office as a Jackson
County commissioner.
Martin and other mem
bers expressed appre
ciation for Hardy’s ser
vice. Martin particularly
stressed Hardy’s work as
the county, the IDA and
John Rooker & Associates
put together the Commerce
85 Business Park.
“He has been called for
a higher calling,’’ Martin
said.
“I might be wanting to
come back to a calmer
meeting,’’ joked Hardy,
referring to the likely chal
lenges and controversies
to be faced by the board
of commissioners.
4860 Atlanta Highway • Bogart-Athens
One Mile West of Sam’s Club • 770-725-1977
www.marystackfeedpet.com
Now thru Jan. 4 - includes Boots, Tack, Clothing,
Gifts & select pet items.
Lariat
Carfctt
Hsitrl nl umE (IWtt IRAQ
KERRfTS
irideon
riding wear
* excludes saddles, animal feeds, wormers, supplements & sale items
Premium Brands...Reasonable Prices
1
One stop for you, your animals & your pets!
White Plains Baptist Church
Faith Bible Class meets every Sunday morning
at 10:00 a.m. It is a place where strangers
become friends and friends become family.
706-367-5650
White Plains Baptist Church
3650 Hwy. 124 West, Jefferson, GA 30549
The Jackson Co. Republican Party
Would like you to meet us for
breakfast the second Sat. of each
month, 8:00 at The Jefferson
House. For more information, call
706-652-2967 or email
fishyglass@yahoo.com Pci.ii/os
BANKS COUNTY
Ijl AMERICAN LEGION
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 Pd.oe/os
VETERANS OF
W FOREIGN WARS
Post 4872, Hurricane Shoals Convention Ctr.
Each 4th Tuesdasy, 7:00 p.m.
Lamar Langston, Commander
Phone 706-652-2627 26.1
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m.-(706) 387-1156
Mack Cates, President
542
Jk UNITY LODGE
F&A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Dwayne Potts • 706-367-4449
Borders St. behind Tabo’s 260
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. -(706) 367-7696
Gina Mitsdarffer, President
547
# JEFFERSON
AMERICAN LEGION
Albert Gordon Post 56
Each 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Harvie Lance, Commander
Phone (706) 654-1274 no
A Ierry C 7? rist mas from
WJJC Radio
1270 AM
It is our Wish that your Christmas Holiday
will be the best ever!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for our Family at WJJC
Radio to yours.
www.WJJC.net 706-335-1270
v