Franklin Co BOC and IBA Meet to Discuss County’s Economic Future

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and members of the Fr. County Industrial Building Authority agree their first joint meeting was productive.

Most of the hour and a half meeting at the Carnesville Community Center was spent laying the groundwork and defining what is needed for Franklin County to grow economically in the future.

Commissioner Eddie Wester echoed the consensus on both sides that the County is behind neighboring counties in developing long-range economic goals.

“We’re already 10-15 years behind,” he noted.

The discussion initially centered on light industrial vs heavy industrial and what types of businesses that might include.

Franklin County has had several heavy industrial companies try to locate here over the past couple of years, most notably Pilgrim’s Pride, which wanted to build a rendering plant along I-85 and Highway 320.

On the IBA side, local Georgia Power Manager Carey Bennett told the group not every company classified as heavy industrial would be a threat to the environment or the county’s natural resources.

Another area of concern is the need in Franklin County for designated industrial parks, specifically on or near the Interstate.

IBA Executive Director Tonya Powers noted the new industrial park in Carnesville will soon only have a couple of parcels left and hinted there could be an announcement soon of a large industry coming to the park.

County Commission Chair Jason Macomson said they need to begin looking for sites for a large-scale industrial park.

IBA Chairman Lee Moore and Franklin Springs Mayor said the IBA has two parcels along the I-85 corridor that they’ve been eyeing as possible sites for a large industrial park.

That discussion also brought up the need for having infrastructure already in place.

IBA member and Lavonia Mayor Courtney Umbehant pointed out that most infrastructure is in and around Franklin County municipalities but to add more in the county will cost money.

Moore added that not only should the county and cities find the monies to pay for an industrial park, prospective industries should also kick in some of the cost for the infrastructure.

Macomson noted that the County currently has about $750,000 in SPLOST V funds designated for industrial development that could be combined with municipal funds and possibly any available grants.

The meeting ended with both sides agreeing to form a separate committee made up of two representatives from the Commission and the IBA along with Powers and County Manager Derrick Turner that would research sites, and keep both boards updated on sites, grants, prospective industries, etc.

Additionally, the two boards agreed they would meet again later this year to hear from that committee and to continue to meet twice a year from now on.