Multi-Family Housing "In The News" 

September 18, 2001.  Debra Brown has managed Autumn Lane and Brightwood Lane Apartments since September, 1999. She plans  many activities for the residents, including an Easter Egg hunt, Halloween party, and back-to-school party. She put a ping-pong table in the community room for residents to enjoy. Adults have bingo games and covered dish lunches throughout the year, and she also arranged for the adults to make table top Christmas trees and ornaments at no cost to the property or residents.

Jeanie and Jim Casteel have managed Sandalwood Terrace Apartments since it opened in 1995 and have 30 units of elderly housing. The Casteels have birthday parties for the residents and Jim and his friends entertain with exuberant guitar music. The Casteels also provide  many services for their elderly tenants that family members would normally provide, including transportation to appointments, trips to the store, and checking up when they’re sick.

On June 13, 2001, Georgia Site Managers of the Year Janie Worley and Brenda Wilkes received national awards at Site Managers of the Year as SD Stone Workman and RDM Doug Canup watched. The awards were presented by Obediah Baker and Carl Crate of MFH Division in Washington at the National Council for Rural Housing (CARH) annual meeting at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City.

Janie Worley, of Boyd Management's Crestview Manor, manages an elderly complex in Royston. Brenda Wilkes, of Investors Management's Rock Springs Apartments in Winder, manages a family complex. Both had management officials in attendance for the event

USDA-Rural Development provided a loan for construction of the 4 buildings, which house 18 workers each for a total of 72. An additional building serves as a laundry area, recreation center and all-purpose meeting area.  Housing and utilities are provided at no cost to workers. 

Lewis Taylor Farms, a privately-owned agricultural business, has operated in Tift County since the 1930s and has over 2,000 acres of farming and nursery stock in production.  It also has a 250,000 sq. ft. greenhouse and a packing and cooling facility.  They employ over 250 seasonal workers during peak seasons.

Ms. Wilkes receives her award.

Ms. Wilkes along with the State Director and Area Manager.

Ms. Worley receives her honor from the State Director and Area Manager.

USDA-Rural Development's two top apartment managers in Georgia were informed this week that they are both winners of the national competition and will be honored at a luncheon in Washington, D.C. on June 12, 2001.  Both winners are from Area II.

Brenda Wilkes of Rock Springs Apartments in Winder, the winner  in the family complex category, was presented with flowers at her office on March 23, by USDA - Rural Development's State  Director F. Stone Workman and Area II Manager Doug Canup.

The Site Manager of the Year Award is presented annually by USDA-Rural Development to the top managers of USDA-financed apartment complexes in three categories - family, elderly and farm labor housing. 

Since the 1960s, USDA-Rural Development has issued over $400 million in loans to developers in Georgia who build affordable multi-family housing. Priority is placed on meeting the diverse needs of rural Georgia, including facilities for the physically-challenged and the elderly. To date, 493 complexes containing 16,444 units have been financed. 

Pictured are Wayne Rogers; Ken Wheat, Boyd Management; Janie Worley, Elderly Property Site Manager of the Year; Laura Meadows; Barbara Jaco, Boyd Management; and Jimmy Godbee, President of the Georgia Council for Rural Housing and Development.

Pictured left to right are: Bonita Cotton and Mark Karras, Investors Management; Brenda Wilkes, Family Property Site Manager of the Year; Wayne Rogers; Laura Meadows; and Jimmy Godbee, President of the Georgia Council for Rural Housing and Development.

Stanley Farms of Lyons, Georgia, held a grand opening of a new farm labor housing complex in October, 1999. These 10 duplex-style units will accommodate 200 migrant farm workers during the annual vegetable season. 

Shown in the photo is Mr. Stanley, owner, Laura Meadows, RD State Director, and Rep. Jack Kingston as they tour the interior of one of the buildings. 

Please send any comments or suggestions to:   craig.scroggs@ga.usda.gov

Last Updated : February 05, 2003