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RBS Programs "In The News"
April 4, 2003. A ceremonial big check for $126,350 was presented today by F. Stone Workman, state director of USDA-Rural Development, to Jacob W. Paulk of Paulk Vineyards, Inc., to fund the development of processes to enhance the value of muscadines into anti-oxidant powders and a healthy, good-tasting juice. Grant funds are provided through section 6401 of the Farm Bill, that helps agricultural producers develop value-added projects to increase profits and marketability.
April 3, 2003. A ceremonial big check for $149,000 was presented
today by F. Stone Workman, state director of USDA-Rural Development, to Ben Deal, president of Farmers Oilseed Cooperative,
to develop business and marketing plans for value-added oilseed processing. Grant funds are provided through section 6401 of the Farm Bill, which helps
agricultural producers develop value-added projects to increase profits and marketability. March 10, 2003. A ceremonial Big Check of $98,500 was
presented to Mayor Susan Holmes by State Director Stone Workman for the creation
of a parking lot in Monticello, Georgia. Parking in downtown Monticello is severely limited. Currently, there
are 106 parking spaces and the area employs 160 people in 30 businesses on the square and 22 one-block off the square. Parking is
even more limited when county and city courts are in progress. This area also includes a grocery store. Grant funds will be used to demolish an old warehouse
and construct a parking lot with 40 spaces.
August 9, 2002, Alma. A ceremonial big check for $80,129 was presented today by F. Stone Workman, State Director of
USDA-Rural Development, to Eugene Dyal, Chairman of the Bacon County Board of Commissioners, to help pay for infrastructure to a
new business.
Funds will be used to build a new road and will also cover all of the water and sewer costs to the site, which will house a minority-owned
hair salon expected to employ 5-7 people.
The grant is available through USDA-Rural Development's Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) Program. The purpose of an
RBEG is to create or save jobs in economically challenged areas. In addition to Rural Development funding, the project is receiving
$151,255 from the Georgia Department of Transportation and $8,000 from the Bacon County Board of Commissioners.
August 8, 2002, Vidalia. A ceremonial big check for $94,600 was presented today by F. Stone Workman, State Director of
USDA-Rural Development, to Tom Peterson, President of Southeastern Technical College Foundation, Inc., to purchase two
truck transmission simulators, used to train prospective truck drivers.
Funds are being provided through USDA-Rural Development's Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) Program. A major focus of these
grants is to create or maintain jobs in economically challenged areas.
Ocilla, GA. The Irwin County School Board received a $45,000 grant under the Rural Business Opportunity Grant program to assist in
the development of an educational program for area students, farm
employees, and farmers. To read more on the CASE project, please go to this
page.
A ceremonial "big check" for $87,006 was presented July 16, 2001 to officials from the Heart of Georgia Technical College, by F. Stone
Workman, state director of USDA-Rural Development, at a meeting
of the Georgia Economic Developers Association. (The SD is pictured
with Dublin Chamber of Commerce President Willie Paulk and the President of the college and his wife)
Funds will be used to purchase a truck, trailer and truck driving simulator for the commercial truck driving program. The demand for
truck drivers is so high that all graduates are expected to be placed in jobs immediately.
The unemployment rate of the school’s service area exceeds the state average. Enrollment for the 2002 school year is expected to be 60
students.
June 27, 2001, Cuthbert, GA. Three local community projects came up with the same winning number of $99,999 when USDA-Rural
Development approved them for Rural Business Enterprise Grants. Recipients are the City of Shellman, Randolph County Development
Authority and the City of Richland. Ceremonial big checks were presented today by USDA-Rural Development State Director F.
Stone Workman at a special training session for champion communities being conducted at Fort Gaines.
The City of Shellman’s grant is being used to establish a revolving loan fund. The initial loan will go to Signa Brands, LLC, for expansion and
equipment purchases that will save 3 jobs and create 7.
Randolph County Development Authority is receiving funds to complete renovations to a building in the industrial park to house an on-line accounting service that will create 40 jobs.
The RBEG being awarded to the City of Richland will be used to help renovate an abandoned 70-year old school building, so that the facility
can be used for office space and a business incubator. A local business
has already committed to moving into the facility, saving 6 jobs and
creating 6 new jobs.
May 25, 2001, Vienna, GA - A ceremonial "big check" for $99,999 was presented today to the Dooly County Economic Development
Council, Inc., by F. Stone Workman, state director of USDA-Rural Development, to purchase a 17 acre tract in the Vienna Industrial Park
South. The tract includes frontage on Highway 41, referred to as the Moore Site, is considered essential to efforts to develop a better, more
marketable industrial park.
A recent improvement includes a new, paved road entering the park by the Georgia Department of Labor. A railroad crossing apparatus is
also planned, which will make the site safer. Currently, the county does not own any land for attracting new industry. This project is a collaborative effort between the City of Vienna and Dooly County. Sun Manufacturing, an existing industry in the park, and Georgia DOT have both been supportive of these efforts.
May 25, 2001, Fitzgerald, GA - Howell Taylor, chairman of East Central Technical College Foundation, Inc., today received a
ceremonial "big check" for $50,000 from F. Stone Workman, State Director. Grant funds will be used to develop a new curriculum for
telecommunications classes which are expected to produce skilled technicians for the telecommunications industry and are provided
through the Rural Business Opportunity Grant program.
All work on this project is expected to be complete in 8 months and
will then be posted on the Internet so that other institutions of learning
can replicate the project. "By sharing this work on the Internet, we are causing a ripple effect like tossing a rock in a pond," Workman said. "We may see similar educational projects implemented in other Georgia communities. This project is expected to have a regional impact."
May 25, 2001, Vienna, GA - A ceremonial "big check" for $99,999 was presented today to the Dooly County Economic Development
Council, Inc., by F. Stone Workman, state director of USDA-Rural Development, to purchase a 17 acre tract in the Vienna Industrial Park
South.
The grant is available through Rural Development's Rural Business Enterprise Grant program. The tract includes frontage on Highway 41,
referred to as the Moore Site, is considered essential to efforts to develop a better, more marketable industrial park.
A recent improvement includes a new, paved road entering the park by the Georgia Department of Labor. A railroad crossing apparatus is also planned, which will make the site safer.
Currently, the county does not own any land for attracting new industry. This project is a collaborative effort between the City of
Vienna and Dooly County. Sun Manufacturing, an existing industry in the park, and Georgia DOT have both been supportive of these
efforts. The project is expected to result in new jobs for this economically-challenged area.
May 23, 2001, Ocilla, GA -The Irwin County Board of Education today received two grants totaling $144,995 to support the Irwin
County Agricultural Demonstration and Educational Farm initiative.
The Rural Business Enterprise Grant of $99,995 will help cover facility building costs and constitutes 14% of the project costs. The facility will
be used for classes and meetings and will also provide a shop area and livestock areas. Two high school project internships are planned.
A Rural Business Opportunity Grant of $45,000 is also being awarded for technical assistance to help cover costs of professional staff
services and consultants needed to implement these programs. This grant covers 6% of the estimated costs for the total program.
Construction is due to start no later than July 1, 2001, with an estimated completion date of 3-4 months thereafter.
Thursday, October 13, 2001, Governor Roy Barnes announced the planned opening of the Thunder Road Museum and Entertainment
Park in Dawsonville, GA. As part of the announcement, Barnes pledged $150,000 of state funds toward the startup costs of the project.
Also attending was Bill Elliott, who announced his support for the project, indicating that he would place memorabilia in the museum.
The Thunder Road Museum is being financed by Chestatee State Bank with a $10 million B&I loan guarantee processed through the
Area II office. RDM, Doug Canup, is shown with Gov. Barnes and Bill Elliott in the above pictures.
Please send any comments or suggestions to:
craig.scroggs@ga.usda.gov
Last Updated : January 26, 2004
Howard Franklin presented a big check representing a Business & Industry loan for $842,000 to Debbie Young and Walt Young,
owners of The Castings Company, on October 7. President Jimmy Carter was the guest speaker. (Above, the Carters look at new
castings, shown by co-owner Walt Young)
The loan will be used to purchase machinery, equipment and inventory to start a permanent mold foundry for producing cast aluminum
furniture parts. The Castings Company is a subsidiary of Windham Castings, a business owned by Debbie Young that was started in 1997.
Windham started in Ms. Young's parents 5,000 sq. ft. barn with 3 employees and today employs 65 people in a 60,000 sq. ft. space.
The company manufactures high quality patio furniture that is sold in over 20 Expo stores in the United States, as well as through other
retail outlets. The Expo stores are a part of Home Depot that sells very expensive decorator items for the home and this account
represents about one-third of Windham's sales.
Jimmy Carter originally convinced Ms. Young to move from Americus to Plains, where she is now housed in his previous peanut
warehouses. His comments about the thirty-something Ms. Young were glowing and it was apparent this business has been great for the
Plains economy.
The USDA-Rural Development loan will create 14 new jobs, allow for greater quality control and provide greater interaction with the parent
company. Prior to The Castings Company being formed, furniture parts were imported from Mexico.
To see more Success Stories from the RBS program area, please
click here.
