2006 was an extremely busy year for the Empowerment Zone area and for the Southwest Georgia United Corporation. The area received news of several significant economic development projects. Crisp County took the next step toward establishing a permanent campus for Darton College in Cordele. The Dooly County School system received a Safe Schools Healthy Students grant of approximately $3 million. The Safe Schools Healthy Students initiative is a joint effort by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice. Dooly County was one of only 19 chosen from 485 applicants to receive one of the grants.

Southwest Georgia United was awarded a $500,000 Compassion Capital Fund grant to provide technical assistance to local faith-based and community organizations, as well as $1,253,999 in other competitive grant funding. Southwest Georgia United and associated nonprofit corporations began the process of acquiring 29 lots for affordable housing construction and continued to plan an additional project that would provide approximately 300 affordable units at completion. Southwest Georgia United also added three new positions, filled a position that had been vacant for several years, and provided support to the local Chambers of Commerce in their efforts to extend the Empowerment Zone designation through 2015.

Two major announcements and several other accomplishments will affect area economic development. The Norbord oriented strand board production plant in Cordele began the process of doubling its size. When the $135 million project is complete, the Cordele plant will have the largest oriented strandboard mill in the world and will add at least 80 new jobs. It will also add approximately 150 support jobs to the community and increase Norbord’s existing $6.0 million payroll by an additional $3.4 million.

Both a USDA RBEG Revolving Loan Fund Grant and RBOG Grant will be used to support various small business and community development projects. The Rural Community Improvement Corporation (RCIC, called "Ricki"), a nonprofit housing corporation that works cooperatively with Southwest Georgia United. RCIC is negotiating to purchase land in Cordele that is currently in use as a mobile home park. The corporation’s intent is to redevelop the area as twenty eight owner-occupied affordable homes. The project, known as T300, would involve RCIC’s purchase of approximately 300 units of sub-standard rental housing for redevelopment as new and renovated individually owned homes and rental housing units.

In a unified show of support, local Chambers, businesses and community leaders have pulled together in an effort to convince government representatives to push for passage of legislation for the Empowerment Zone tax credit extension. The Empowerment Zone designation provides federal tax credits of $3,000 per employee per year to local businesses. More than 1,500 jobs have been created since the area was designated.

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