Weekend of August 6-7!

Join us for a busy weekend in Toccoa!
The final "Cinema on Sage" event for the summer will take place this evening. Tonight's movie is "The Blind Side". The movie will start at 9PM on Sage Street, with activities starting at 7PM. Meanwhile, the "Back to School Bash" will take place from 10AM to 4PM on Saturday on Doyle Street from Sage to Alexander Streets in Downtown Toccoa.

Stephens County Developer Day

Thursday, April 1 was the Stephens County Development Authority's first Toccoa-Stephens County Developer Day of 2010, following a string of 6 Developer Day events in the fall and spring of 2009. Six economic development project managers from five different agencies attended the event, which took them on a development-focused tour of the county:

Drew Addison, Industrial Properties Group
John Clancy, City Commercial
Bill Dobbs, Georgia Dept. of Economic Development
Stephanie Harmon, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission
Charles Hunsaker, Georgia Dept. of Economic Development
Brooke Lucas, Georgia EMC

Geleta Hunt of McClure, Ramsay, Dickerson, Escoe LLP and Mark Ivester of North Georgia Technical College served as 'chauffeurs' for the day. 19 locals joined the group for lunch at the Straw House (Willard Kimsey Environmental Education Center). Sage Automotive Interiors' plant Manager Tim Batson and HR Manager Ruth Burdette gave the developers a tour of their facility. They also viewed available industrial buildings, Hayestone Brady Business Park, and sights such as Toccoa Falls, Paul Anderson Park, Currahee Club, and North Broad Trestle.

Drew Addison of IPG stated, "Unified governmental leadership, existing industry, and available facilities are all important factors in locating a company, and Stephens County has all three. As companies look at communities around Northeast Georgia, Toccoa-Stephens County will continue to stand out."

The next Developer Day event will be held on Thursday, May 13.

Pictured: Geleta Hunt, Stephanie Harmon, Charles Hunsaker, Ruth Burdette, Drew Addison, Mark Ivester, Bill Dobbs, Brooke Lucas, and Tim Batson.

Currahee Welding Announces new Operation, "Currahee Waste Products"

At a ceremony yesterday, Currahee Welding announced the development of a new operation, Currahee Waste Products, which will manufacture residential rear loaders. Company owner Rusty Harrison said that the completion of the demonstration body of the waste hauling equipment marks the start of the operation, which Robert Williams, sales and marketing leader, will be promoting. Currahee Waste Products is to run out of the same location as Currahee Welding, located in Northeast Georgia midway between Atlanta and Greenville, SC near Interstate 85 in Eastanollee. Currahee Welding has been in business for over twenty years. Harrison anticipates that the new operation will include 10-12 new employees initially.

Rusty Harrison, Owner: “This is going to be a big venture and it will be tough at first because we will be competing against large companies. But I believe we can get into the market and sell our product.”

Senator Jim Butterworth: “We know how much of a time and investment challenge this project is in this day and age…when the unemployment rate is the highest in probably our lifetime. Even given our situation in the U.S. economy, we still need to realize that we are in a much better position than many other economies in the world, and it’s because people like Rusty are taking the challenges that he is taking, and we appreciate his effort.”

Representative Michael Harden: “In a time when I find myself congratulating people for keeping their doors open and for not folding, it is so refreshing in this economy to be able to see someone who is not only keeping their doors open but also moving forward. Rusty has recognized a niche in this market, he has diversified and he is going to move not only his family and business forward, but this entire county.”

Jonesy Haygood, Stephens County Commissioner: “On behalf of the County Commissioners we commend you for what you have undertaken. You have undertaken a project that very few people would have the guts to do, and you followed through from step one to the very end. This will be a tremendous asset to the county. Thanks for choosing us to be a part of your endeavor.”

Billy Morse, Toccoa City Manager: “On behalf of the city of Toccoa I want to thank you and congratulate you for what you’re doing. You have been a vital asset to the Public Works Department for many years with your welding services, which keep us up and running. Congratulations to you; we will work with you in any way we can to help you.”

Tim Ash, Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce: “The Chamber is here to support local businesses. We always love to acknowledge the expansion and growth of someone who has already demonstrated success in local business. We thank you for your investment in Stephens County and your guts in going forth with something new in this economy. That’s what will bring us out of where we are, and we appreciate that greatly.”

Cam Parker, Stephens County Development Authority: “The Development Authority’s job is to create more jobs, but to do so more than anything, we depend upon people like you. You said in the beginning of this venture that you would be battling huge companies as competitors. R.G. LeTourneau was in the exact same position as you a hundred years ago in California, and he succeeded. He came to Toccoa and helped us to further develop our manufacturing sector. I thank you so much for helping our community get back into the business of making things.”

• See more photos from the announcement ceremony
  

Economic Developers Tour Stephens County

May 21, 2009

The Stephens County Development Authority held their second "Developer Day" event this year on May 21, showcasing Stephens County's assets and economic needs for seven statewide economic development project managers. Janney Sanders and Sherrie Whiten served as the "chauffeurs" for the day, driving a total of 71 miles around the county.

Highlights of the tour included a visit to Standard Register and Stephens County Middle School. Fifteen local leaders from the government, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and real estate sectors joined them for lunch at the Willard Kimsey Environmental Education Center.
Read press release…