News

Art Lucas, from left, former state Sen. Ed Perry, Darien Mayor Bubba Hodge and Chris Harper, chairman of the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, dump shovelfuls of earth on the grounds of Lucas’ Oaks on the River condo and hotel development in Darien.  Article & Photo courtesy of The Brunswick News DARIEN — Art Lucas called Wednesday a “bluebird day’’ as he led a ceremonial ground-breaking for a three-story condominium complex, a 40-plus room boutique hotel and a stand-alone restaurant all overlooking the Darien River. Lucas stood before a mixed backdrop of shrimpboat rigging, sailboat masts, billowing wild rice and an [...]

The Brantley County Development Authority today announced the hiring of a new Executive Director, Mel Baxter. Mr. Baxter is a veteran of the Community and Economic Development profession having spent the last ten years in the discipline, which includes six years on the Board of the Brunswick Glynn County Development Authority, two of those as Chair of the Board, and the next four years as their President.  He retired as full time CEO of the Glynn County Development Authority in September. Mr. Baxter will work with the Development Authority Board of Directors’ members and in coordination with the elected officials and [...]

Moore currently heads the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department and has held that position since May 2013.  He assumes the position currently held by Mel Baxter, who announced his retirement in March. During his tenure in Athens, Moore helped establish its new economic development department. He increased the budget from $550,000 to $775,000 in a five year period, and participated in efforts to attract more than 750 jobs and $170 million in direct investment. Prior to joining the Athens-Clarke County government, Moore was employed as a project manager for the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority.   “I’m eager and excited to [...]

Dawn Malin who most recently served as CEO of the Development Authority of the City of Folkston; Charlton County and the Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce. Dawn is also a member of the World Trade Center-Savannah and has traveled and hosted representatives from various international countries, promoting economic development in the region. She currently serves as the Chairman of the Southeast Georgia Alliance, a six-county regional partnership working to market and promote investment, business and manufacturing opportunities in the Southeast Georgia region. She is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and has attended numerous Economic Development courses through the [...]

Coastal Pines Technical College rolled out plans for a new diploma program during a presentation at the Georgia Marine Workforce Summit last week at Crooked River State Park. Camden area students will have the opportunity in the near future to earn a 40-hour marine engine technology diploma at the college, which also will offer 15- and 17-hour certificate programs for basic marine engine technician and basic marine servicing technician. The program fits into the economic development agenda that the Joint Development Authority hopes will bring more employers and more jobs to the county. Meeting of the minds The JDA organized the [...]

FRAM Renewable Fuels L.L.C., of Hazelhurst, GA, will create 35 production jobs and 35-40 transportation jobs when it reopens the shuttered wood pellet plant in Nahunta, Brantley County, Georgia. Chuck Scragg, Interim Executive Director of the Brantley County Development Authority announced that FRAM had purchased the former SEGA Biofuels Nahunta plant from the Federal Bankruptcy Court. As one of the large scale producers of wood pellets in the U.S., FRAM Renewable Fuels strives to be a significant, reliable, and sustainable supplier of solid biomass fuel to European Utilities. The Fram team has many years of experience n the forestry industry as [...]