There may be a separation of partnerships between the Habersham County Commission and the Economic Development Council (EDC), also known as Partnership Habersham.
During the Monday, June 17 commission meeting, former Habersham Partnership for Growth Chairman Wade Rhodes asked commissioners not to defund the EDC.
Rhodes, who ran unsuccessfully for county commission in the GOP primary, prefaced his remarks by saying he was not speaking on behalf of the EDC. He was there as a citizen who also invests and participates in the organization.
EDC evolution
During his remarks, the local realtor recounted how the EDC evolved when he was Chairman of the Habersham Chamber of Commerce in 2008.
According to Rhodes, an industry committee made up of large businesses was unhappy with then-Chamber president Judy Taylor. Rhodes told the commission that the county commission was also unhappy with the county’s economic development director at the time and wanted him ousted. Those conditions opened the door to discussions about creating a private-public partnership for economic development.
Chamber members turned to the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) at the University of Georgia for guidance. That resulted in Habersham’s five-year participation in the university’s Archway Partnership program.
“I think that was probably one of the most successful programs we ever had in this community,” Rhodes told the commission. He explained that all of the local governments, the hospital, North Georgia Tech, and local businesses were involved.
Rhodes said Phil Sutton, the county manager at the time, hired Mike Beecham as the county planning director, further expanding opportunities for a private-public partnership.
Earning its keep
As he laid out the history and evolution of the EDC, Rhodes explained that the Carl Vinson Institute assisted the EDC with its structure and by-laws. During the Archway years, the organization raised $1.8 million from private industry and government entities. The Archway program morphed into Partnership Habersham, which now has 60 investors.
Their mission is to “make it easy to do business in Habersham,” said Rhodes.
Outlining some of the projects the group is involved with, Rhodes said they work with the school system, providing programs and job fairs to help students with employment and workforce training. Rhodes pointed out that Commission Chair Ty Akins’ son was among the students who received welding training and is now in middle management at BBI, Inc.
In his funding appeal, Rhodes told the commission that the EDC was instrumental in bringing the Marriott/Fairfield Inn into Cornelia. He said it took three years to bring that hotel into the community, which resulted in a $10 million investment. Rhodes acknowledged that the commission gave the company a tax abatement that Commissioner Bruce Palmer reduced from 15 years to 10 years.
”If you don’t think we’re earning our keep for the $35,000 you’ve invested, in my opinion, you’re missing the boat.” Rhodes adds, “All I’m asking is get their (EDC Executive Committee) opinion before you vote on defunding the Economic Development Council.”
