Hall to lead Payroll Development Authority

By MICHAEL J. ROSS

Published February 28, 2006 Time Recorder

 

AMERICUS - Paul V. Hall was elected the chairperson of the Americus-Sumter Payroll Development Authority (PDA) approximately two months ago.

 

Hall had been a member of the PDA for 3 1/2 years before being elected chairperson by fellow members. He was asked what does he want to accomplish during his chairmanship, "My goal is to assist in the creation of new jobs while expanding the tax base," said Hall.

 

Hall said the PDA will continue to provide assistance to quality companies that want to relocate to Americus. "The PDA is interested in obtaining companies that will provide a favorable economic impact for Sumter County," said Hall. "The PDA is only a vehicle to assist job growth. As a community, we need to establish where want to be three, five, ten and 15 years from now and develop a county-wide plan on how to obtain those goals."

 

Hall also said the PDA and the Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce work closely together.

The Chamber helps the PDA in it's goal of making Sumter County attractive to business and industry leaders.

Hall said Sumter County must remain attractive because it is competing with communities all over the country to attract quality companies.

 

Hall said often times there are only a modest number of companies looking to relocate at any one time with a huge number of communities in the Southeast looking to attract these companies.

 

Hall said manufacturing jobs are not only leaving Georgia but also this country. "We (Sumter County) must look at other jobs sectors that are good; strong companies like Zavata (STI) who has added 200 plus to the local economy since locating Americus," explained Hall. "We (PDA) will continue to support our existing industry where on the average 80 percent of new jobs are created."

 

The responsibility of the PDA is to help existing businesses in Sumter County to continue to succeed and to bring new businesses to Sumter County.

 

PDAs are public corporations that were first developed in 1962 in Georgia by the state legislature, according to Scott Ivey, PDA member. The local PDA is made up of five members -- two appointed by the Americus City Council, two appointed by the Sumter County Board of Commissioners and one joint appointment.

 

David Garriga, president of the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, is an ex-officio member of the PDA and his title is economic development coordinator.

 

In some shape, form or fashion, the PDA has been responsible for bringing each of the major employers to Sumter County, said Ivey. The Authority helps bring new industry to the County by loaning or leasing property or facilities to companies that are looking to relocate to the area.

 

The PDA helps businesses find a facility and get them up and running as soon as possible, said Garriga.