PDA Projects to bring new jobs to Community

Members of the Americus-Sumter Payroll Development Authority (PDA) voted Tuesday to loan funds for two projects that could create some 60 jobs for the area.

The PDA approved a loan of $240,000 for five years at 4.5 percent interest to Georgia Packing LLC which is expected to create 10 new jobs initially. The Columbus-based company, owned by John Crisp of Americus and a partner from Arkansas, will relocate to the Georgia Cold Storage facility on Southerfield Road. The company repackages large quantities of vegetables and meats into smaller packaging for distribution to retail and foreign markets.

The PDA loan is secured by equipment and "personal guarantees," according to PDA member Bill Harris, who made the motion to the approve the loan.  Harris and fellow PDA member Daniel Lopez had studied the loan request at great length prior to bringing it before the Authority for a vote.

"What we're supposed to do is create jobs," Harris said, "and this projects does."  PDA attorney Mike Fennessy said the company is required to create at least 10 jobs and will be reviewed at the end of each year. Should the company not create the 10 jobs, the interest rate would increase to 5.5 percent. After the first year, the company will be required to maintain a yearly average of at least 10 jobs to keep the current interest rate.

The PDA also approved a loan of $265,000 at 4.25 percent for five years to Tape Specialists of Georgia, an Americus-based manufacturer owned by Randolph Barksdale, Reagan Barksdale and Hulme Kinnebrew.

David Garriga, PDA executive director, said this expansion of an existing business could possibly bring between 40 and 60 new jobs. "The fact that a company of this reputation wants to expand here, it's a win-win situation. I feel really confident about what Bill (Harris) and Daniel (Lopez) have done."

This loan, too, will be contingent on maintaining certain job levels to keep the interest rate. A portion of the equipment needed for the expansion will be purchased with this loan, Garriga said, after which Harris will reassess when the manufacturing process will actually begin. The total expansion is about a $1 million investment on the part of the company, Garriga said