OneGeorgia Authority approved grants and loans on Dec. 1 from the OneGeorgia Authority’s portfolio of financing programs including EDGE, SILF, Equity, AIRGeorgia, BRIDGE and ESB to assist financing a variety of economic development projects in rural Georgia aimed at creating jobs, stimulating new private investment, supporting the retention of existing jobs and enhancing regional competitiveness through capacity-building projects.

Equity grant funds awarded to the Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County will be used for construction of public water, sewer and rail that will serve Phase II of Commodore Industrial Park with approximately 140 acres.

Improvements include 8-inch water lines, sewer pump station, 4-inch force main, rail spur and an access road through the center connecting State Road 253 to the south and Butler Ferry Road to the north.

Southwest Georgia Oil Company’s new 10-million gallon biodiesel refinery is the anchor tenant in this phase of the park.

The refinery represents increased vertical integration of company strengths into the innovative and rapidly growing alternative fuels market.

Southwest Georgia Oil Company is a locally owned and operated Bainbridge company established in 1959 and a regional employer with 275 jobs.

Inland has invested more than $5.7 million in construction and start-up costs and expects to create 18 jobs. Total project costs include $6,022,707 from Inland, other public investment of $195,570 from Georgia Department of Transportation and $1,721,966 in local investment.

Local leaders graduate from Georgia Academy

The Board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development have announced two Bainbridge graduates from the 2008 Region 10 Multi-Day training program.

Brian Rivers of Georgia Power and Dit Albritton, Main Street director for the City of Bainbridge, have completed the course work taught in five days over a four-month period.

Coursework includes training in the basics of economic and community development, plus specialized segments on entrepreneur and small business support, tourism product development, downtown development, quality planning and other essentials for community success.

In addition, the curriculum features specific leadership skills such as consensus building, team work, ethics in public service, collaboration and other segments needed for effective community leadership in economic development.

The academy was created in 1993 by then-Gov. Zell Miller’s Development Council, and it assembles a cross section of economic development professionals and resources to provide training in all 12 service delivery regions in Georgia.

Natural Alternatives business opens

Walt Byrd and his wife, Pat, both employees of BASF, have opened a part-time business at West Street Commons, 615 S. West St., specializing in natural alternative and preventive health care.

They offer services in electrodermal energy testing, foot bath detoxification and homeopathic and phenolic remedies, in addition to weight loss programs.

The business hours are 3:30 to 7 p.m. They can be reached by calling 220-8996.

A Chamber of Commerce sponsored ribbon cutting was held for the new business on Friday.

Elberta Crate closing Avon Park facility

Elberta Crate officials announced Monday they were closing the production side of their Avon Park, Fla., plant and releasing 46 of their 52 employees.

According to a Dec. 1 article that appeared in the News Sun, the closing is another sign of the economic times and plant closings.

The production facility in Avon Park manufactured wooden wire-bound crates used mainly in the collection and storage of vegetables and fruit, and focused on stitching semi-finished goods together. It also served as a warehousing operation for serving customers in South Florida.

Tim Dean, operations manager of the Avon Park facility, said the company had plans to keep the warehousing and storage part of the plant operating, but would retain just six employees.

State Hospital announces retirements

Connie Jakes, a health services technician with 34 years of service with the Southwestern Developmental Center, retired from her position Oct. 1. She began her career at Bainbridge State Hospital in October 1974.

She has one son, Adam, who is serving in the U.S. Army and stationed in Fort Lee, Va. She is affiliated with Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church in Bainbridge.

Dennis Day, an electrician in the engineering and maintenance department retired Dec. 1 with more than 14 years of service.

Day is a Bainbridge High School graduate who attended Bainbridge College. He worked with an electric supply company in Bainbridge for 20 years, then an electrical contractor for eight years before his employment with Bainbridge State Hospital.

Day and his wife, Sharon, are members of First Christian Church in Bainbridge, where he is a deacon, teaches Sunday School and operates the sound system.

Their family includes a daughter and son-in-law, Dena and Paul Maxwell, and two grandchildren.