The Pierce County Industrial Development and Building Authority (PCIDBA) recently discussed and/or voted on the following during the regular monthly meeting held on January 8.
Opening remarks: Chairman Steven Paul opened what proved to be an uneventful meeting of the board with a bit of humor. “I’m going to call this one adjourned so I can beat Rodney’s (Vice Chair Rodney James) record,” Paul said.
Officers for 2025: A unanimous vote approved maintaining the current roster of officers of the PCIDBA Board. Chairman Steven Paul, Vice Chair Rodney James and Secretary/ Treasurer Andy Brannen will all continue in their present roles.
SGRDA Update: IDBA Executive Director Matt Carter reported info was recently provided to an equipment company interested in a site in Sweetwater Industrial Park in Appling County. Carter said he was hopeful that a response would be coming later this month. If successful, this would be the first project outside the county that Pierce will profit from as a member of the Southeast Georgia Regional Development Authority (SGRDA).
Executive Director report: Following the vote for officers of the IDBA Board Carter, Carter pivoted to an ongoing issue, the search for his replacement as executive director of Pierce County’s Industrial Development Authority. “We have been without an executive director for some time now,” said Chairman Paul. “Do we need to do a more in depth search for an executive director?” The board seemed content with the current arrangement, sharing Carter with his new employer, Appling County. A timetable for locating someone to fill the position was not discussed.
Partnership update: County Manager Raphel Maddox was not available for the IDBA meeting, but Chamber of Commerce Director Christi Pitts delivered a brief update on developments at the chamber. Pitts has created “new resident resource pages”, printed documents placed in a welcome folder to be given to new residents of Pierce County. Citing the recent influx of people moving to the Pierce area, Pitts said, “We need to get back to our roots of being a welcome center as well as the Chamber of Commerce.”
Pitts also briefly mentioned that events such as the then upcoming book signing by author Dr. Kevin Smith were good opportunities to simultaneously “generate a little money and draw attention to the chamber.”
Minutes/financials: The minutes of the IDBA’s previous meeting were both unanimously approved.
Next meeting: The PCIDBA will hold its next meeting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 5 in the Chamber of Commerce boardroom of Blackshear’s historic train depot.
