DCA Visits Monticello
Representatives of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, comprising the community assistant team, visited Monticello and Jasper County last Wednesday and Thursday, July 19 and 20.
The DCA group was given a walking tour of downtown Monticello, and a driving tour of the county by the Monticello team. The downtown walking tour focused on the buildings and small businesses. Community challenges and redevelopment were discussed. Topics included retail vacancy, traffic congestion and needs of the downtown area.
The driving tour focused on historic homes, industrial parks, Jackson Lake area, schools and hospital. Topics included infrastructure, transportation, road improvements, water and broadband. Several other discussion topics included housing, education, workforce development and communication.
The group toured Norton Industries, where President Scott Norton was in town, and he and Plant Manager Jim Skinner spoke to the team. The group also toured the local campus of Southern Crescent Technical Center, with Center Coordinator Linda Simmons speaking to its challenges.
Wednesday, the group’s tour of the community was followed by a reception and open house sponsored by the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce. Thursday, several members of the community joined the DCA team and Monticello team for a group discussion on downtown development, economic development and housing.
Monticello and Jasper County were chosen as a pilot community for this new DCA initiative.
DCA’s goal with these teams is to help communities explore the range of technical expertise that they have to offer. For this pilot program, DCA asked communities to apply and identify an opportunity where DCA’s resources could help the community move in its chosen direction.
Members of the DCA team included Beth Eavenson, regional representative; Corinne Thornton, office director of regional services; Cherie Bennett, DDRLF and OZ Program Manager; Cam Yearty community development specialist; Brent Allen, economic development consultant; Jake Grabowsky planner; Gloria Hough, Community Development Grants Coordinator; Dean Nelson, Housing Outreach Coordinator; Rusty Haygood, Deputy Commissioner; Tyler Reinagel, Government Research and Surveys Manager; Tommy Lowman, Office of Downtown Development; Mill Graves, Project Manager Retail Development, Electric Cities of Georgia, and John Devine, planner, NEGRC.
The local team consisted of Monticello City Manager Doug White, Jasper County Manager Mike Benton, Mayor Bryan Standifer, Mayor ProTem Stone Workman, Commission Chair Carl Pennamon, Commissioner Don Jernigan, Commissioner Craig Salmon, Development Authority of Jasper County Director David Dyer, and Chamber of Commerce President Pam Mayer.
