HoCo Development Authority holds first meeting of 2022

On Wednesday, January 12, the Houston County Development Authority came together in its Houston County Boardroom to hold its first meeting of 2022. Chairman Ben Hulbert called the meeting to order at approximately 8:00 a.m., followed by an invocation. The board’s December meeting minutes were approved, and the meeting officially began.

Consistently during the meeting, various board members made mention of new tenants taking residents in properties owned by the board. First spoken of by TMC Supervisor for Georgia Power and Secretary/Treasurer for the board, Scott Cox. Executive Director Angie Gheesling followed up with more detail later.

“It was mentioned that building 200 and 300 at Park Place were purchased,” Gheesling said. “It has been our hope and our desire since purchasing 100 [Park Place] for Project Synergy that, we even declared, that it would be a complex named after Wayne Lowe. We’ve brought that to fruition, and we’ve got two great tenants already there.”

These new tenants have the potential to bring more business to Houston County and a new revenue stream to the board as well.

“We’ve joked a lot about, ‘now we’re landlords,’” Gheesling said, “but we’re good to go.”

Hulbert commented on the new prospect as well, thanking his fellow board members in making the project come to fruition. “It is a real estate investment for the development authority, but it’s really an investment of people and workforce and the continued support of Robins Air Force Base.”

Cox led a conversation regarding the board’s financials for both November and December of 2021, as well as an overview for the remainder of the board’s fiscal year. “We’re halfway through our financials for this year,” Cox explained, “a lot of the differences, if you divide [the year] in half, is more about the timing of things more than anything.” Cox did note that some things in the budget would be changing soon due to some recent changes in properties owned by the board, but said that the financials we’re “on track.” The financials for November and December of 2021 were approved unanimously.

In here Executive Director’s Report, Gheesling noted that there’s been “increased project activity.” “There are so many new project managers,” Gheesling said, “it continues to be a revolving door, and its given us an opportunity.” Gheesling reported progress on several ongoing county projects. Gheesling also thanked Communications and Operations Coordinator for her longstanding assistant with the Houston County’s recent 200th birthday celebration.

“It would be going in and throwing out an idea and then saying, ‘go get it done,” Gheesling said with a laugh.

Gheesling also thanked Commissioner Dan Perdue and Houston County Public Works for their help with the county’s participation in each of the city’s Christmas parades.

Business and Industry Specialist Becky Lee followed Gheesling with a report of her own regarding Houston County’s workforce.

“We’re seeing, in talking to our companies, that it’s eased just a little bit – they are able to fill current job openings,” Lee said, “The issue is not the quantity of applications, but rather the quality of applicants, relating to specific high-tech skills.” Lee went on to explain that the board has held a number of job fairs that have had “great response,” and that companies are asking for more.

Additionally, Lee made note of the board’s continued mission in education. “Our goal is to expose our students and their parents to opportunities in Houston County while we continue to grow new opportunities.”

Several community reports were given by a number of community leaders such as Flint Energy, the City of Warner Robins, the Perry Chamber of Commerce and the Houston County Commissioners. After each gave a brief report, the board went into an executive session. Afterward the meeting was adjourned.

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