News and Press
Monroe County Development News
Georgia Department of Corrections - Sate Offices South at Tift College
Featured Site in Pro Power Supply's Pulse Newsletter October 2011
In 1986 the college was acquired by Mercer University, which then closed it only a year later. After sitting vacant for nearly ten years, the property was acquired by the State to serve as the headquarters and training academy for the Georgia Department of Corrections. The move consolidated the Department's locations from five separate locations in the Atlanta area. "Moving our headquarters to Forsyth will position the Department to better protect the citizens of Georgia by effectively managing offenders," said Commissioner Brian Owens. "Because the majority of facilities are located south of the Metro Atlanta area, the Department will also gain efficiencies through consolidation and reduced travel time and costs."
The architecture firm of Lord, Aeck & Sargent, led the restoration and redevelopment of the campus and buildings. In addition to the thoughtful restoration of the buildings, a new central energy plant was constructed which serves the new energy-efficient mechanical systems installed in all of the substantial buildings. Backup power was also needed throughout the campus. For one section they decided on a Generac SD350, a 350 kW Diesel Generator with a sound attenuated enclosure to provide quiet backup power. David Pull Associates, the electrical engineering on the project, designed the electrical end of the project including the generator. Working with HD Supply's facility maintenance side, Pro Power Solutions provided the generator system, which also included four automatic transfer switches. The backup power system was delivered and commissioned in a timely manner and all parties were pleased with the equipment and service."
Featured Site in Pro Power Supply's Pulse Newsletter October 2011
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Founded in 1849 as the Forsyth Female Collegiate Institute, Tift College, as it was later named had a 40 acre campus located 20 miles south of Macon. It remained a private liberal arts women's college, and is especially known for it's College of Education. Many buildings on the campus are historic, and a portion of the property is listed on the National Historic Register. |
In 1986 the college was acquired by Mercer University, which then closed it only a year later. After sitting vacant for nearly ten years, the property was acquired by the State to serve as the headquarters and training academy for the Georgia Department of Corrections. The move consolidated the Department's locations from five separate locations in the Atlanta area. "Moving our headquarters to Forsyth will position the Department to better protect the citizens of Georgia by effectively managing offenders," said Commissioner Brian Owens. "Because the majority of facilities are located south of the Metro Atlanta area, the Department will also gain efficiencies through consolidation and reduced travel time and costs."
The architecture firm of Lord, Aeck & Sargent, led the restoration and redevelopment of the campus and buildings. In addition to the thoughtful restoration of the buildings, a new central energy plant was constructed which serves the new energy-efficient mechanical systems installed in all of the substantial buildings. Backup power was also needed throughout the campus. For one section they decided on a Generac SD350, a 350 kW Diesel Generator with a sound attenuated enclosure to provide quiet backup power. David Pull Associates, the electrical engineering on the project, designed the electrical end of the project including the generator. Working with HD Supply's facility maintenance side, Pro Power Solutions provided the generator system, which also included four automatic transfer switches. The backup power system was delivered and commissioned in a timely manner and all parties were pleased with the equipment and service."
Encore Plastics coming to Forsyth, GA - November 2010 - An Ohio plastics manufacturer on Monday purchased the former Trane building in the Monroe County Industrial Park to put a distribution and manufacturing plant there. Encore Plastics of Sandusky, Ohio closed on the 60,000- square-foot facility on Monday and announced plans to hire about 20 employees initially with the plant expanding and eventually hiring up to 100 employees. Tiffany Andrews, director of the Development Authority of Monroe County, who helped negotiate the deal, said the plant will operate as a distribution facility until the authority can extend a railroad line to the plant from the main tracks along Hwy. 41. The rail-line extension will cost about $350,000, said Andrews. Once the railroad is completed the company will begin manufacturing. City, county and school board officials had approved a tax break to lure Encore. But when the authority agreed to extend the railroad, the company agreed to forego the tax breaks. The company bought the building, which was listed for $2 million, from HVAC Industries for $1.6 million, said Andrews Encore Plastics is an injection molder and thermoformer that manufactures and distributes plastic, paper and metal products, paint applicators, caulking guns, and packaging products to customers in the U.S. and Canada. The company is sending three managers from Ohio and Utah to get operations started in early 2011. The facility will hire about 20 employees locally, and up to 100 when manufacturing begins, said Andrews. Encore looked at several communities in Georgia and Mississippi, and considered expanding operations in Ohio, before deciding on the Forsyth location, said Andrews. "The Georgia location suits Encore's focus on specific markets within the region. The prime location on I-75 gives us room to expand and lower freight costs to our customers allowing us to remain a cost-efficient producer of plastic packaging for our coast-to-coast customers," said Craig Rathbun, President. The plant will manufacture and distribute paint sundry related packaging items, along with a full line of industrial pails. "The Authority is delighted with Encore's selection to open their southeast operations in Monroe County. Their corporate culture will be a good fit in our community. We look forward to a continued relationship as they plant and grow their company in Georgia," said Kerri Swearingen, Chairman, Development Authority of Monroe County. "This announcement is the result of true collaboration between the City, County, Tax Assessor and School Board officials. Each are to be commended for working together and ensuring Monroe County was Encore Plastics only choice," said Andrews. "We are pleased that Encore Plastics is capitalizing on the outstanding location, strong workforce and businessfriendly environment, that Georgia and the City of Forsyth has to offer," said Charlie Gatlin, Director of Community and Economic Development with Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG). "The strong partnerships that our organization has with our statewide economic developers and city officials make Georgia a competitive place to do business." Encore Plastics will train its expanding workforce with assistance from Quick Start, Georgia's nationally recognized workforce training program. This program provides tailored and industry-specific training resources free of charge to qualified new, expanding and existing companies creating new jobs in Georgia. Georgia Department of Economic Development project manager Renee Rosenheck assisted the company with the project in collaboration with business development manager Brooks Mathis of Electric Cities of Georgia. Heidi Green, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said bringing such companies to the state is a win-win. "Companies like Encore Plastics are great examples of how Georgia's competitive assets for distribution and manufacturing operations combine to benefit our state's economy, as well as companies seeking to locate in Georgia," said Green. "Encore's decision to locate in Georgia is a win for our state's progressive business environment, and I look forward to the company's success in Georgia."
Governor Announces Relocation of Corrections Headquarters to Forsyth - January 2006, State to Save More than $4 Million per Year when DOC moves to Tift College Campus
ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that his FY07 budget will include $7.5 million to allow the Georgia Department of Corrections (DOC) to begin the relocation of its Atlanta headquarters to central Georgia, closer to the department's geographical center of operations. DOC will move its five metro Atlanta headquarter locations into the existing facilities of the Tift College campus in Forsyth, Georgia.
"Moving the Department of Corrections to central Georgia is a sound business decision," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "This relocation will promote the OneGeorgia concept, decentralize state government and enhance good stewardship of public dollars."
The DOC has five prisons located north of Atlanta and 35 prisons south of Macon. Moving the DOC headquarters to Forsyth will relocate 400 central office staff positions to the Tift College campus, an estimated annual payroll of $25 million. The consolidation and reduced rent payments will save the Department $4 million annually. The DOC will keep a small office in Atlanta for use by the Board of Corrections.
Improved work flow and physical plant efficiencies will allow for additional operational savings of approximately $250,000 per year because the department's headquarters will be located closer to the majority of the prison facilities.
The DOC Academy, where 12,000 correctional officers and other employees are trained, will also transfer to the Tift College campus, freeing critically needed space at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) for use by other law enforcement entities.
The DOC plans to begin the move to the Tift College campus in 2008, completing the move by early 2009. Before it can be used, Tift College will undergo renovations, financed through the agency's reduced budget for personal services. The FY07 $7.5 million will be used for design, abatement and site work on the campus, which was founded in 1847 and encompasses 40 acres and 225,000 square feet of building space.
Governor Perdue commended several legislators and local community leaders for their guidance and heavy involvement in the state's decision to relocate the GDOC headquarters. "Representative Jim Cole has been instrumental as a strong advocate in the selection of the Tift College campus in Forsyth," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "I would also like to thank State Senators Ronnie Chance and Cecil Staton for their input and involvement in this process, as well as city and county community leaders who were immensely helpful."
GRAD Site in Monroe County - May 2010 - IDI’s Meridian 75 Logistics Center at I-75 in Smarr has been accepted into the Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development Sites Program (GRAD Sites Program). The GRAD Sites Program designates property as ready for industrial development.
City is first to endorse motto Public Safety Capital of Georgia - March 2010 - Monroe County is one step closer to being recognized as the Public Safety Capital of Georgia. Forsyth's city council last Tuesday unanimously endorsed a resolution created by the Leadership Monroe Class of 2010 that could bring more notoriety to the county as a leader in public safety. City administrator Greg Popham said the Public Safety Capital of Georgia title will heighten the county's chances at attracting industry. "Every city and county trying to foster economic growth typically focuses on its critical mass," Popham said. "By narrowing down and determining what our critical mass is -- public safety -- we can identify and attract more industries that build on that critical mass. Popham mentioned fire extinguisher manufacturing companies as an example of the type of business that could be interested in relocating or starting up in Monroe County because of its public safety notoriety.
