Georgia Tech EDI
Industrial Development Assessment
of Tattnall County, Georgia
In 1995, local governments, with technical assistance from the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha Regional Development Center, prepared a “Tattnall County Comprehensive Plan, 1995-2000.” The following selected goals for economic development were established, which are similar to the issues and strategies addressed by this study. Annual updates indicate that action plans were implemented to undertake and achieve some of these objectives, but others have received little attention.
1.
Strengthen the organizational structure for economic
development in Tattnall County. Focus on (a) establishment of a focal point
or clearinghouse for economic development activity; (b) the establishment of a
countywide economic development marketing team; (c) participation of key staff
and elected officials in economic development and community leadership training
programs; (d) commitment to long-term financial support for the Tattnall County
Development Authority (TCDA) based on incremental increases in millage
allocations; and (e) stable funding and support for a professional countywide
economic developer.
2.
Develop industrial sites, park and related
infrastructure. Focus on (a) an
inventory of available and feasible sites throughout the county for recruiting
or developing industry; (b) identification of potential properties along the
U.S. 280, U.S. 301, and Georgia Central Railway corridors, and in the Cobbtown
area near I-16 interchanges; (c) establishing agreements to ensure selected
sites will be available for sale under public control/options and can be
provided with necessary infrastructure within a reasonable timeframe; and (d) a
feasibility study for establishing a countywide industrial park(s) with fully
developed infrastructure for recruiting and locating new industry.
3.
Strengthen industry expansion, marketing and
recruitment programs. Focus on (a)
development of a master marketing plan to coordinate the county’s economic
development and recruitment efforts; (b) extensive contacts and liaison with
statewide developers; (c) updating county marketing materials, consistent with
marketing plan, to present the strengths of Tattnall County to industrial and
business prospects; (d) promotion of agriculture and agribusiness by supporting
farm-based organizations and activities; (e) vertical integration of
agricultural operations, especially
recruitment of value-added processors for onions and other vegetables
through concerted efforts and use of incentives; (f) supporting all efforts to maintain or expand military
operations at Fort Stewart; (g) a coordinated effort to lobby for continued
maintenance and expansion of the state correctional institutions located in the
county; and (h) promoting public awareness of the local economic development
efforts, accomplishments and community benefits.
4.
Develop a viable tourism industry in Tattnall County. Focus on (a) identifying funding sources and
developing/implementing a master plan for the Wiregrass Trail; (b) continued
public support of community festivals and the establishment of joint Wiregrass
Trail festivals/events; (c) promotion of the county’s tourism potential –
natural river corridors, Gordonia Alatamaha State Park (Brazell Creek Golf
Course), historical sites, and agri-tourism opportunities; and (d) a
feasibility study for adopting a hotel/motel tax to support tourism
development.
5.
Develop and expand community infrastructure needed for
economic development and growth. Focus
on (a) expansion of municipal water and wastewater treatment systems to provide
services required for new industry and business; (b) support for Georgia DOT and the Reidsville Airport Authority
in efforts to improve and maintain the local airport; (c) maintaining a viable
Tattnall Community Hospital facility through marketing and support activities,
with possible privatization; (d) expeditious improvement (four-laning) of U.S.
Highway 301 through the county; (e) upgrading Georgia Highway 57, The Wiregrass
Trail, from I -16 to I –95; (f) implementing the Solid Waste Management Plan to
provide adequate disposal capacity and service; (f) continuation of interstate
bus service to the county; (g)
expansion of educational opportunities provided by Southeastern Technical
College, Brewton Parker College, and Georgia Southern University; (h) continued
community support for maintaining rail service in the county; (i) coordinated
support for downtown revitalization projects and programs; (j) establishment of
an Internet Resource Center to provide telecommunication resources to local
business owners and the public; and (k) maintaining a vital Greater Tattnall Chamber
of Commerce with increased membership.
Economic Development
Organizations
Since the late 1960s, well over a dozen local economic development organizations have been established in Tattnall County. These organizations have fallen into three general categories – (1) public industrial development authorities, (2) private industrial development corporations and commissions, and (3) membership-supported chambers of commerce. A number of these organizations have become inactive.
Presently, there are two organizations in Tattnall County with active industrial development programs: the Tattnall County Development Authority and the Glennville Development Authority. The Reidsville Industrial Development Authority owns property for industrial use, but does not have an active development and recruiting program. In addition, there are two member-supported organizations active in community and business promotion: the Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce and the Glennville Merchants and Professionals Association.
The Tattnall County Development Authority (TCDA) was originally established in 1968 and was reactivated in 1980. The TCDA has countywide responsibility, with board members appointed by the Tattnall County Board of Commissioners. The TCDA employs a full-time professional developer who serves as its executive director. The TCDA has a business office in Reidsville and board members hold monthly meetings. The executive director maintains an active economic development and industry recruitment program, belongs to the Georgia Economic Developers Association and other regional and professional organizations, and interacts regularly with statewide developers. The office does not have an administrative assistant for the director and lacks current information and promotional packages for prospects and visitors. The TCDA is allocated public funds through the board of commissioners. In FY 2002, this funding was approximately $75,000, based on a levy of 0.33 mils on the county tax digest. The FY 2003 allocation will be based on an increased levy of 0.50 mils. The TCDA does not own or control any industrial properties or buildings.
The Glennville Development Authority (GDA) has been involved in development activities in the city of Glennville for over 20 years. GDA members are appointed by the city council, and there is no paid professional or administrative staff. Regular business activity is conducted by the board chairman and others members. In recent years, the GDA has received funding at a fixed level of $18,000 annually. Most funds are used to acquire property and make infrastructure improvements. The GDA owns small parcels of land for commercial development and two somewhat larger tracts north of the city for industrial sites. The authority has provided incentives (land below market value and lease-purchase contracts) for new business locations. In addition to industrial projects, the GDA recently had projects involving service firms and public facilities (e.g., National Veteran Affairs Cemetery). GDA is generally not proactive in recruitment efforts and has no promotional budget, essentially depending on local citizens and state government contacts for identifying most prospects. The GDA does not have regular contact with state level developers and relies on the TCDA for this marketing function.
The Reidsville Industrial Development Authority (RIDA) controls 11 acres of industrial land in Reidsville acquired from a group of private investors who financed two apparel manufacturing facilities on the original tract in the 1970s. The RIDA has a board appointed by the city council, but receives no funding and has no proactive marketing efforts for the property.
In 1991, the Tattnall County Chamber of Commerce (located in Reidsville) and the Glennville Chamber of Commerce were joined through the efforts of community leaders to form a strong, united, countywide organization for promoting business development and community betterment – the Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce (GTCC). The new GTCC made progress for two-to-three years until subsequent changes in leadership and the establishment of the Glennville Merchants and Professionals Association (GMPA) began to weaken its membership base. Glennville businessmen reportedly felt strained by the distance and time requirements for meeting in Reidsville and preferred a hometown organization. Eventually, the GMPA became the primary member-supported organization for business and community promotion in Glennville and now functions as a typical chamber of commerce. The GTCC shared an executive director with the Tattnall County Development Authority (TCDA) beginning in 1994. This joint operating arrangement was terminated in 1996. Presently, the county provides $8,500 per year to help support the GTCC, which is financially weak and has essentially become a Reidsville-based organization.
Existing Industrial Base
During the past decade, manufacturing employment has declined significantly in Tattnall County, and created a lack of industrial diversification. Manufacturing employment ranged from 900 – 1300 workers between 1980 and the late 1990s, with typically 50 to 65 percent of the jobs in the apparel industry. Apparel plant closings in the late 1990s, reduced total manufacturing employment in Tattnall to about 600 workers or half of its prior level. Approximately 90 percent of the lost jobs in the apparel sector had been filled by female employees. Overall, the percentage of females in the manufacturing workforce in Tattnall County has fallen from 70 percent in 1980 to nearly 30 percent today.
The continued growth of Rotary Corporation in Glennville has had a significant positive impact on manufacturing employment in the county. Rotary has steadily increased employment from around 200 workers in 1980 to a present level of about 440. About 75 percent of its employees are male.
In addition to Rotary Corporation and its associated businesses, the Tattnall County industrial mix now consists mostly of small operations based on local agriculture and forestry. The most recent new manufacturing facilities - an expanded hatchery in Glennville, an expanded/relocated wood products plant at Reidsville, and a wood chip mill near Collins - were all built in the late 1990s.
Recent comparative data (1998) presented in Attachment A (Local Economic Review of Tattnall County, Georgia) shows that Tattnall County has a low percentage of its workforce employed in manufacturing – only 9.2 percent, compared to its region (19.3 percent), labor market area (16.3 percent), peer group counties (14.1 percent), and the state (12.7 percent). The county has failed to attract new industry to effectively diversify its industrial base or to replace the jobs lost with the movement of domestic apparel operations to less-developed countries. Little opportunity exists to revitalize apparel manufacturing in the United States. Studies have shown that successful retraining of former apparel workers depends heavily upon the availability of suitable other jobs in the local labor market.
The importance of the manufacturing sector in Tattnall County is overshadowed by the economic impact of agriculture ($200 million in annual farm receipts) and by the three local facilities of the Georgia Department of Corrections (1,400-plus employees). Some community leaders feel that the high competitive wage levels paid to Georgia DOC workers and to federal civilian employees at Fort Stewart have discouraged lower-wage manufacturers from locating in the county. On the other hand, Tattnall County has no union organizations in its manufacturing base – this is usually considered a competitive advantage in attracting new industry because many prospects desire locations with low union profiles and no history of labor disputes and strike activity.
Under the direction of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, a standardized survey of existing manufacturers may be conducted using volunteers from local chambers of commerce and development authorities. The BREP Survey (Business Retention and Expansion) is designed to collect and analyze information on the basic needs of local manufacturers that affect their profitability and potential for growth. The last BREP survey in Tattnall County was conducted in 1991 and is outdated. The survey may be jointly conducted in a multi-county region.
Assessment of
Available Industrial Properties
The purpose of this section is to provide brief descriptions of properties presently offered as available industrial sites in Tattnall County. The research conducted during this study did not include detailed investigations of the physical characteristics, available services, or market potential of individual properties. However, preliminary assessments have been made of the strengths and weaknesses of the individual tracts. Marketing and promotional fact sheets or brochures for use by statewide developers or prospective industry were not available.
The Reidsville Industrial Development Authority (RIDA) has 11 acres remaining in the Reidsville Industrial District on Georgia Highway 56 on the south side of Reidsville. Development of this tract began around 1970, and two old apparel manufacturing buildings located in the district are substandard and unattractive. Both buildings are privately owned; one is a pallet manufacturing operation and the other is presently vacant. The district is zoned “Light Industry,” but adjacent property has been developed for multifamily housing and mobile homes without screening or buffering. The location does not provide ready access to major highways (U. S. 280 and Ga. 23/57) serving Reidsville. The site is served with a 6-inch water line and an 8-inch sewer main by the city of Reidsville. Natural gas is available by pipeline from the Georgia Natural Gas Company. There is no rail service. Solid waste service is by private contractor. Because of compatibility, appearance, and location factors, the remaining property in this district is not sufficiently competitive to market to typical industrial prospects handled by statewide developers. The RIDA has considered other uses for the property.
The Glennville Development Authority (GDA) owns two tracts of available industrial land located on the north side of the city. Approximately 25 acres of property are available in the original tract, which is about 40 percent built-out with several small manufacturing and service businesses and the large vacant Ithaca building that is discussed later in this report. The available property has direct frontage on U.S. Highway 301 and is accessible by paved interior roads. The site has no railroad access. The site has water (8-inch main) and sewer (10-inch main) service by the city of Glennville. Electrical power is provided by the Georgia Power Company, and pipeline natural gas (2-inch line) is available from the Georgia Natural Gas Company. The property is gently sloping, well-drained, and suitable for a wide range of industrial prospects.
An additional 15 to 20 acres of property are available in a second tract of land developed by the GDA for the site of a new hatchery for Claxton Poultry. The available acreage is adjacent to the hatchery with paved access about one mile from U.S. Highway 301 north of Glennville. Water is provided at the site (6-inch line) by the city of Glennville. Natural gas and sewer services could be extended to the site. The site would be especially suitable for an agribusiness operation.
The Ithaca Building in Glennville is the only industrial building presently on the market in Tattnall County. This facility, formerly a large apparel plant, was built in 1987 and occupied until the late 1990s. The structure sits on 7.75 acres of property in the original section of the Glennville Industrial Park. The building totals 97,827 square feet, including 8,586 square feet of office space. The structure is expandable to 175,000 square feet. The building has metal exterior construction and air-conditioning and sprinkler systems. Ceiling heights vary from 10 to 20 feet and the floor thickness is 4 inches. There are 12 loading doors for trucks, but no rail service. Water (8-inch main) and sewer (12-inch main) service is provided by the city of Glennville; natural gas (2-inch line) is supplied by Georgia Natural Gas Company. The Georgia Power Company provides electrical power. The property is privately held and actively marketed by Group South Commercials of Hinesville. The building, although apparently in good condition and attractively located in the park, has structural and design features that make it unsuitable for many industrial prospects. The building has been vacant for three years, and is available for sale or lease.
The 60,000-square-foot building was originally constructed and used as an apparel manufacturing facility and has recently been used for other purposes. The building use is limited by the typical design characteristics of older apparel facilities, including low ceiling heights of 14 to 18 feet. The building is located in basically a residential area with no direct access to a highway. The Glennville Bank and Trust Company owns the building, which is available for sale or lease.
In past years, several privately-owned undeveloped sites in Tattnall County have been considered as potential tracts for industrial use. These include (a) the Curry property south of Reidsville, (b) various rail-served parcels in or near Collins, and (c) certain parcels in the north end of the county near Cobbtown that provide easy access (6 to 8 miles) to I-16 interchanges.
The large Curry tract (1,100-plus acres) extends from the Reidsville Industrial District along the west side of Georgia Highway 147 southward to the vicinity of the Reidsville Airport. The property is privately-owned and has been available for industrial development for two decades. Although limited water, sewer, and natural gas services could be extended to the north end of the property, for the most part, the tract is without any industrial infrastructure. The property location does not provide easy access to the main business corridors of Reidsville (U.S. Highway 280 and Georgia Highway23/57/121. Its development is further hampered by the overall poor appearance and absence of recent investments in the adjoining Reidsville Industrial District and the lack of adequate facilities for supporting use of the Reidsville Airport.
The privately-owned tracts in the Cobbtown and Collins areas that have been proposed for industrial use are feasible for stand-alone developments seeking rail-service or proximity to I-16, such as processors of agricultural or forestry products and warehousing/distribution facilities. The basic infrastructure and service needs of typical small and mid-sized industrial plants presently cannot be met in the Cobbtown and Collins areas. The remoteness of the northern section of Tattnall County from the population and business centers of Reidsville and Glennville makes investment in industrial property and infrastructure politically and economically less feasible.
Only one of the three recent plant locations in Tattnall County used property provided by a public development authority. The new Tattnall Hatchery (Claxton Poultry) was built on an industrial tract acquired by the GDA. The firm operates an older hatchery in the same vicinity. The GDA provided incentives to the firm for the new hatchery site based on projected employment.
The Rayonier/Fulghum chip mill was built in 1996 on privately owned land on Georgia Highway 23/57 between Reidsville and Collins - a location selected by the company for its logistical advantages. In 1997, a new expanded plant for “home-grown” Environmental Wood Products was built on privately-owned land off Georgia Highway 23/57 on the east side of Reidsville. Reportedly, the level of exposure and accessibility to the highway business corridor were major factors in the selection of the new plant location.
Significant recent developments and planned projects have focused attention on the potential for future business and industrial growth in the Highway 23/57 corridor between Glennville and Reidsville. These projects are being driven by both (a) private investments and business expansions and (b) the expansion of public infrastructure and services. Because of their geographic locations, these developments enhance the prospects for stronger community cooperation between Reidsville and Glennville.
The Food Lion supermarket project on Georgia Highway 23/57 east of the Reidsville central business district is supported by the extension of city water and sewer services. OneGeorgia grants totaling over $500,000 are coming from the state to assist the community in providing 6-inch water and 10-inch sewer lines to this area of new business growth near the Tattnall CommunityHospital and the new Environmental Wood Products plant. The combination of the Food Lion project and the expansion of water/sewer capacity have created strong interest in other privately-owned property along the highway corridor for future commercial and industrial development. The TCDA presently owns no property in the growth corridor, but has discussed the possibility of acquiring land in the area.
A proposed major expansion by the Rotary Corporation on Georgia Highway 23/57 west of Glennville also focuses business growth and investment in the corridor between the county’s two larger towns. The firm has proposed the construction of a new 175,000-square-foot ware house and distribution center (expandable to 400,000 square feet) on property across the highway from its present headquarters and manufacturing operations. The project would require the improvement of a connector road between the Rotary property and U.S. Highway 301 north of Glennville. Tattnall County and Georgia DOT have made tentative commitments to make the needed road improvements. The connector route also serves the Glennville Industrial Park and will provide improved access to other privately-owned parcels that may offer future sites for business and industrial use.
Local economic development potential depends not only on an inventory of industrial property and associated infrastructure, but also on the availability and capacity of general-use systems and services and community quality-of-life factors. Local transportation systems, water and wastewater treatment capacities, solid waste disposal, police and fire protection, available energy sources, telecommunications capacity, health facilities, education and training facilities, and community amenities and appearance are among many tangible factors important to firms planning new business locations or expansions. There are also intangible factors, such as taxation, incentive policies, zoning and building regulations, community cohesiveness, and community pride. A general review of community factors and brief assessments of some of Tattnall County’s strengths and weaknesses in community competitiveness are discussed here.
Future commercial and industrial growth in the county will depend largely upon the capacities of the municipal water and wastewater treatment systems – primarily the systems at Glennville and Reidsville. Current data indicate that the Glennville and Reidsville service areas can accommodate additional small or mid-sized industrial firms with moderate water requirements. The city of Reidsville presently has about 600,000 gallons per day excess water and 390,000 gallons per day available wastewater treatment capacity. Reidsville has 600,000 gallons of water storage capacity. The new wastewater treatment system at Glennville is expected to have an excess capacity of 1 million gallons per day and the city is requesting that water permits for its five wells be raised accordingly. Glennville has 1,300,000 gallons of water storage capacity.
The availability of pipeline natural gas is a valuable asset in the attraction of new manufacturers. In certain industrial processes, natural gas is the preferred source of energy. Pipeline natural gas is provided in the Reidsville and Glennville areas by Georgia Natural Gas Company. Solid waste collection and disposal in Tattnall County is handled by contractual agreements with private firms that haul waste to landfills outside the county. Glennville and Reidsville have fire insurance ratings of 7 and Collins has a rating of 8. The rest of Tattnall County has ratings of 9 to 10.
A detailed assessment of telecommunication services and capacities in Tattnall County is available in Attachment C (Technology Assessment of Tattnall County, Georgia).
Improvements in the highway network serving Tattnall County are critical for meeting the needs of new or expanding manufacturing and distribution facilities, particularly highways connecting the county to I-16 and I-95 and to the commercial airports and seaports of Savannah and Brunswick. The ongoing projects to four-lane U.S. Highways 280 and 301 are extremely important for the community’s future economic growth.
At present, there are only one or two local users of the Georgia Central Railway line that serves Collins. However, this line connecting Savannah and Macon is an important asset because of the potential for attracting a major rail-using industry to Tattnall County. Although not considered important to the majority of new industrial plants, rail service is still a requirement for certain industry sectors, and the Collins area has available low-cost land for operations seeking large stand-alone sites.
The local airport is owned by the city of Reidsville. At this time, the Reidsville Airport is not a significant factor in attracting new industry or meeting the needs of existing business. The airport was built on a 270-acre tract around 1970 and has had few improvements since that time. The facility is unmanned, poorly maintained, lacks security, and provides no services. The landing strip has a length of 3,800 feet, well short of the 5,000 to 5,500 feet preferred for business aircraft. The airport is not used by local businesses, but has occasional use by the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Georgia Highway Patrol that owns the only hangar at the site. The airport is inconvenient for many county businesses, but is conveniently located for the Georgia State Prison facilities. The Reidsville Airport Authority is having an airport layout plan prepared to provide a basis for making decisions regarding future improvements. Meanwhile, the state has provided $100,000 for extending the runway length to 4,400 feet and $25,000 for a new hangar with telephone service.
The Southeastern Technical College (STC) satellite facility in Glennville is a valuable component in Tattnall County’s economic development program. STC offers post-secondary training and education programs, joint programs with the local high school, and adult literacy training. It also provides important local capacity to deliver specific workforce training as incentives for industrial recruitment under the Georgia Quick Start Program. Brewton Parker College, operating in the same facility as STC, offers courses in degree programs.
The Tattnall Community Hospital in Reidsville is a significant community asset related to quality of life and potential community growth. The hospital gives Tattnall County a competitive advantage in industry attraction over rural areas without local hospitals. The hospital, which recently changed from a public facility to a private (for profit) operation, has struggled to garner full community support and to maintain viable operations.
The overall attractiveness and vitality of the central business districts (CBDs) of towns in Tattnall County, especially those of Reidsville and Glennville, are important factors in the attraction and expansion of business and industry. Community improvement programs, such as the Georgia Better Hometown Program administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, provide essential guidance and assistance to smaller cities in their efforts to revitalize their CBDs and generate community pride. Glennville recently applied for the Georgia Better Hometown Program but was not accepted. Since 1999, a few downtown improvement projects have been implemented as a result of recommendations from the tourism promotion studies on the Wiregrass Trail, especially in the smaller towns of Cobbtown and Collins.
Unregulated land use and unenforced building codes generally lead to substandard, unattractive, and incompatible patterns of development, which in the long term discourage quality residential and commercial development, lower overall property values, and negatively impact a community’s quality of life. The establishment and enforcement of appropriate zoning and building regulations are considered indicators of a progressive community and are generally viewed favorably by prospective new businesses. Reidsville and Glennville have zoning ordinances and building permits/codes; the unincorporated areas of Tattnall County do not have them. Some developing areas of Tattnall County are showing the undesired results of inadequate regulations and lack of zoning.
Industrial firms increasingly expect incentives from communities considered as locations for new or expanded facilities. Likewise, many competitive communities regard incentives as an important element in their strategic plan for attracting new investments and jobs. Designated as a Tier 1 county under state legislation, Tattnall has an advantage of offering state incentives in the form of investment and job tax credits to prospective firms locating manufacturing, distribution and warehousing facilities, and other specified operations in the county. In addition Georgia law permits local governments to exempt from ad valorem taxes the inventories of manufacturers and certain distribution operations that are destined for out-of-state shipment. Tattnall County and all its municipalities offer a 100 percent freeport exemption, which provides another incentive to prospective businesses.
Many competitive communities in the state have established policies for offering additional local incentives in the final stages of prospect negotiations. Typical incentives provided by communities to attract plant locations include (1) land at no cost or below market value, (2) speculative or available buildings at below market value, (3) no-cost infrastructure and property improvements, and (4) local tax rebates or credits. The GDA has a history of using local incentives to attract or retain businesses and employers. The TCDA has no guidelines or policy for using incentives.
Five sources of information were used in this study to develop a list of industry types that are most feasible for Tattnall County to target for business attraction and expansion:
(1) An analysis of trends in the existing manufacturing base of Tattnall County.
(2) Input on business attraction opportunities and preferences provided by community leaders involved in economic development activities.
(3) Input from selected statewide or regional developers regarding their opinions on future economic development opportunities for Tattnall County.
(4) A review of recent types of plant locations in rural Georgia by the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism (GDITT).
(5) An analysis of the fastest-growing manufacturing sectors in the United States, which indicates those most likely to be seeking new plant locations.
In summary, the county has lost essentially all of its apparel industry (SIC 23) during the last 20 years, and there is little hope for re-establishing it. It has gained industrial jobs mainly at Rotary Corporation in the manufacturing of fabricated metal products (SIC 34) and machine shop products (SIC 35). Two recent plant locations in Tattnall County are in the lumber and wood products industry (SIC 24). See page 5 for further details.
Industry Preferred by
Community Leaders
As shown in Attachment B (Survey of Leaders in Tattnall County, Georgia) (Refer to Figure 5), community leaders submitted their preferences regarding the types of new business and industry desired by Tattnall County. Manufacturing was the highest-rated response, with preferences for small plants, environmentally clean operations, plants with higher-skilled employees, and plants utilizing high technology. Specific industry classifications included: fabricated metal products (SIC 34), assembly of electronic products (SIC 36), and food products (SIC 20) based on local agriculture.
Industrial prospects handled by the GDITT that have located in rural counties of the state during the past decade are categorized by manufacturing type in Table 1. Transportation equipment tops the list (SIC 37), followed by rubber/plastic products (SIC 30), fabricated metal products (SIC 34), chemicals and allied products (SIC 28), and food products (SIC 20). These five categories have accounted for about six of every 10 new plant locations in rural Georgia. Other significant categories include apparel, machinery/computers, electronic and electrical equipment, textiles, lumber and wood products, furniture and fixtures, and stone/glass/clay products.
Recent
Industrial Locations in Rural Georgia
by Type of
Manufacturing (1991-2001)
(Percent of Total Locations)
SIC Code Industry Type Percent
of Total
37 Transportation
Equipment 18
30 Rubber
and Plastic Products 12
34 Fabricated
Metal Products 11
28 Chemicals
and Allied Products
9
20 Food
Products
9
23 Apparel
8
35 Machinery
and Computer Equipment
6
36 Electronic
and Electrical Equipment
5
22 Textiles
5
24 Lumber
and Wood Products
3
25 Furniture
and Fixtures
3
32 Stone,
Clay, Glass and Concrete Products
3
-- All
Other Manufacturing
8
Source: Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, 2001 Database
Manufacturing
Classifications (1992-99)
|
|
|
|
PERCENT ANNUAL |
|
RANK |
SIC |
DESCRIPTION |
GROWTH RATE |
|
|
|
|
1992 - 1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
3672 |
Printed
Circuit Boards |
24.9 |
|
2 |
3661 |
Telephone
and Telegraph Apparatus |
12.4 |
|
3 |
3639 |
Household
Appliances, NEC |
12.2 |
|
4 |
3565 |
Packaging
Machinery |
10.2 |
|
5 |
3671 |
Electron
Tubes |
10.1 |
|
6 |
371A |
Motor
Vehicles and Bodies |
9.6 |
|
7 |
3524 |
Lawn
and Garden Equipment |
8.6 |
|
8 |
2451 |
Mobile
Homes |
8.2 |
|
9 |
3674 |
Semiconductors
and Related Devices |
8.1 |
|
10 |
3531 |
Construction
Machinery |
7.6 |
|
11 |
3451 |
Screw
Machine Products |
7.0 |
|
12 |
308P |
Plumbing
Parts |
6.5 |
Manufacturing
Classifications (1992-99)
|
|
|
|
PERCENT ANNUAL |
|
||||
|
RANK |
SIC |
DESCRIPTION |
GROWTH RATE |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
1992 - 1999 |
|
||||
|
13 |
3546 |
Power-Driven
Handtools |
6.3 |
|
||||
|
14 |
3441 |
Fabricated
Structural Metal |
6.1 |
|
||||
|
15 |
2369 |
Girls’
and Children's Outerwear, NEC |
5.8 |
|
||||
|
16 |
3825 |
Instruments
to Measure Electricity |
5.7 |
|
||||
|
17 |
357A |
Computers
and Peripherals |
5.6 |
|
||||
|
18 |
38A |
Laboratory
Instruments |
5.3 |
|
||||
|
19 |
3841 |
Surgical
and Medical Instruments |
5.3 |
|
||||
|
20 |
3845 |
Electromedical
Equipment |
5.0 |
|
||||
|
21 |
3843 |
Dental
Equipment and Supplies |
4.8 |
|
||||
|
22 |
3562 |
Ball
and Roller Bearings |
4.7 |
|
||||
|
23 |
3634 |
Electric
Housewares and Fans |
4.7 |
|
||||
|
24 |
3663 |
Radio
and TV Communications Equipment |
4.5 |
|
||||
|
25 |
354A |
Machine
Tools |
4.3 |
|
||||
|
26 |
2821 |
Plastic
Materials and Resins |
4.2 |
|
||||
|
27 |
3211 |
Flat
Glass |
4.2 |
|
||||
|
28 |
2084 |
Wines,
Brandy, and Brandy Spirits |
4.1 |
|
||||
|
29 |
3585 |
Refrigeration
and Heating Equipment |
4.1 |
|
||||
|
30 |
3625 |
Relays
and Industrial Controls |
4.0 |
|
||||
|
31 |
367A |
Passive
Components |
3.9 |
|
||||
|
32 |
3613 |
Switchgear
and Switchboard Apparatus |
3.9 |
|
||||
|
33 |
3632 |
Household
Refrigerators and Freezers |
3.9 |
|
||||
|
34 |
3554 |
Paper
Industries Machinery |
3.8 |
|
||||
|
35 |
3631 |
Household
Cooking Equipment |
3.8 |
|
||||
|
36 |
3633 |
Household
Laundry Equipment |
3.8 |
|
||||
|
37 |
251 |
Household
Furniture |
3.8 |
|
||||
|
38 |
38B |
Measuring
and Controlling Instruments |
3.7 |
|
||||
|
39 |
2096 |
Potato
Chips and Similar Snacks |
3.7 |
|
||||
|
40 |
275 |
Commercial
Printing |
3.6 |
|
||||
|
41 |
3523 |
Farm Machinery
and Equipment |
3.6 |
|
||||
|
42 |
283 |
Drugs |
3.6 |
|
||||
|
43 |
2335 |
Women's,
Junior's, and Misses' Dresses |
3.5 |
|
||||
|
44 |
3452 |
Bolts,
Nuts, Rivets, and Washers |
3.4 |
|
||||
|
45 |
2789 |
Bookbinding
and Related Work |
3.4 |
|
||||
|
46 |
3911 |
Jewelry,
Precious Metals |
3.4 |
|
||||
|
47 |
3949 |
Sporting and Athletic Goods, NEC |
3.3 |
|||||
|
48 |
3621 |
Motors and Generators |
3.3 |
|||||
|
49 |
3545 |
Machine Tool Accessories |
3.2 |
|||||
|
50 |
3732 |
Boat Building and Repairing |
3.2 |
|||||
|
51 |
2015 |
Poultry Processing |
3.1 |
|||||
|
52 |
2782 |
Blankbooks and Looseleaf Binders |
3.1 |
|||||
|
53 |
3241 |
Cement, Hydraulic |
3.1 |
|||||
|
54 |
3448 |
Prefabricated Metal Buildings |
3.0 |
|||||
|
55 |
282A |
Man-made Fibers |
3.0 |
|||||
|
56 |
227 |
Carpets and Rugs |
2.9 |
|||||
|
57 |
2068 |
Roasted and Salted Nuts and Seeds |
2.9 |
|||||
|
58 |
3556 |
Food Products Machinery |
2.8 |
|||||
|
59 |
2822 |
Synthetic Rubber |
2.8 |
|||||
|
60 |
2386 |
Leather and Sheep-lined Clothing |
2.7 |
|||||
|
|
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census |
|
|||||||
|
|
U.S. Industry and Trade Outlook 2000 |
|
|||||||
The slowing domestic economy has undoubtedly impacted these reported growth rates for the period 1992-1999 based on the value of industry shipments. However, the listing is still considered useful in identifying higher-growth sectors over the longer term. Heavily represented among the listed fast-growing industry groups are manufacturers of computer products and telecommunications (SIC 35/36); machinery for construction, farming, lawn and garden, and industrial production (SIC 35); household equipment and appliances (SIC 36); and various types of instruments (SIC 38). Also included are motor vehicles, parts and accessories (SIC 371); fabricated metal structures and industrial fasteners (SIC 34); plastic materials, synthetic fibers and rubber, and drugs (SIC 28); along with diverse sectors such as household furniture (SIC 251); plumbing parts (SIC 308P); flat glass (SIC 3211); and commercial printing (SIC 275). The food products (SIC 20) on the top 60 list are wines and brandy, potatoes chips and similar snacks, poultry processing, and roasted and salted nuts/seeds. The only apparel/textile sectors (SIC 22/23) included are carpets, girls’ and children’s outerwear, women’s dresses, and leather clothing.
Selected Target Industry Classifications: Information from the resources listed above was compiled to identify the most feasible target industries for Tattnall County. Food Products (SIC 20), fabricated metal products (SIC 34), and industrial and commercial machinery (SIC 35) were selected as general sectors offering the most promising recruiting opportunities. These sectors have strong linkages with existing industry or local resources, high growth rates, and a recent history of locating plants in rural Georgia counties, along with being preferred by local leaders and regional developers. The availability of local timber continues to give Tattnall County feasible targets in lumber and wood products (SIC 24), although the sector has a slow growth rate. In addition, certain segments of other industrial sectors offer potential targets because of their high growth rates and their recent selection of rural Georgia locations: furniture and fixtures (SIC 25), chemicals and allied products (SIC28), rubber and plastic products (SIC 30), and transportation equipment (SIC 37). A complete descriptive list of specific target industry recommendations for Tattnall County is presented in Attachment F (Target Industries for Tattnall County, Georgia) of this report.