Crisp/Dooly County Rural EC

(designated as Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone, December 1999) 

State: Georgia
Counties (Census Tracts): Crisp (9802, 9803), Dooly (9702, 9703)
Community Population: 16,333
Community Area: 457 square miles
Poverty Rate: 34 %
Unemployment Rate: 7.5%
Per Capita Income: $10,001
Education: 56 percent of the residents over the age of 14 are high school graduates

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Overview

The population of Georgia grew by 18% from 1980 to 1990 while the southern half of the state lost population. Since 1930, the Dooly county population declined by 45% while Crisp County grew slightly.

Forty nine percent of Dooly County residents and 40.7 percent of Crisp County residents are black, compared to a state average of 27%. Remaining relatively stable since 1970, the Black population is expected to gradually increase because of higher birthrates (18.5 per 1,000 for blacks compared to 10.6 per 1,000 for whites) and because numbers of black residents are no longer leaving for opportunities out-of-state.

Evidence of distress and poverty in these counties is evident in that transfer payments (retirement, disability, social security, welfare, food stamps, unemployment insurance) accounted for 27 % and 24.6% of total personal income in Dooly and Crisp Counties respectively. The comparable figure for the state is 13.4%. Small communities included in the plan are Vienna, Byronville, Lilly, and Montezuma.

Key Activities

Economic Opportunity:

The Enterprise Community will establish a revolving loan fund for business loans, and a one-stop shop for business licenses, permits, and assistance to facilitate the establishment of small business ventures. An incubator program for new and expanding industry and micro-enterprise development services will be created to focus on low and moderate income entrepreneurs.

Community Building:

The application submitted by this community is based on extensive grass roots involvement. The resulting plan considers almost every aspect of community life. It has a strong focus on youth services, strengthening the family and on efforts to raise personal self esteem and build community unity and pride. Changing ingrained attitudes, values and expectation levels is seen by residents as key to improving life in Crisp and Dooly Counties. The personal development goals are linked with the primary economic development issues of education and job creation and includes strong components related to basic needs -- access to public transportation, health care, social services and affordable housing. It also responds to the community's need for cultural and recreational resources and programs and enhances public safety services. The plan represents the community's hope to promote self-sufficiency and reduce dependency by supporting development of businesses, preparing a qualified workforce, removing barriers and providing supporting services and information.

Sustainable Community Development:

The community will implement a family support program to: increase parenting skills, prevent dropouts, prevent teen pregnancy, establish mentoring, provide quality child care, provide nutrition services for children and elderly, establish child abuse prevention activities and provide a shelter for battered women and children.

Implement adult literacy programs, industry sponsored job fairs and readiness programs, and programs to coordinate school and industry efforts to establish apprenticeships, vocational training and secondary and post secondary education programs for high school students.

Expand local transportation services to ensure transportation to places of work and provide shuttle bus services to transport students to and from colleges and training facilities.

Promote cultural awareness and racial harmony through activities in schools, churches, organizations and local drama and art groups. Enlist the aid of local media and develop an integrated ecumenical council. Launch in inter-county effort to control litter and promote beautification (Keep America Beautiful).

Major Public Sector Commitments: $2,664,000

Local Government Resources:

$200,000 - County Board of Commissioners to capitalize revolving loan fund; $400,000 - City of Vienna for child care facility

State Government Resources:

None specifically identified $2,000,000 in loans from Georgia Environmental Facilities for loans for water, sewer or solid waste management.

Federal Government Resources: $64,000

USDA & Corporation for National Service - A volunteer will be provided from the AmeriCorps Rural Development Team.

$64,000 to implement the Crisp/Dooly EZ/EC Micro Enterprise project.

Major Private Sector Commitments

$15,000 from Dooly County Chamber of Commerce to implement the Business/Industry/School connection program

$105,530 from Crisp Regional Hospital to support the Rural Health Mobile Clinic

$100,000 line of credit from First State Bank and Trust Co. to capitalize the micro loan program. Bank will also provide in-kind support and technical assistance valued at $41,000 per year.

Contact:

Name:	Robert Cooke
Address:	P.O. Box 587, 115 13th Avenue West
	Cordele, GA  31010
Phone:	912-273-9111
Fax:	912-276-0450
Email:

 

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