Helping Business Thrive in Columbia County

Columbia County, Georgia, part of the Augusta metro, is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. Evans [in Columbia County] was also just recognized as the #1 Place to Live in the United States by Money Magazine. Positioned along the Savannah River and within a two-hour flight from nearly three-fourths of the U.S., this Georgia county is the ideal location for business development. Add to that a renowned healthcare system, the Fort Gordon Cyber Center of Excellence, the Savanah River Site, and Plant Vogtle, it is easy to see what makes Columbia County the optimal choice for expanding or relocating businesses, something our staff at the Development Authority of Columbia County (DACC) knows a good bit about.

DACC exists to facilitate growth in the local economy and we do that in many ways, from leveraging regional assets to supporting existing business, recruiting new business, and growing economic opportunities throughout the Greater Augusta Region.

 

 

Role of the Development Authority

The organization was established 50 years ago to promote economic development for Columbia County. As the sole local economic development organization, our role is to help businesses locate, expand, and succeed in Columbia County. We do this through:

  • Promoting strategic economic growth
  • Marketing Columbia County and our regional assets
  • Serving as a government liaison
  • Issuing Industrial Revenue Bonds and managing tax incentives to structure deals
  • Fostering a business-friendly environment
  • Identifying ways to support and secure project financing
  • Identifying workforce training opportunities
  • Providing key research/demographic data

 

Supporting Existing Business

Promoting and supporting existing industries is critical for local economic growth. DACC focuses heavily on business retention by offering a variety of services to our corporate citizens. Often, we are the problem solver for issues affecting day-to-day operations, impacting business expansions, and addressing workforce issues. Our team works to help businesses thrive in Columbia County. The staff at the Development Authority of Columbia County serve as your government liaison, helping expedite and simplify the process of growing a business.

Our team strives to be the go-to resource for any issues impacting our local businesses and their ability to grow. From state and national issues that affect businesses to workforce development and training needs to sites and properties primed for expansion, DACC serves as the connector to resources and support services that are available to businesses. When projects require a regional effort like workforce data or demographic data, DACC works collaboratively with our neighbors to meet the needs of businesses. Not every project we support creates jobs, but our job is to ensure that local businesses are able to perform at their optimal level so that they can be as successful as possible.

 

Growing Development

From site expansions to new construction, the number of businesses on the move in Columbia County continues to grow. The construction of a new Amazon Fulfillment Center at White Oak Business Park at I-20 is one of the newest and largest projects underway for Columbia County. Recorded as the largest single investment announced in the County’s history, the center is expected to provide 800 jobs. DACC is in the process of identifying future needs and opportunities to ensure our long-term ability to attract business with available product in an area that also receives Georgia’s Military Zone benefits.

In collaboration with the County, DACC had supported The Plaza, a larger development project in the heart of Evans. With the 2000-seat Performing Arts Center coming online in early 2021, we are eager about the impact the opening will have on the whole development and future businesses. You can already see successful concepts like Stay. Social Tap & Table, a self-serve tapas and beer restaurant, taking shape. DACC was able to utilize the Destination Retail Incentive to support their development costs and have loved watching the community welcome new business to the area.

Recruiting New Business

When a major industrial prospect is considering expanding in Columbia County, DACC is the team that works for months, and sometimes even years, to answer their questions, mitigate the challenges, and sell Columbia County as the #1 place to do business.

The U.S. Army Cyber Command Headquarters relocated and expanded  efforts in Fort Gordon, which is expected to bring in more than 15,000 workers and families by 2023. Finding ways to leverage Fort Gordon’s growth alongside Columbia County’s 300+ miles of broadband fiber is a major opportunity for business development in our community.

DACC is dedicated to supporting small business. Our team is able to help identify potential locations for your business, connect you to area resources, and help get you up and running in the County. We also have support programs for destination retailers looking in the Evans area. Stay. Social Tap & Table was a recipient of the program and have been tremendously valuable in bringing life to Evans Towne Center.

The development authority is also looking ahead at redevelopment opportunities that are focused on maximizing the potential of key corridors in the County such as Martinez. Being able to leverage the state Opportunity Zone with redevelopment tactics creates an opportunity for beautification and job creation in a way that the Martinez area has never seen before.

 

Helping Business Thrive

Through DACC efforts, we have been able to announce more than $300M capital investment and impact over 1,400 jobs since 2018.  This was accomplished by working with businesses like Amazon, John Deere, FL Smidth, GIW Industries, Club Car, Omnisys, and Security Onion Solutions.

From small home-based businesses needing demographic data for business loans to major industry key players looking to relocate its headquarters to Columbia County, DACC serves businesses of all sizes. We support the broad array of business development and everything it encompasses when it comes to Columbia County. The more we can fulfill our role in economic development, the more we can not only tell, but show businesses why Columbia County is the ideal location for business development.

As we look to the future, we will continue to leverage the economic opportunities in our growing region. We will focus on recruiting jobs in our targeted industries of defense and cybersecurity, innovative manufacturing, health services, entrepreneurship, and professional services. We will do all of this while remaining as the #1 place to live in the United States.

Ready to learn more about how the Development Authority of Columbia County can help your business with its expansion or relocation efforts? Visit our site to learn more or contact us with any questions or inquiries.