A Unique History & An Outstanding Quality of Life.
A NEWCOMERS GUIDE
Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Co. Chamber of Commerce 121 E. Pine Street Fitzgerald, GA 31750 229-423-9357 www.fitzgeraldchamber.org www.facebook.com/ fitzgeraldbenhillchamber.commerce
neesawilliams@mediacombb.net derindalewis@mchsi.com holleylee@mediacombb.net
Provided by: The Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce
Welcome, newcomer! The welcome mat is always out in Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County, and especially at your Chamber of Commerce. We’re not the largest city in Georgia, just the best. Make us prove it. Drop by the chamber at 121 E. Pine Street, pull up a chair, and talk to us about your needs and the great opportunities that are yours in Fitzgerald -Ben Hill County. You’ll learn about our unusual history, being founded as a colony city for Yankee and Confederate veterans to live in peace and harmony. You’ll find that we offer a special blend of our past and present, industry and agriculture, business and pleasure.
American Blanching Colony Wealth Management Fitzgerald Auto Group Irwin EMC Life Care Center The Paulk Funeral Home Planter First Bank Southern Physical & Therapy Tift Regional Medical Center Worthington, Casper, Stone & Conger PC
Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County is a friendly town, and we offer our sincere best wishes as you establish your home or business here. Come see us! Neesa Williams Executive Director Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Co. Chamber of Commerce
Community Bank of Fitzgerald Fitzgerald Utilities The Cabinet Warehouse
This newcomer information brought to you by these Sponsors of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Co. Chamber of Commerce….
Ash Paint & Body Atwater & Houston Insurance Ben Hill Specialty Care Bishop’s Country Store Colony Dental Care Country Financial Digital Express Wireless, Inc. Fourth Street Design & Construction Labor Finders Landscape Unlimited Modern Dispersions South, Inc. Philip Jay Phoebe Physician Group, Inc. Quality Inn Fitzgerald Rainbow Irrigation Systems State Farm Insurance Taylor, Towson & Braddy Insurance Agency Wal-Mart
CHECKLIST FOR MOVING
Employment Georgia Department of Labor 229-386-3322 dol.georgia.gov Labor Finders 229-426-7489 laborfinders.com New Hire Solutions 229-424-0000 www.newhiresolutions.com
Real Estate Agencies Roanoke Realty www.roanokerealtyinc.com 423-8765 Century 21 Www.Century21tifton.com 423-2100 Coldwell Banker Active Realty www.activerealestateinc.com 423-7653
Colleges & Universities Helpful Information for Newcomers The city of Fitzgerald is located 178 miles southeast of Atlanta. Automobile License Tags New Georgia residents must purchase a license within 30 days. Tags can be purchased at the tax commissioner’s office located at 324 East Pine Street . Driver’s License New residents must apply for a Georgia driver’s license within 30 days. Communications The Herald-Leader weekly newspaper and The Ben Hill— Irwin Wilcox Shopper serve Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County. Daily papers from Atlanta, Albany, Macon and Tifton are also delivered to the county. www.herald-leader.net www.fitzgeraldocillashopper.com Cable TV is available through Mediacom (1-866-755-2225) www.mediacomcc.com. Direct TV is available through Windstream (1-800-347-1991) Utilities Electricity, natural gas, liquid propane gas, water and sewer service are provided to city residents by Fitzgerald Utilities. The office is located at 103 W. Central Ave.. For more information call 229-426-5400 or www.fitzutilities.com Other utility services available are private liquid propane gas companies, Irwin County Electric Membership Corporation and Georgia Power Company, which primarily serve areas
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College 229-468-2000 South GA College-Douglas 912-389-4510 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton 229-386-3236 Valdosta State University-Valdosta 229-333-5800
Hospital Dorminy Medical Center 424-7100 Tift Regional Medical Center 229-382-7120
Recreation Department of Leisure Services 426-5050
Newspaper/Shopper The Herald Leader 423-9331 Fitzgerald-Ocilla Shopper 409-0902
Senior Citizens Center 426-5177 Sheriff’s Office 426-5161 Tax Commissioner 426-5144
City of Fitzgerald Mayor’s Office 426-5036
outside the city limits of Fitzgerald. www.irwinemc.com Telephone & Internet Service Windstream & Mediacom serves Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County residents.
Verizon & AT&T offer cellular phone service.
Digital Express Wireless 172 Ocilla Highway 229-423-4529 www.digitalexpresswireless.com
Windstream 116 Benjamin Hill RD. 229-423-3130 or 1-800-255-8351 www.windstream.net
City Administrator’s Office 426-5060 Police Chief 426-5000 Fire Chief 426-5030
Education Ben Hill Co. Schools 409-5500
Post office 800-ASK-USPS
Home phone service Internet
Garbage Pick - Up Garbage pick up is available once weekly for city residents. The monthly garbage tax is billed on utility bills.
School Registration To register a child with the Ben Hill Co. school system, each child will need a report from his or her previous school, a transfer form, immunization record and birth certificate. Eye, ear and dental screenings are required if the child is entering kindergarten or first grade. For more information call 229-409-5500. http://benhillcounty.schoolinsites.com/
County Clerk 426-5100 Dept. of Family & Children Services 426-5300 District Attorney’s Office 426-5156 Extension Service Co. Agent 426-5175 GA Forestry Commission-Ben Hill Co. Forestry 426-5259 Magistrate Court 426-5140 Magistrate Office 426-5141 County Manager 426-5170 Road Superintendent 426-5170
www.benhillcounty.com
School Superintendent 426-5500
Important Phone Numbers Fitzgerald Utilities 426-5400 426-5455-Emergencies
302 S. Main Street 229-423-5446 115 E. Central Ave. 229-736-6001
Windstream 1-800-501-1754-Residential 1-800-501-1776-Business Digital Express Wireless 423-4529 Ben Hill Co. Offices Ben Hill Co. Commissioners 426-5112 Ben Hill Co. Health Dept. 426-5288 Board of Elections 426-5151 Board of Tax Assessors 426-5147 Clerk of Superior Court 426-5135
212 E. Central Ave. 229-424-9600
103 W. Roanoke Drive 229-423-4321
Members of the chamber.