County Chairman and District 6 Commissioner Participate in Georgia Academy for Economic Development’s The Essentials Program

D ougherty County Commission Chairman, Lorenzo L. Heard, and County District 6 Commissioner, Anthony Jones, were among several across the state of Georgia to participate in The Board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development’s The Essentials program that was held on March 8, 2023, in Americus, Georgia. The Essentials provided attendees an opportunity to gain a unique understanding of the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional, and state levels.

Participants in the program included community and economic development professionals, elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators, and engaged citizens from across Georgia. Created in 1993, the Georgia Academy for Economic Development assembles a cross-section of experts, research-based curriculum, and resources necessary for building a vibrant economy. The Board of Directors of the Academy represent public and private economic development organizations and agencies across Georgia.

Georgia Electrical Membership Corporation (EMC) and Georgia Power provide facilitators for the program on behalf of their members and stakeholders, and the Georgia

Department of Community Affairs (DCA) provides staff and resources to execute the program statewide. Since its inception, the Academy has provided training for thousands of Georgians.

For more information on the Georgia Academy for Economic Development: The Essentials, visit GeorgiaAcademy.org.

Dougherty County District 6 Commissioner Appointed to Chair Southwest Georgia Regional Commission

At the February 24, 2023 meeting of the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission (SWGRC), Dougherty County District 6 Commissioner, Anthony Jones, began serving as Chairman. Jones succeeds Colquitt County Commissioner, Paul Nagy, who served as Chair of the SWGRC for several years.

Being named as a board member of the SWGRC in 2015, Jones has served as Vice Chairman since 2016. As Chairman, he will chair Executive Committee meetings and preside over monthly meetings. He will also be responsible for appointing committees and is authorized to authenticate by signature resolutions, contracts, and other documents adopted by the Commission, and will also serve as a member of the board of directors for the Georgia Association of Regional Commissions.

A multi-county agency for the Southwest Georgia region headquartered in Camilla, Georgia, the SWGRC is one of 12 public agencies in the state, created by the Georgia Planning Act, to assist local governments on a regional basis and assist in establishing coordinated and comprehensive planning for the state.

Jones has served as Commissioner for Dougherty County’s District 6 since 2015 and is retired after 24 years of service as 4-H Youth Development Coordinator and County Extension Director for the Dougherty County Extension Service.

Dougherty County Commission Chairman Makes County Committee Appointments for 2023

During a recent Dougherty County Board of Commissioners meeting, Chairman Lorenzo L. Heard announced a few County Committee appointment changes for the year. Affected committees included chair positions for the Finance, Recreation, and Public Works Committees.

Leading up the Finance Committee for 2023 will be District 3 Commissioner Clinton Johnson; for the Chair of the Recreation Committee, District 2 Commissioner Victor Edwards was appointed; and Chairing the Public Works Committee will be District 1 Commissioner Ed Newsome. Each year, the Chairman of the Dougherty County Board of Commissioners reserves the authority to appoint and reappoint both Chairpersons and Committee members to any County Committee as he deems necessary.

The purpose of the

Dougherty County Finance Committee is to provide budget information for the county general funds, special services funds, and Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. The Recreation Committee coordinates with City of Albany Parks and Recreation on various County Park projects, as well as reviews potential park and recreational endeavors in the County. The Public Works Committee works with County Public Works to review various projects within this County department.

Johnson has served as Chair of the Recreation Committee since 2014 and Newsome has served as Chair of the Finance Committee since joining the Board of Commissioners in 2021.

This marks Edwards first appointment as Chair to the Recreation Committee. For the past year, he served as Chair of the Public Works Committee.