Dublin Laurens Co Development Authority 2015 Annual Report

DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

ANNUAL REPORT

Named Top 20 Best to Invest Economic Development Groups in 2014!

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4-5 / Administration • Staff Introductions • DLCDA Board Retreat • Budget Projections

6-7 / Marketing • Top 20 Best to Invest • Valmiera Glass Ribbon Cutting • Marketing Projects • GRAD Certification

8-9 / Existing Industry • West Rock Acquisition of SP Fiber Technology • GovStrive Expansion • Sun-Tek Pet Dock Expansion • Industry Appreciation • October Business After Hours • Existing Industry Visits

10-11 / Recruitment • Dublin Solar Park • Trade Shows • Utilization of 310 Leads • ‘By the Numbers’

12-13 / Product Development • Heart of Georgia Mega Site • Hwy 257 Rail Site Acquisition • OneGeorgia Equity Grant

14-15 / Recognition • State and Local Partners • Willie Paulk • Ross Tolleson

GREETINGS FROM CHAIRMAN Dublin-Laurens County is held in high esteem throughout Georgia.

Therefore, serving as your Chairman throughout 2015 has been an honor and the highlight of my career. I consider economic development to be an absolutely critical function for our community to be successful, and I am proud to be a part of this team.

Our board members offer hundreds of hours of their time away from their families and places of business to volunteer in service to this organization. The success we have had is due, in no small part, to the servant leadership demonstrated by my fellow board members. Thank you all for your outstanding service! Additionally, we owe a huge thank you to our city and county partners that not only fund our efforts but also work tirelessly to help us win jobs for this region.

Dublin-Laurens County is the envy of the state when it comes to the spirit of cooperation between our elected officials and city and county staff, and you better believe it sends a very positive signal to our clients.

We appreciate the contributions to our core business of job creation from this entire community. Our existing industries, elected officials, banks, academic institutions, and citizens of Dublin-Laurens are greatly appreciated by this Authority. Thank you for all you do.

We have made significant progress in 2015 with developing a large pipeline of prospects and acquiring strategic rail-served property along Highways 257 and 441. Dublin Solar Park, the startup of AWEBA, and the ramp-up of Valmiera Glass have been exciting. Furthermore, the Development Authority was named a Top 20 Best Economic

YEAR-END REVIEW Peter Drucker was right when he said, “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority worked hand in hand with elected officials, private sector partners, and economic development allies in 2014 to build on the past five years of unprecedented economic development success. The future is bright for Dublin-Laurens County because the leaders in our community have made job creation and existing industry support a priority.

Development organization in the country by Site Selection Magazine. We are tremendously excited about the Heart of Georgia Mega Site being GRAD certified this year. Our goal is to provide our professional staff with the tools they need to be effective, and I am proud of that success this year. We have several very large projects pending, which we believe will make 2016 a historic year for us.

I am confident that our staff (Brad, Beth, and Beatriz), our board members, and each of you will help to bring these projects from the pipeline to places of employment in our community. Please continue to stay involved and help us achieve our goal of creating good paying jobs for our kids and grandkids.

Have a blessed day!

Our team worked with companies from all over the world in 2015 including, but not limited to: Israel, India, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, Bahrain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the U.S. Our community has become an attractive location for international investment, and we are working hard to continue to attract additional foreign direct investment opportunities. Our team spent the 2015 year developing a strong pipeline of prospects that represented over 5,000 jobs and $3.5 billion in potential capital investment. We expect several of these projects to move forward with announcements in 2016. Along with an aggressive effort in recruitment, our team visited with over 50 existing industries and assisted a number of companies with existing expansions.

Beyond the success the community had with recruitment in 2015, additional progress was made in marketing and promoting our community all over the world. We are also pursuing new targeted industry strategies and are in the process of reworking our website, which is a critical tool for recruitment.

I consider it a great honor to serve the citizens of our community, and I appreciate your support of our efforts. Here’s to another successful year in 2016.

Brad Lofton, DLCDA President

Fred Williams, Chairman

PAST CHAIRMEN Ben Hall, Sr.*

Mike Cauley — 1996-1998

Roger Folsom — 2006-2008

Louie Livingston*

Wallace Miller — 1998-2000

Guy Cochran — 2008-2010

Mike Wolfe — 1990-1992

Walter McCall* — 2000-2002

Jimmy Allgood — 2010-2012

Ben Hall, Jr. — 1992-1994

Hal Ward — 2002-2004

Scott Beasley — 2012-2014

Doyle Dominy* — 1994-1996

James Malone — 2004-2006

*Deceased 03

ADMINISTRATION STAFF INTRODUCTIONS The Development Authority hired full-time Marketing & PR Coordinator Beatriz Lleras in February of 2015.

She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Dublin High School. Beatriz assists the Development Authority with the management of the website, social media platforms, and event planning.

Beth Crumpton joined the Development Authority team in August of 2015 as the Operations Manager.

Beth retired from Oconee Fall Line Technical College after a 30-year career. She is a great asset to the Development Authority, and she facilitates all daily office operations and financials.

DLCDA Board of Directors and Staff

Fred Williams

Roger Folsom

Phillip Gay

Chairman Appointed by City Term Exp. 6/30/16 Dublin City Schools 478-353-8000

Vice Chairman Appointed by City Term Exp. 6/30/19 Med1st 478-274-1900

Secretary/Treasurer Appointed by County Term Exp. 6/30/18 State Farm Agent 912-529-6131

Jimmy Allgood

Scott Beasley

Guy Cochran

Member Appointed by County Term Exp. 6/30/16 Allgood Pest Solutions 478-272-6271

Member Appointed by City Term Exp. 6/30/17 Duncan Tire Co. 478-272-5404

Member Appointed by City & County Term Exp. 6/30/18 Cochran Brothers 478-275-3844

James Malone

Mike Cauley

Joseph Sumner

Member Appointed by County Term Exp. 6/30/19 Malone Farms 478-875-4171

Accountant Nichols, Cauley & Associates, LLC 478-275-1168

Counsel Sumner, Avery & Harper, LLC 478-272-7933

DLCDA BOARD RETREAT On February 16, 2015, Development Authority board and staff met at the W.H. ‘Bud’ Barron Airport Board Room for an annual retreat. Charlie Gatlin with the Georgia Department of Economic Development served as the facilitator for the day-long event.

Topics included product development, targeted marketing strategies, relationships with state officials, confidentiality, incentives, and board and staff member responsibilities. The Development Authority looks forward to the annual opportunity to develop ways to get better as an organization and set goals and action plans for the following year.

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Brad Lofton

Beatriz Lleras

Beth Crumpton

President DLCDA 478-272-3118

Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator DLCDA 478-272-3118

Operations Manager DLCDA 478-272-3118

BUDGET PROJECTIONS REVENUE

EXPENSE

$614,916

$614,916

Local Government $175,000

Interest $3,500

Building and Land Lease $345,300

Professional Services $56,150

Recruitment $38,000

Personnel/ Professional Development $228,687

Contingency $66,116 Bond Commission $25,000

Building/Office/ Technology $42,879

Debt Service $210,000

Existing Industry Support $ 5,000 Marketing/Public Relations $34,000

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MARKETING

TOP 20 BEST TO INVEST The Development Authority was named one of the Top 20 Best to Invest Economic Development Groups of 2014 by Site Selection Magazine!

The groups were judged according to the number of new jobs and new investments. Creative economic development strategy and scope of project activity were also taken into consideration when selecting the top groups.

In 2014-2015, the Development Authority was able to make four announcements pertaining to new industries and expansion of existing industries, and maintained an average of 25 active projects throughout the year. These announcements created a total of 227 jobs for Laurens County and generated $42,500,000 of capital investment.

Dublin-Laurens County’s attractive location and amenities play a large role in the Development Authority’s success in attracting new industries to the area. The community has also found a niche in locating the North American headquarters for a number of international companies such as Dinex, Erdrich, Valmiera Glass, and AWEBA, two of which were announced in 2014.

The Development Authority continues to work with a number of companies in various industries to assist them in locating their facilities in Dublin-Laurens County.

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Voted one of the Top 20 Best to Invest Economic Development Groups

VALMIERA GLASS RIBBON CUTTING Valmiera Glass celebrated its ribbon cutting ceremony for their first facility in North America on March 26, 2015, after Governor Nathan Deal announced the company’s commitment to Laurens County in July 2014. The event was attended by the Honorable Latvian Ambassador to the United States, Andris Razans, the Mayor of Valmiera, Latvia, the Honorable Janis Baiks, state and local officials, and Development Authority board and staff members. The 80,000 square-foot facility is the home to Valmiera Glass’ North American Headquarters, and the first substantial investment from Latvia in the state of Georgia.

MARKETING PROJECTS Website Redesign

HEART OF GEORGIA MEGA SITE GRAD CERTIFICATION

During 2015, the Authority began working with an advertising firm that specializes in economic development websites and marketing to redesign and customize our website. This new website will be populated with the necessary information that companies and site selectors are looking for when considering a relocation project. To make the site selection process easier, the site will include the Local InSite Implementation (GIS) with a connection to the State of Georgia’s sites and buildings listings for economic development.

The Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Certification for the Heart of Georgia Mega Site was announced on June 11, 2015. This certification was made possible thanks to the public-private partnership between the State of Georgia, the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority, and Plum Creek to prepare the site for economic opportunity. The certification presented by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) certifies that the site is market-ready to support largescale commercial development.

Stay tuned for the launch of the website at the end of 2015, and visit us online at www.dlcda.com.

1ST MCCALLUM SWEENEY CERTIFIED MEGA SITE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA!

Promotional Video

The Heart of Georgia Mega Site is the first Mega Site in the State of Georgia to receive both GRAD Certification and the McCallum Sweeney Mega Site certification. McCallum Sweeney Consulting is a leading expert in industrial site certification by requiring an extensive analysis on every aspect of the site to ensure its ‘shovelreadiness’. This certification will allow the Mega Site to stand out among other possible sites in the country during the site selection process. The site has the potential of housing over 5,000 jobs for Dublin-Laurens County and surrounding communities.

In conjunction with the website, the Development Authority has produced a video highlighting the competitive advantages of Dublin-Laurens County, while also highlighting the success of the existing industries in our community. The four-minute video will be featured on the homepage of the Development Authority’s new website.

Social Media Growth The Development Authority has expanded its social media outreach and activity by over 120% in the past year. These platforms are mainly used to inform the community and partnering entities of the economic development activities and news in the Laurens County area with daily posts.

Follow the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority: DublinLaurensDA @DublinLaurensDA DublinLaurensGeorgia

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EXISTING INDUSTRY We are committed to creating the best environment for the citizens of our community and the industries that have chosen Dublin-Laurens County as their home. Let’s continue #BuildingDublinLaurensCounty!

2015 has been a good year for the continued growth of our existing industries! We understand that 80% of new jobs in Georgia are created by existing industries, and our main goal is to provide and assist our industries with any tools they may need to flourish and grow in Dublin-Laurens County.

WESTROCK ACQUISITION OF SP FIBER HOLDINGS, INC. On October 1, 2015, WestRock Company announced the purchase of SP Fiber Holdings, Inc. for the production of recycled containerboard, kraft and bag paper, and newsprint. The former SP Fiber mill in Dublin, as well as a mill in Newberg, Oregon, are included in this acquisition, and they will concentrate on the production of lightweight recycled containerboard and kraft and bag paper for packaging.

“We expect to further improve the service we provide to customers as a result of this transaction,” said Jim Porter, president of Paper Solutions, WestRock. “Both WestRock and SP Fiber have strong track records of product quality and innovation, and we are excited about combining our resources to enhance our offering of paper solutions for food service, corrugated packaging, and other markets.”

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GOVSTRIVE EXPANSION GovStrive, a HUBZone-certified small business, is a professional services firm focused on delivering best-value, results-driven services and solutions to support clients’ most critical mission-related transactional needs within Federal Human Resources (HR) organizations. Its team of consultants is equipped to provide advisory and management consulting services to support all aspects of Federal HR organizations specializing in HR operations, information technology deployment, and managed service solutions. GovStrive announced its HUBZone headquarters in Dublin-Laurens County in 2014. The Development Authority provided assistance to the company in 2015, and it received a large federal contract in the third quarter of the year.

The additional contract work will allow the company to expand by 30 employees and continue to grow its federal customer support footprint in the Dublin-Laurens County community.

SUN-TEK PET, LLC. DOCK EXPANSION On August 28, 2014, Sunshine Mills out of Alabama announced a partnership with Hi-Tek Rations to form Sun-Tek Pet, LLC. In 2015, the company has continued to grow and expand its operations in Dublin-Laurens County. The Development Authority has assisted the company with its growth and facility needs during the following year. In 2015, the Authority board approved the construction of a new truck dock that will provide additional logistics advantages to the Waldrep Industrial Boulevard manufacturing campus. Additional improvements included an expansion of 5 acres behind the facility and the installation of a $150,000 truck scale. The Authority is proud to be a partner with this outstanding company.

EXISTING INDUSTRY APPRECIATION Appreciation Luncheons The Development Authority hosted two Industry Appreciation Luncheons in 2015 to thank our existing industries for their hard work and their continued commitment to Dublin-Laurens County.

Flexsteel Industries, Inc. February 10, 2015

Dinex Emission October 15, 2015

October Business After Hours The Development Authority had the honor of co-hosting the Chamber of Commerce’s October Business After Hours on October 20, 2015. We used this opportunity to highlight our International Existing Industries and gave these industries a chance to showcase their products to the community. Representatives from YKK-AP, Dinex Emission, Erdrich, Valmiera Glass, and AWEBA attended the event.

Existing Industry Visits In order to promote the success of our existing industries, the Development Authority schedules visits with each industry every year to monitor their progress and offer tools for growth. In 2015, the Development Authority staff visited companies such as:

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RECRUITMENT DUBLIN SOLAR ARRAY

TRADESHOWS

On June 10, 2015, the Development Authority, in partnership with AES Distributed Energy, MS Solar Solutions, Georgia Power, and Gregory Electric, announced the commissioning of a 4 megawatt solar park in Laurens County. The solar array sits on 40 acres of land on Parker Dairy Road, and it contributes to the large acreage of solar energy already in Dublin-Laurens County. Along with supplying solar energy to thousands of homes, the solar array is creating tax revenue by contributing to the tax base.

The Development Authority staff attends two trade shows every year to continue developing leads to grow jobs in specific targeted industry fields.

Dublin-Laurens County is proud to have one of the largest acreages of solar power in the Middle Georgia area, and we will continue to work toward creating more opportunities of green power for our community.

The dedication for the solar park was celebrated on June 10, 2015, with a ribbon cutting and speeches by a representative from each partnering entity.

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The Shot Show was held in January 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This trade show is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for professionals involved in shooting sports, hunting, and law enforcement industries.

SEMA trade show is North America’s largest show for automotive products, held in Las Vegas in November. The Development Authority staff chooses to attend this show year after year in order to continue generating leads in the automotive sector to support our local automotive suppliers Dinex Emission, Erdrich USA, and Valmiera Glass.

Georgia Logistics Summit is an annual event held in Atlanta, Georgia, which concentrates on topics that are relevant to the operational and logistics success of the State of Georgia and every industry. The Development Authority staff attends the Summit every year to further our education and network with state partners.

UTILIZATION OF 310 LEADS The DLCDA incorporates a comprehensive strategy for recruitment that includes networking with site selection consultants, working with state and utility economic development partners, marketing to real estate brokers and developers, and direct marketing to companies. In 2015, the Authority also utilized the services of 310 Ltd., a national leader in working with local economic development agencies to identify and develop leads. This has been a very effective tool which has led to a number of direct contacts with companies currently exploring locations in the Southeastern U.S. The Authority would like to thank Plum Creek for sponsoring and helping to finance the recruitment initiative with 310 Ltd.

BY THE NUMBERS Total number of prospect visits in 2015: 35

2014

17 $2.46 B 6,106

2015 CURRENT & ACTIVE

POTENTIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT

POTENTIAL NEW JOBS

25 $1.10 B 6,177 11

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT HEART OF GEORGIA MEGA SITE The Heart of Georgia Mega Site is a 1,999-acre property designed for development of largescale industrial facilities. Working with the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority, Plum Creek is committed to creating a regional economic development project on this site with the plan to create thousands of jobs.

The Heart of Georgia Mega Site is centrally located in Middle Georgia, halfway between Atlanta and Savannah on Interstate 16. The Heart of Georgia Mega Site offers manufacturers the opportunity to move goods quickly throughout the United States and abroad. Shortline rail service provided by the Georgia Central Railway is immediately available to the site with connections to two Class I rail lines: CSX and Norfolk Southern.

Freight can also be shipped anywhere in the world within 24 hours through HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport.

In June 2015, the Heart of Georgia Mega Site became the first site in Laurens County certified by the Georgia Department of Economic Development as a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) site. This certification means that the site is suitable for industrial development and market-ready. With extensive due diligence now complete, the site will be marketed to potential industrial prospects looking to make their home in the Southeast.

The Heart of Georgia Mega Site has recently received Mega Site/Super Park certification from McCallum Sweeney Consulting, a leading expert in industrial site certification. This site is the first McCallum Sweeney Certified Site in Georgia, and the certification means the property has been rigorously analyzed for several factors that demonstrate shovel-readiness.

The Heart of Georgia Mega Site is uniquely positioned to be a significant economic development driver for Dublin-Laurens County and the entire region.

Key Advantages • Direct Frontage on I-16

• Proximity to Deepwater Ports

• GRAD Certification

• On-Site Rail Access

• Due Diligence Complete

• Mega Site/Super Park Certification

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HWY 257 RAIL SITE ACQUISITION On February 26, 2015, the Development Authority announced the purchase of a 331-acre rail industrial tract that will provide the community with a railserved site to offer to potential industrial clients interested in locating in Laurens County.

The acquisition of this site was a priority of the Development Authority, and it was supported unanimously by the current Chairman Dr. Fred Williams, and all members of the Authority.

“Having adequate product to market is a critical ingredient in a successful economic development program. Putting this site in our inventory allows us to have the resources to continue the Development Authority’s job creation success moving forward,” said Williams.

MEGA SITE TOTAL AREA 1,999 ACRES

The 331-acre tract is strategically located across from Best Buy’s Southeast Regional Distribution Center at the intersection of US Hwy 441 Bypass and GA Hwy 257. It has four-lane access from the site to I-16, which will provide a logistics advantage for companies locating there.

ONEGEORGIA EQUITY GRANT Following the acquisition of the Hwy 257 rail tract, the Development Authority was awarded a grant by OneGeorgia Authority in the amount of $237,534.

This grant was requested by the Development Authority to assist with the purchase of the 331-acre rail-served site. The award became effective on June 24, 2015 and will continue to be effective until the end of the award period on December 31, 2016.

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RECOGNITION

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STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS

WILLIE PAULK

State Delegation

2105 saw the retirement of one of the most well-known, respected, and productive economic developers in the history of the state of Georgia. Willie Paulk retired after 24 years of active Chamber of Commerce and economic development experience. She was directly involved in the creation of thousands of jobs in the state, and she served the Dublin-Laurens County community tirelessly as a champion and head cheerleader. The Board of Directors of the DLCDA would like to thank Willie for a job well done and wish her the best as she pursues other life adventures.

• Governor Nathan Deal • Ross Tolleson, State Senator, District 20 • Matt Hatchett, State Representative, District 143 • James A. “Bubber” Epps, State Representative, District 140 • Jimmy Pruett, State Representative, District 144

Laurens County Board of Commissioners • Buddy Adams, Chairman, District 3

• Jon Martin, District 2

• Tommy Daniel, District 4

• Bryan Rogers, County Administrator

• Roscoe Brower, District 1

• Billy Kight, County Attorney

• Emory Lake, District 5

STATE SENATOR, THORBORN “ROSS” TOLLESON JR.

Mayor and City Council of Dublin • Phil Best, Mayor

• Gerald Smith, City Councilman

• Bill Brown, Mayor Pro Tempore

• Ed Touchberry, City Councilman

• Jerry Davis, Chairman of Council

• Lance Jones, City Manager

• Julie Driger, City Councilwoman

• Artiffany Stanley, Assistant City Manager

• Curtis Edwards, City Councilman • Gary Johnson, City Councilman

The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority not only serves Dublin, but all seven municipalities in Laurens County: • Cadwell

• Dudley

• Montrose

• Dexter

• East Dublin

• Rentz

MONTROSE

DUBLIN DUDLEY

• Dublin DEXTER RENTZ

CADWELL

EAST DUBLIN

A Republican, Senator Tolleson was first elected to the State Senate for Georgia’s 20th District in 2002. Senator Tolleson represents the citizens of Bleckley, Laurens, and Pulaski counties along with a portion of Houston County. Senator Tolleson serves as the Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee and Vice-Chair of the Rules Committee.

He also serves on the Appropriations and Transportation committees.

Senator Tolleson announced his resignation from the State Senate in 2015.

He has been an aggressive advocate for economic development in Dublin-Laurens County and a wonderful leader for this community. The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority salutes the Senator and extends a thank you for his outstanding service to Middle Georgia.

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DUBLIN-LAURENS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Location 1200 Bellevue Avenue P.O. Box 818 Dublin, GA 31040

Contact Phone: 478-272-3118 Toll Free: 877-272-3119 Fax: 478-275-0811 dublinlaurensgeorgia.com