Economic Development Taskforce Settles On Development Strategies

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners’ Economic Development Taskforce has identified three strategies for economic development for the county.

The county should invest in current businesses, create an environment for professional and technological innovation, and develop partnerships with the University of Georgia, the group has concluded.

The Taskforce will report on its recommendations to the Board of Commissioners and to the public at the Town Hall Meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Community Center in Oconee Veterans Park on Hog Mountain Road.

County Administrator Justin Kirouac told the Taskforce, wrapping up its work at its third and final scheduled meeting on Monday, that he thinks the Board of Commissioners will want to formally adopt the recommendation of the Taskforce before those strategies are put into effect.

The Board of Commissioners has signed an agreement to pay the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce $100,000 annually to handle economic development work for the county and appointed the Taskforce to give the Chamber guidance for that work.

For more on the story, with a video of the Taskforce meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.