IDA To Get New, Updated Website
By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor
The Dade County Industrial Development Authority voted to purchase a new website during their Monday, Aug. 15 meeting.
Dade County Public Information Officer Carey Anderson spoke to the board members about the County’s website. It was noted that the IDA’s website was out of date, and difficult to update.
“We are in the process of doing our [county] website, and we are renewing our contract with Civic Plus. It has a calendar, news, quick links. Different pages function as their own websites. We have used Civic Plus for five years,” Anderson explained.
The IDA was paying $1,200 a year for their website. The new website through Civic Plus would be $600 a year, plus a $2,500 set up fee. Economic development initiative Top of Georgia has agreed to pay for the first year.
“I think it would be a good thing to be more publicly viewed,” Chair James Cantrell said.
Also, during the meeting board member George Williams, of Alliance for Dade, asked the board for help with the Alliance’s next job fair. Dade Works will be held Sept. 24 at Dade County High School.
“We are changing the name of the job fair to Dade Works. Last year we had 15 companies there, and about 85 people come in and talk to those companies. The companies had door prizes. We are hoping for an even better event this year,” Williams said.
The IDA agreed to give $500 to Dade Works.
“This would be a venture that we should support in reference to the local businesses in our county,” Cantrell said.
The board members also welcomed new board member, Seth Houts from the Bank of Dade.
Executive Director Evan Stone said that he and Houts went to Rising Fawn to meet an investor who bought the former bargain warehouse.
“We had a real good meeting with him, and we are going to get the logistics from him. It’s a 35,000 square feet building that is ready to go. He’s got it listed on the market, but hopefully we will be able to help him on our website to be able to market that for him. Any type of manufacturing or warehouse could go in,” Stone said.
It was noted that the members of the IDA all went on a tour of the IDA’s properties the morning of the meeting.
“I think it was valuable to all of us to get a handle on the properties that we are in charge of,” Cantrell said.
The board went into executive session to discuss matters regarding the Northwest Georgia Joint Economic Development Authority, as well as property. After executive session, the board voted to sell a piece of property, 0.08 acres, to Integer for $9,000.
The next IDA meeting will be Sept. 19.