State Denies Economic Oppty Zone Status to Hayestone-Brady

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

In Stephens County, State officials will not grant the Hayestone-Brady Business Park in a designation that would make it eligible for additional state tax credits.

The Stephens County Development Authority received word recently that the Georgia Department Of Community Affairs denied their application to designate Hayestone-Brady Business Park an Economic Opportunity Zone.

Stephens County Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin says it is very disappointing.

“It is a huge encouragement to companies to create jobs,” said Martin. “We desperately wanted to get that designation for our industrial park.”

The Economic Opportunity Zone Program allows businesses who locate within the zone to apply for tax credits and incentive grants.

The goal is to lure businesses into the zone and create more jobs for the community.

Martin said, however, the state did not agree with the Development Authority’s argument that Hayestone-Brady, which is located on SR17 between Toccoa, Martin and Lavonia, met that designation.

“Our argument that we re-developed that area from some unsightly blight and challenges that were found did not prevail,” said Martin. “It’s a shame because we did clean up some unsightly problems down in there. When Caterpillar moved there, when the college moved there, but they didn’t see it that way. So, we’ll have to move forward without that designation.”

Martin said the Economic Opportunity Zone designation has been crucial in getting companies to locate in Stephens County on more than one occasion previously.

Martin did not indicate if the Development Authority will appeal the State’s decision.