Jamie Gilbert

A few years ago Thad and I endured one of the most difficult days in Atlanta history, the ice storm of January 2014, all because of his selflessness and caring about our community. As many of you know, Thad was an expert on the poultry industry. He knew every aspect of it-from hatcheries to processing. He also knew who the players were in the business. As the executive director of Paulding County Economic Development, I was attending the 2014 International Poultry Expo at Georgia World Congress on January 28. I invited Thad to go as our guest because it was an annual event he loved. Despit

Georgia law allows development authorities to facilitate property tax abatements by holding title to certain real and personal property and lease it to companies. The process is referred to as "bond for title". Development authorities are exempt from taxes so no property taxes are due. In turn, when they lease the property it to a business the business is not required to pay any property taxes on it which means the abatement to a business could conceivably be 100%. The purpose of creating this mechanism was so that counties and cities across Georgia had a way to encourage private enterprise t

One of the issues that was brought up earlier in this discussion is the use of property tax abatements to encourage the recruitment, expansion and retention of businesses in Paulding County. Most recently, Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) requested the IBA approve tax abatements for two projects: Dallas Memory Care and Peachtree Protective Covers. These projects represent 155 total jobs of which approximately 83 are new. Property tax abatements will be used to offset the private investments these businesses are making in their facilities through new construction, equipment purc

I particularly like the way the video accentuates my bald spot! LOL

I can't believe that update was an hour! Pubby, you must be trying to bore your readers to death!

Again, government can not and will never create a single private sector job; however, it can facilitate the private sector in bringing those jobs the private sector creates to their community over some other location. Georgia never created a single private sector job with Kia, South Carolina never created a single private sector job with Boeing and Tennessee never created a private sector job with VW; however, each of those states brought thousands of private sector jobs to their communities by successfully recruiting those projects to their states.

Nina, like you I don't identify with either party. My personal philosophy is a TEA Party/Libertarian/Constitutionalist one on the federal level. With that said, locally I look at what makes sense for the community which may mean government staying completely out of the way or taking certain actions that will ultimately improve the lives of its residents. I believe that government should be the last resort for a solution when there are effective and viable private sector options.

This is my personal and PCED Facebook post from early this morning on this subject. ===== "Let's be clear about something. Government doesn't create private sector jobs and it never will. Government; however, has a responsibility to bring jobs to the community in order to create a healthy and sustainable economy. The competition for jobs is fierce and almost every county and state fight to bring them to their community. Any county or state that believes high paying manufacturing or professional jobs will just come to them without an organization to help businesses find buildings, sites,

I like this sign! Oh, you meant your sign. Option 2 is the best.

<br /><br /><br /> Not sure that people are more honest in either place but they are most definitely more open in what they say and do at a bar. Of course the bar often presents greater legal ramifications than the courtroom! LOL

<br /><br /><br /> I spoke with Interroll this afternoon. The email was down as they were switching it over to the person at Interroll who is keeping track of all resumes and applications. At this time Interroll has filled all of its openings for the first phase of its operation. Interroll still encourages those interested in working for the company to send resumes to ATL.Careers@interroll.com and they will keep them on file for when they begin phase two of their hiring in the coming months. You may also fill out an application at Preferred Personnel: www.preferred

<br /><br /><br /> I knew about that one but the last time I drove by there it looked closed. I will check this morning and see if they are open. Thanks!

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a shoe repair shop and dry cleaner that launders shirts? I'm looking for both, preferably in the 278 Dallas/Hiram area. Thanks!

There is no way the Film Studio could ever be converted to a conference center or hotel. The smell from the Coppermine Treatment facility adjacent to it is absolutely horrendous. Try selling a site to a private investor or hotel chain who wants to operate the it for weddings, graduations, reunions, business meetings, guests, etc. that has the smell of crap drifting over it every 30 minutes. Good luck with that! If the studio is converted to anything it could be a very viable industrial complex with a 38,000 manufacturing building that has loading docks and a 40,000 square foot manufacturing fa

<br /><br /><br /> You're disrespect comes from the way you treat people when the information I provide is accurate but you don't like the answer. I have no problem answering any questions you ask but you make it personal when you are not happy about what is presented. In regards to Douglasville I was Executive Director of the Douglasville Development Authority which was not a city department and focused 100% on industrial and office development I had nothing to do with the planning, financing or construction of their conference center. That was all done by the Douglas

<br /><br /><br /> You know Whitey I had a more detailed response than this but frankly I'm done with the back and forth. I will be happy to speak with anyone else that has questions or concerns but there is no point in going any further with you so this is my last response on the Interroll matter unless some misleading, inaccurate information is posted. The tax abatement for Interroll is that the Georgia Tech LOCI Study showed a positive impact for Paulding County of over $633,000 during a ten year period when accounting for the costs and benefits of the project which incl

<br /><br /><br /> Thanks BB.

<br /><br /><br /> And which tax dollars were given away? Do you mean the $1.6 million Interroll would never have generated since they would be in some other Georgia County, Indiana or Canada or do you mean the sprayfield that never generated a single tax dollar prior to Interroll being located there. As far as jobs going to local residents that is exactly what Interroll and PCED is trying to do. God forbid they don't have 100% employees from Paulding but 70% or more. We don't try to enforce unrealistic work rules on companies like your UNIONS do. That's why they are dead i

<br /><br /><br /> There are some great little casinos in Reno. Whenever I travel I find that the reviews on Trip Advisor are spot on especially if your travelling on a budget and want something great but cheap! I would look here to get some ideas. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g45992-Activities-Reno_Nevada.html

Whitey, I can only conclude you care more about the residents of Indiana then you do Paulding County. Me, I care about what happens to the people here and creating jobs for them, their children and grandchildren. As a native Baltimorean I will always remember the State of Indiana and Indianapolis stealing my beloved Colts in the middle of the night. Stealing Interroll from them and having them double their operations in Paulding was the least I could do.

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is my final comment on the subject KV. I've worked with MROs and aircraft assembly operations looking at the airport that were as small as 10 employees and others that would have created 2,100 jobs. Some projects come from the state while others were developed directly through marketing missions and trade shows. PCED has marketed Paulding's Airport Technology Park to potential users at aerospace conferences and shows, through our existing group of aerospace companies, to brokers and site consultants, and designed a Pa

Thank you Thad! Very well said, explained and totally spot on in your assessment of Paulding, what we need to do and where those efforts will take us.

<br /><br /><br /> I have not been involved in assessing any costs and benefits at the airport just trying to bring MRO and assembly operations there. I don't know where the 2,000-3,000 job number for the airport came from.

<br /><br /><br /> No one has moved to Paulding County to take the jobs at Interroll and none are expected to. I have no idea how many jobs are currently held by Paulding County residents of the 43 that are at the facility; however, I have walked the shop floor on multiple occasions and have talked to manufacturing associates and several of the managers. From what I can gather it would seem to be that over 70% are Paulding residents.