From STAFF REPORTS



CORDELE — Commissioner A.J. Rivers of Cordele and Mayor Willie Davis of Vienna have secured funding to implement daily telephone calls to check on the well-being of individuals who live alone, especially the elderly, sick, veterans, and the disabled. At the request of the two public officials, the Board of Directors of Southwest Georgia United voted to provide funding for the Community Safety Check Program for a six month trial period.

“We were pleased to have this opportunity to serve our senior citizens and disabled residents,” said Davis. “The Community Safety Check Program looks as though it will be very valuable for them. The city [Vienna] doesn’t have the money in this year’s budget to implement the program, but the assistance that Southwest Georgia United will provide will make it possible to begin serving our citizens soon after the first of the year.”

“When the program was presented to the Cordele City Commission,” said Rivers, “we said we would look for a way to try it out. Mayor Davis and I presented it to Southwest Georgia United’s Board, and they voted to provide the funding for a six month test period. That will let us see if the program is useful to our senior citizens and does as much good as we think it will.”

The Community Safety Check Program will enroll residents in these two communities who are concerned that they may become physically unable to call for help.

The Safety Check clerk will call participants daily between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. If there is no response after two attempts, the clerk will contact a designated family member or neighbor. If the designated party is not available, a law enforcement official will check on the participant to provide appropriate assistance.

Southwest Georgia United is a housing and community development agency that operates the USDA Rural Empowerment Zone on behalf of Crisp and Dooly counties. Its board of directors was able to provide $11,000 in existing USDA funding for a trial period of the Community Safety Check Program in Cordele and Vienna.

Both Davis and Rivers have been consistent supporters of the Empowerment Zone initiative and are currently members of the board of directors.

“The Empowerment Zone has had a wide positive impact on Vienna,” said Davis. “We offered a location for the $2.5 million Business Development Center in Vienna, and that alone has resulted in more than 50 jobs in the community. Our local businesses can receive tax credits of up to $3,000 per employee every year by filling out a simple form on their federal income tax return.

“Southwest Georgia United is currently adding 10,000 square feet of class A office space, which will be available for businesses starting or expanding in Vienna. The city has also been working with them to renovate our downtown, repair historic homes, and build new housing. It’s been a very successful partnership.”

The mission of Southwest Georgia United is to work with the community in a cooperative spirit to improve the quality of life. The organization supports sustainable economic development, housing, health, education, agriculture, and social programs. Board members seek to create well-educated, active, attractive and sustainable communities of healthy families.

The board is composed of 36 diverse community residents, including public officials, business representatives, and other influential community members. Board members also serve on other boards and are members or volunteers of many faith-based and community organizations.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the USDA Rural Empowerment Zone designation has resulted in the creation of more than 1,600 jobs and development of more than $316 million in private business resources in Crisp and Dooly counties.

Southwest Georgia United operates the business incubation program, a youth development program, and a non-profit construction company. Its programs provide financial and technical resources as well as direct services which support growth and revitalization in the two counties and the surrounding area.

The agency has built 14 affordable homes, provided ongoing training/ technical assistance to 66 faith-based and community organizations, and secured more than $20 million of competitive funding for community organizations.