Becky Crissman
Cordele Dispatch
Vienna —
Southwest Georgia United, in conjunction with the Crisp/Dooly Joint Development Authority officially opened the doors for their new facility Wednesday.
After a brief ribbon cutting ceremony outside the facility, attendees were invited to tour the new office facility located at the Southwest Georgia Business Development Center.
Robert Cooke, executive director of SWGAU, referred to the Business Development Center as a business incubator.
“The joint development authority built this facility to serve as what we refer to as a business incubator,” said Cooke. “That is to provide a set of services, which can include office space for rent. It also allows a small business to devote more time to the core of their business rather than to the minor details.”
Some of those services, Cooke said, include reduced rent, power, Internet, access to photo copier, and typing/reception duties.
“We also have an advertising consultant to assist businesses with those needs,” he added. “We are designed to support small business all over Crisp and Dooly Counties, not just those that rent space from us.”
Currently there is about 10,000 square feet of business space for rent in the facility, Cooke said. Each of the newly renovated offices is empty, and new businesses are responsible for furnishing their offices.
In some situations, however, Cooke said help may be available on that level as well.
Also in the building is some 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space with power, that could be utilized as a small manufacturing facility or for training purposes.
“Those are very large areas,” said Cooke. “By renovating one of those spaces with the high ceilings we were able to create two floors of office space for this portion of the facility.”
Cook added that the larger bays also are available for public events and private parties for a fee. More information about renting the facility may be obtained from Wayne Foster at (229) 268-8944.
