Submitted by AJ Rivers

Community Relations

CORDELE– We the citizens of Cordele and Crisp County salute Bob Evans for sharing with us his reflections of growth activities in many areas in our community. For Bob’s knowledge and interest in finance, education, general business, and athletics for all ages.

For his many years of involvement in our community, he is our citizen extraordinaire. His reflections for the last 20 years are listed below.

Become involved like Bob and let’s work together for more progress in the future, helping develop community pride, promoting a cleaner community and continuing to bring jobs to our community.

Banking (20 years): five banks with $317MM in deposits compared to two banks and an S&L with $114MM in deposits

$13MM Comprehensive High School (Improvement to all schools)

$20MM Hospital with over 60 doctors

South Georgia Technical College

Darton College, now Albany State University

Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone

$3MM Recreation Center

(3) 18 hole Golf Courses

Georgia Veterans State Park: Conference Center, Restaurant, Lodging, Marina, Grill and Excursion Train

Hundreds of millions of dollars invested in private homes on Lake Blackshear

Four Development Authorities

Industrial Development Council (IDC)

Two Industrial Parks

Freeport Tax Incentive

Two Overpasses

Crisp County Power Commissioner’s new offices

City Hall renovations

SAM Shortline Excursion Train with Downtown Depot and boarding platform

Law Enforcement Center – 911 Center

New Courthouse approved and built

16^th Ave. (US Hwy 280) widening

Lighting of I-75 Exits #99, 101 & 102

Expansion of Carnegie Library

United Way

Atlanta Legislative Catfish Fry

First Annual Watermelon Capital Senior Games

New Christmas decorations in 2017 with expansion of area

Keep Crisp Beautiful – Affiliate of Keep Georgia Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful

Tourism Hotel/Motel Tax

Creation and expansion of Crisp-Area Arts Alliance

Main Street Program (Suwanee Apartments)

New Industry: Norboard, Owen Corning, GFA

Retail Development: Motels, Hampton Inn & Suites, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Premier Inn, Fairfield Inn, Country Inn & Suites

Restaurants: Cracker Barrel, Zaxby’s, Zydeco, Golden Corral, Mexican, Little Caesar’s, Mark & Sons BBQ, New China Buffet, Ray Ray Wing’s & BBQ, Riley’s Deli, Time & Tide A Collective, Tri-County Seafood, The Cove, China One, Cordelia’s Restaurant, TJ’s Italian and American Pizza, Smoakies Bar-B-Que, Out Door, Hachi Sushi and Japanese Grill, Fish Filet, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Taco Bell, Chick-Fil-A

Businesses: Home Depot, Walgreen’s, CVS