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By Jeff Moore

Contributing writer

 

The new chief executive officer of Southwest Georgia United appeared before the Cordele City Commission to introduce himself and discuss the assistance offered to reduce poverty and improve the region’s quality of life.

At the commission’s March 18 meeting, CEO Jarrod McCarthy said he wanted to make sure everybody is aware of what they are doing.

“We’ll be happy to follow a conversation as to how we can work

together,” McCarthy said. “We have four different main programs that together serve people and potentially help establish a positive momentum in their lives.

First, he said SGU works as a community development financial institution through its loan programs.

“Through those efforts we accept risks beyond the tolerance of regular lenders,” McCarthy said, noting this can help low income people in the community who lack adequate access to borrow.

Statewide, he said he is proud of the organization’s bigger focus of creating job.

“Through our business loan program, which I will call this uh sort of a program, uh, which is our largest, we must create job opportunities of low income, minority and other underserved communities,” McCarthy said.

Home repair loans of up to $10,000 are offered to address these needs, including people with disabilities and the elderly. He explained this can help those who may have faced tough times and couldn’t make needed repairs.

Micro loans are available for small businesses and startup, he said, with up to $50,000 for operations with 10 or fewer people, McCarthy said. SGU also offers technical assistance and help with improving their business plans.

“If they come to us and they’re not quite over the hump with what is

fundable for a loan, we can help them get there,” he explained. “We provide a little guidance and help just a little bit get across the line.”

McCarthy said they really want to help the local economy here in the city of Cordele.

Another program offered is called Youth Build, which targets those ages 16 to 24 who have dropped out of school develop basic skills though GEDs, vocational school and college.

Part of this training, he said, involves the youth in rehabilitating a home for the homeless or low income people in the community.

“That’s one thing we’re happy to do around here that has a double impact in the teaching and providing for someone,” McCarthy said.

He explained they help in a lot of areas beyond training, which include learning accountability, preparing for interviews, building resumes, filling out job applications and in areas such as career assessment and financial literacy.

“Our people really go out of the way to try to help people in whatever facet of life where they might need,” McCarthy said, adding this is mostly funded through the U.S. Department of Labor.

SGU currently has around 30 people on its waiting list for this program, which they hope to open later this year to 60 people in Crisp, Dooly and Sumter counties.

The organization also offers a housing program under its financial asset program, he said. SGU has 121 units that remain 90% occupied. Despite turnover, there are 60 on the waiting list for the housing.

Through its statewide housing council, McCarthy said guidance and education is offered in areas such as mortgage assistance, financial literacy, credit counseling and budgeting.

He said he is happy to sit down with city officials to discuss ways they can partner and evolve in any of the programs offered through Southwest Georgia United.

The office is located in Cordele at 123 7th Street, with hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Chairman Joshua Deriso said he would reach out to McCarthy to discuss concerns he has had about SGU. He asked how long the new CEO has been on the job.

McCarthy said he started in December.

Deriso asked about strategic goals the organization has for Cordele.

As he came on board, McCarthy said he wanted to learn more about its operations and keep it running as is before making changes and get to his bigger ambitions for the organization.

While there are a number of areas he wants to see SGU consider expanding, he explained he has to be sure he is on the same page with his board.

As part of his presentation, McCarthy provided commissioners with details of his background, education and work experience. He offered his assistance with areas such as grant writing that he did for more than 15 years.

 

First responder recognition

The commission approved a proclamation naming March 24-28 as First Responder Wellness Week.

Commissioner Isaac Owens came forward to present the proclamation to Police Chief Jalon Heard and Fire Chief Todd Alligood, recognizing the men and women who dedicate themselves in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services and corrections officers.

Noting that these individuals, some who are volunteers, protect the public’s lives in dangerous and complicated situations that can affect their mental and physical health, Owens said the city recognizes their “hard work, commitment, sacrifice and unhesitating dedication” to Cordele.

The proclamation was adopted on a 3-0 vote. Commissioner Vesta Beal Shephard was not present at the time of the vote.

 

 

CBDG grant approvals

The commission approved a resolution authorizing the city to obligate $47,500 as matching funds needed as part of a Community Development Block grant application to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a community facility grant application.

Further, commissioners voted to allow city officials to file the application for CBDG funding with GDCA for fiscal year 2025.

Both votes were 3-0 in favor of the proclamation. Commissioner Vesta Beal Shephard was not present at the time of these votes.

 

Alcohol license granted

On a 3-0 vote with Shephard not present at the time, the commission granted a beer only alcohol license for off premises to Ambema SI Inc., which does business as Dave Food Mart, 416 W. 16th Ave. The business owner is Vijaykumar Patel. The application was reviewed by Police Chief Jalon Heard and sent on to the commission for its consideration.

Surplus items approved

A list of items from the city’s public works department was as surplus by the commission. The items will be listed and sold online at GovDeals.com. The vote was 3-0 in favor of the request. Shephard was not present for the vote.

 

Change order approved

The commission approved its first change order on the city’s sanitary sewer rehabilitation project. Water and sewer superintendent Jimmy Jackson told the commission the change is needed because some of the lines were in such bad shape.

While the plan was to make the improvements through process that injects materials into the lines to create a new interior coating, Jackson said, where they are in just bad condition they are having to insert new lines from manhole to manhole. This is more expensive, he said, because with the new pipe installed workers have to go and reopen every connection.

City Manager Angela Redding said this is the reason for performing the work in phases because it remains unknown until the work is underway where these problems exist.

The change order was approved with the funds expected to come from the contingency fund that was built into the project for these types of occurrences.

 

Engineering agreement

The commission approved an agreement with Carter and Sloope to serve as engineers for the city.