Chipley, FL.   The program for the weekly Kiwanis luncheon on Tuesday, May 12th, was presented by Ted Everett, Executive Director of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the Washington County Economic Development Council.  Everett (shown at the right) discussed economic development. 

 

Everett explained that Project Pipe will mean a $12.5 million capital investment on 70 acres in Washington County and will mean 150 new jobs when it is begins operation in two to two and one-half years.  Mr. Everett went on to add that the project will mean over $100 million annually to support the local economy, with a new road, new water and sewer and a new railroad spur to support the project.  The new business has taken more than three years of effort by the local Chamber in conjunction with the county political and civic leaders to get to this point.

 

Foley Products, the company behind the new project, operates four other plants, three in Georgia and one in Alabama.  The plant will have 67 new jobs within the first one and one-half years of operation and 150 jobs when fully operational.  The lowest jobs will pay $12.01 per hour plus benefits.

 

  The new rail spur is necessary because the plant will require raw materials to be shipped into the area, and rail is the cheapest form of transportation for heavy materials.  The plant will produce pipe of 48 inch diameter and greater.  At present, the project is waiting for approval of permits, but is two months ahead of schedule.  This approval is expected in the next two months.  It will take one to one and one half years for the plant to open and two to two and one half years to be fully operational.

 

Mr. Everett also discussed economic development in general.  Florida’s panhandle area is being rebranded as “Florida’s Great Northwest”.  Foley Products came to Washington County as a result of a referral from Opportunity Florida.  The rail spur will enhance Washington County’s attractiveness to new business.   Chipley’s industrial park is one of only four between Tallahassee and Pensacola with interstate and rail so close.  The connection to the Port of Panama City and the new international airport makes Washington County’s industrial parks unique.   Because it takes so long to relocate large business, and because businesses are sensitive about competition learning about business plans, confidentiality by local officials is necessary. 

 

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce has developed several programs to improve our competitive position.  The Chamber has been the leader in obtaining a County Free Trade Zone which will  be important in working with the Port of Panama City to develop trade with South and Central America as well as container trade from the Pacific Basin.

 

Another program that the Chamber administers is the Chipley Redevelopment Agency which can provide business loans up to seven years at two per cent interest to improve the downtown area. 

 

The three Enterprise Zones in Washington County administered by the Chamber can assist new businesses in the zones with tax rebates and job subsidies.

 

Finally, The HUB Zone program targets government contracts.  Three per cent of government contracts have to be awarded to HUB Zone businesses.  The  Chamber assists Hub Zone businesses in qualifying for HUB Zone contracts.

 

 

Everett also discussed the pending closing of the West Point textile plant by year end.  This space is the only space of its size between Jacksonville and Pensacola with 500,000 square feet of heavy floor loading and high ceiling space with industrial utility services installed.  Because of the layout of the plant facilities, there is actually an opportunity to house four new businesses

 

The Chipley Kiwanis Club also inducted a new member, Shane Obert (shown in photo below), into the club.  Conducting the new member induction were Elaine Chadwell, Membership Chair, Laura Joiner, sponsor and David Darrow, Club President.

 

Left to Right:  Laura Joine, Shane Obert, new member, Elaine Chadwell, David Darrow

 

 

The Kiwanis Club of Chipley has been providing support to youth oriented events and programs for 68 years and last year supported 36 organizations throughout the county.  During the meeting, Janice George presented a check to James Scott, one of the two Vernon High School  Key Club Sponsors, in support of the Club’s activities (photo shown at right). 

 

 

 

 

Shown at the left David Corbin presented a check to Julie Dillard to help local students attend the 4-H Camp in Okaloosa County.

 

Next on the fund raising schedule will be the Annual Golf Tournament and this fall the ever-popular Kiwanis Dinner Theatre.

 

The club meets Tuesdays at Pattillo’s Restaurant in the middle of the Washington-Holmes County Technical Center (WHTC) at Noon.   For an invitation to lunch, contact any Kiwanian or call Elaine Chadwell, Membership Chairperson, at 258-3142.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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