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Albany is Awesome: Short Stories About Us.
Education critical to TSPLOST vote
WALB NEWS Channel 10
ALBANY, GA -
In a few months you’ll get to vote on a new sales tax that will pay for transportation projects in our area.
Today officials held a meeting for folks in the community to help better inform the public on just what the TSPLOST is.
It’s a one percent sales tax that will keep the money in the regions that approve it.
Dan Bollinger, Director SW GA Regional Commission says each project, no matter what county, will serve each person in the region one way or another.
A good example is the widening of highway 133 from Albany to Valdosta.
“Jobs get tied to transportation, if you have the four lane..good transpiration network available you’ll be able to attract those jobs.”
It will be on the ballot on July 31st. They start collecting tax in 2013, and folks will see some of the benefits of these projects in 2014.
To learn more about TSPLOST and Southwest Georgia projects, click here.
TSPLOST set to bring millions to SWGA
TSPLOST set to bring millions to SWGA
By Jessica Fairley, WFLX
April 23, 2012
ALBANY, GA. - In July voters will head to the polls to vote for the one cent transportation tax. Representatives with the Georgia Chamber were in Albany Monday afternoon to gain financial support for the cause.
The Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) is set up to improve Georgia road conditions over the next 10 years by providing funds to local governments for projects.
The money is expected to help with economic development and public safety.
Representatives with the chamber say this is an opportunity that Georgia can’t afford to pass up.
“This is one of those things where we are 49th in the nation per capita spending on transportation. Other states are beating us every day for projects because of this issue. We’ve got to invest in our infrastructure if we’re going to grow as a state,” says Chris Clark, President and CEO for the Georgia Chamber.
If passed, the TSPLOST is expected to create over 14,000 jobs right away and raise over $500 million for southwest Georgia over the next 10 years.
To learn more about TSPLOST and Southwest Georgia projects, click here.
Gerdau: Giving Back is Part of Business
On April 4, 2012, the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission presented its annual EDC Industry Award for Corporate Community Citizenship, also known as the Good Life City Award, to Gerdau Long Steel North America. Here, we share a little bit about Gerdau.
Gerdau is the leading company in the production of long steel in the Americas and one of the major suppliers of specialty long steel in the world.
At Gerdau Long Steel North America – a leader in mini-mill steel production and steel recycling in North America and one of the major suppliers of specialty long steel in the world – it’s not just about the bottom line; it’s about being a part of something larger.
That’s a corporate culture that’s driven from the top and promoted to the company’s more than 46,000 North America-based employees.
In Albany, Gerdau takes part in at least one community service project every quarter – everything from charity walks to canned food drives.
“It gives us a chance to give back, for employees to give back a portion of their time and their money to the community,” said Albany site manager Jeffery Clark. Of the 34 employed at Gerdau, about 50 percent actively participate in all events.
Most recently, 18 Gerdau employees participate in the local walk to support multiple sclerosis research and programs.
“One of my customers, his wife has MS, so we thought that we were able to hook up with them and get involved,” Clack said. “He supports us as a company, and we in turn support him and his wife and their battle with MS.”
Coming up, you’ll be able to spot the Gerdau team at the cancer walk.
“It helps spur team moral,” Clack said of volunteering as a team. “As we’re out there away from work involved in community events, it helps build a stronger relationship with employees. … It brings you together.”
Learn more about Gerdau Long Steel North America at www.gerdauameristeel.com.
Central Monitoring: Securing Farmers’ Investments
On April 4, 2012, the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission presented its annual EDC Industry Award for Excellence in Innovation to Central Monitoring. Here, we share a little bit about Central Monitoring.
Central Monitoring's Pivot Alarm is the only available product designed specifically to detect, notify and deter irrigation span cable copper theft.
Most people don’t associate product innovation with alarm companies. With Albany’s Central Monitoring, they should.
In early 2011, Central Monitoring had no way of assisting the farmers who were dealing with a surge of copper wire theft from irrigation pivots that was resulting in higher insurance premiums, increased deductibles and in some cases, canceled policies.
So Central Monitoring service manager Mike White got to tinkering, and over the next few months he designed, built, tested and tweaked an alarm system that would detect and notify the central station and the pivot owner when the span cable on the irrigation pivot was disturbed. Thus was born the trademarked and patent-pending Pivot Alarm.
The alarm is solar powered, monitors and protects the entire span of cable, and is resistant enough to stand the pressures of farming, such as dry, dusty fields, constant water spray and unpredictable outdoor conditions.
When the Pivot Alarm goes off, a text or e-mail alert is sent to the pivot owner, and dispatchers at Central Monitoring notify the appropriate authorities, which, using GPS technology, are provided with an areal map and turn-by-turn directions from the nearest main road to the pivot.
Today, the Pivot Alarm is the only available product designed specifically to detect, notify and deter irrigation span cable copper theft.
More than 200 Pivot Alarms have been installed throughout south Georgia and east Alabama. The Pivot Alarm is manufactured in Albany, and will be distributed worldwide.
Learn more about Central Monitoring at www.central911.com.
Phoebe Putney Health System: Impacting All
On April 4, 2012, the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission presented its annual EDC Industry Award for Economic Impact to Phoebe Putney Health System. Here, we share a little bit about the system.
Phoebe Putney Health System provides services throughout Southwest Georgia.
Phoebe Putney Health System has been asserting its place in Southwest Georgia for more than 100 years. What began as a small community hospital has, through thoughtful planning and strategy, grown into an organization that employs more than 5,000 and has care facilities throughout the region.
Twenty five years ago, the hospital board “really gave a mandate that the best possible care should be available right here at home,” said Jackie Ryan, the health system’s vice president of strategy. “In recent years, that strategy has meant putting services in place now throughout the South Georgia region.”
The result of those services is a total annual economic impact of nearly $1.03 billion, with $895 million of that pumped into the local economy by Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, the system’s flagship site.
Over the past 25 years, Phoebe has invested more than $200 million in main campus improvements involving property, equipment and facilities. Most recently, in 2011, it invested about $33 million, which was preceded by investments of $40 million and $52 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Reinvesting in the community is also part of Phoebe’s philosophy. During the last few years, this has meant allocating 7 to 12 percent of net revenues into programs such as school nurses for the Dougherty County School System, jail inmate care, unfunded indigent and charity care, as well as equipment donations throughout Southwest Georgia. This reinvestment has totaled about $136 million in recent years.
“That’s part of our responsibility as a not-for-profit health care delivery system,” Ryan said. “It’s also the community safety net.
“We do that by trying to manage expenses, as expertly as we possibly can, and you give the services. You create quality services that people choose to use, and then you manage your operations and your expenses so that you have the ability to reinvest into the health care system and the community and to give back.”
Phoebe’s inpatient numbers reached 21,000 in 2011, and patient contacts were upwards of 800,000. Of those who come to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital for services, about 56 percent are not residents of Dougherty County, Ryan said, a figure that increased steadily every year.
Phoebe has an annual payroll of $233 million. Of its more than 5,000 employees, 1,009 are nurses and nearly 200 are physicians.
Learn more about Phoebe Putney Health System at www.phoebeputney.org.