Lowndes County Business Parks Awarded Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development Status by State

September 17, 2012

Valdosta, Georgia – The Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA) is proud to announce, Bassford, Miller, and Westside Business Parks have been named Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) sites by the Georgia Allies, a public-private partnership focused on economic development marketing.

GRAD Sites are a pool of pre-qualified, pre-reviewed and approved industrial sites across the state.  The GRAD designation for an industrial site indicates that it has been approved for development by Business Facility Planning Consultants, a third party consultant that works with the state.

The GRAD designation indicated that Bassford, Miller, and Westside Business Parks are market-ready. The designation also includes several tools to market the sites, including:

• Program benefits on the Georgia Department of Economic Development website

• Highlighted listings on the industrial sites sections of major utility websites

• Continued presence on Georgia Allies electronic newsletters targeted to companies and location consultants

• Site awareness for statewide project managers and Georgia Allies partners

“The GRAD designation for these parks means that Lowndes County can truly compete on a global stage for new industry and the accompanying jobs, this certification makes these sites more attractive to corporations who want to move at record speed to get their business operational and it signals to our statewide partners and national consultants that Lowndes County is prepared for their clients, before they arrive for the first visit,” said VLCIA Executive Director Andrea Schruijer.

Bassford Business Park

Bassford Business Park is zoned for a total of 134 acres of manufacturing and distribution space. Located along US Highway 41 approximately 2.0 miles from city center Valdosta. The park is bounded to the north by Norfolk Southern Railroad, to the east by Knight’s Creek, to the south by Old Statenville road, and to the west by Clay Road. The multi-purpose business park offers tenants flexible space options from 6 to 40 acre tracts (may be combined). The sites in the park are currently graded and available for build-to-suits. The Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority will be responsible for marketing for the property.

• Zoned M-2 (Manufacturing and Distribution)
• Access to I-75 (4.0 miles)
• Access to US 84 (0.5 miles)
• Access to GA State Truck Route 7 (1.0 Miles)
• Norfolk Southern Rail Service
• Georgia Power Electrical Service
• AT&T Telecommunications Service
• Atlanta Gas & Light Natural Gas Infrastructure
• Regional Storm Water Detention Ponds
• City of Valdosta Water and Wastewater Service
• City of Valdosta Fire and Rescue Service

Miller Business Park

Miller Business Park is located along US Highway 41 approximately 1.5 miles from city center Valdosta. The park is bounded to the north by Georgia State Route 94 and to the southwest by US Highway 41. The 210-acre site is suitable for office, wholesale, and light industrial. The multi-purpose business park offers tenants flexible space options from 10 to 35 acre tracts (may be combined). The sites in the park are currently graded with landscape and street lighting master plan and available for build-to-suits. The Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority will be responsible for marketing for the property.

• Zoned M-1 (Office/Wholesale/Light Industrial)
• Access to I-75 (3.0 miles)
• Access to GA State Truck Route 7 (1.0 Miles)
• Access to US 84 (1.5 miles)
• Landscape and Street Lighting Master Plan
• Georgia Power Electrical Service
• AT&T Telecommunications Service
• Atlanta Gas & Light Natural Gas Infrastructure
• Regional Storm Water Detention Ponds
• City of Valdosta Water and Wastewater Service
• City of Valdosta Fire and Rescue Service

Westside Business Park

Westside Business Park is a master-planned business park, which is zoned for office, wholesale, and light industrial. Strategically located along Georgia State Route 133 (St. Augustine Road) approximately 3.0 miles from the city center Valdosta, the park is bounded to the north by City of Valdosta/Lowndes County Limits/Zoning Limits, to the east by Georgia State Route 133 (St. Augustine Road), to the south by Lloyd Jackson Road. The multi-purpose business park offers space options from 50 acres (may be divided) to one (1) 100 acre tract available. The sites in the park are currently graded with landscape and street lighting master plan and available for build-to-suits. The Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority will be responsible for marketing for the property.

• Zoned M-1 (Office/Wholesale/Light Industrial)
• Access to I-75 (0.7 miles)
• Access to US 84 (0.4 miles)
• Landscape and Street Lighting Master Plan
• Georgia Power Electrical Service
• AT&T Telecommunications Service
• Atlanta Gas & Light Natural Gas Infrastructure
• Regional Storm Water Detention Ponds
• City of Valdosta Water and Wastewater Service
• City of Valdosta Fire and Rescue Service

About Georgia Allies
Created in 1997 to further capitalize on the momentum of the Olympic games, Georgia Allies was formed as a partnership between state government and private corporations designed to lead economic development marketing efforts. A collaborative endeavor, Allies leverages the individual initiatives of its members into a larger, targeted program that aggressively promotes the state’s business development. This organization serves as a benchmark creating innovative and cutting-edge activities to enhance Georgia’s business climate.

About Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority
The Industrial Authority is an organization that oversees industrial and economic development in Valdosta and Lowndes County. In 1960 the Authority was formed as an amendment to the Georgia State Constitution. The mission of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority is to recruit new industry, support existing industry, create employment opportunities for the citizens of our region, expand and diversify the sources for public tax revenue, and stimulate private investment.