Here’s my op-ed in the VDT today. -jsq

Welcome

Andrea Shuijer Schruijer to a great opportunity as the new Executive
Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA)!

For a year I’ve been asking for a list of jobs attracted by the
Authority. We welcome your marketing expertise so we’ll know
the Authority’s successes!

We welcome your communications expertise to inform the community
affected by the process of bringing new jobs. VLCIA could publish
its agendas, minutes, and videos of its meetings, events, and
new jobs on its web pages, and facebook, maybe even twitter.

We welcome your stewardship of the Authority’s $3 million/year in taxes.
Maybe some

of the 577 acres of mostly unused land VLCIA bought with $15
million in bonds could be sold, since many of the lots are too small to
trade to incoming industries.

Perhaps you would agree that marketing includes knowing
what to reject, such as a private prison boondoggle
that won’t save the taxpayers money and will not attract
the knowledge-based jobs we want here.

You could help lead the region in the fastest growing industry
in the world. With two solar PV manufacturers in Georgia plus
south Georgia sun, rooftop solar can bring jobs from delivery,
to installation, to architects, to professors to study renewable
energy throughout the region.

The community wants to help you with market research!
For example, the biomass protesters have compiled a mass of current
research that goes far beyond state and federal regulations;
information that could lend the Authority some real authority.

The Chamber of Commerce could help hold real forums with actual
pro and con discussion among people of differing opinions.
How about a forum on the private prison?
Or on what kinds of jobs we want around here, anyway?

The Authority has been good at making agreements with businesses.
You can help it get better at fulfilling this charter agreement with
its own people:

“This act, being for the purpose of developing and promoting the
public good and the welfare of the County of Lowndes and the City
of Valdosta and their inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to
effect the purposes hereof.”

We welcome your stewardship beyond jobs, to clean air and water,
to create jobs for people here now and for generations to come.

You have a great opportunity to bring vision that can attract
jobs we can all be proud of.

Welcome aboard!

John S. Quarterman is a Lowndes County resident