If a major industry wants to locate a facility in Coweta County, it's probably going to have to move here without tax incentives.

That's the strong message delivered Tuesday afternoon by the Coweta County Board of Commissioners.

The commissioners reacted strongly to an article in a local paper wondering whether the commissioners knew how to attract industry to the county.

Commissioner Lawrence Nelms led the charge by stating that he was fully aware of the math involved in bringing industry to the county.

“If you're going to improve the tax base, you have to tax them. I don't have a problem, though, dealing with an industry on a one to one basis,” he said.

Nelms added that if the county were to endorse blanket incentives to lure industries, then the negotiating part of the process essentially would be over.

Commissioner Charlie Jones agreed with Nelms and wondered where the industries are that want these incentives.

“I haven't seen one person come to this podium and ask for incentives,” he said.

All the commissioners reiterated the point that the county has its lowest unemployment rate in years and still offers a very good quality of life.

Commissioner Robert Wood, who has worked in economic development for years, also said the county must address the issue of having enough trained workers for the industries that might come to the county.

“We're in the best location for attracting all types of industries, but I want to provide jobs for Coweta residents and not from surrounding counties,” he said.

Commissioners also discounted published reports that Coweta County is lagging behind other neighboring counties at recruiting industry.

Commission Chairman Vernon “Mutt” Hunter said the county commissioned a study last year that indicated the county was on par with its neighbors.

While saying they were opposed to using incentives, the commissioners also said they were determined to bring more industry to the county and said they would gladly work with any prospect that is considering the county for a facility.

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