The time has come for Fairburn to take another step into its economic future. City council members Jan. 28 voted to amend the 2007-2008 budget and establish an economic development program.

The move came on the recommendation of the city’s Downtown Development Authority and city administrator Jim Williams.

Fairburn made significant strides in economic development during 2007, and those efforts will continue into 2008, Mayor Betty Hannah said minutes earlier in a State of the City address. Perhaps most notable of the development strides is the upcoming construction of a college campus on U.S. Highway 29, blocks from the center of the downtown area. A commitment by Georgia Military College to lease one of the 18,400 square-foot classroom building for 10 years and talks with other colleges and universities interested in the second building will go a long way toward enhancing the downtown business climate, Williams said.

The city also has its sights on what could become a million square feet of commercial ventures along Ga. Highway 74 south between Milam Road and Oakley Industrial Boulevard. Though the city announced plans for the development two years ago, city officials have not been satisfied with development proposals to date, holding out, instead, for quality development that would provide the greatest benefit for the city of 14,000, Williams said in past comments.

Approved by the council were the creation of an economic development department, a budget amendment of $130,000 to fund the department for the remainder of the fiscal year, a job description for an economic developer and a revision to the city organizational charter to include the new department.

Once hired, the economic development director will have responsibility for the city’s economic development department and will be supervised by the city administrator. The department will also employ an administrative assistant.

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