Several items continue to be a priority for the Development Authority of Bryan County as they prepare for future growth and development within the county borders, including two industrial parks.
That’s what Development Authority Executive Director Josh Fenn took some time on Thursday to explain to members of the Rotary Club of Richmond Hill at its weekly meeting held in the Richmond Hill City Center.
Some of those priorities include the Interstate Centre in North Bryan and the proposed Belfast Commerce Center site in South Bryan, post-secondary education within the county and more.
Fenn explained it is vital to bring more industry in to diversify the county’s source of property taxes due to the county’s projected growth in the next 10 years.
“We are 74 percent residential — we’re way out of whack,” he told the group. “We have 1 percent industrial and 13 percent commercial. Most suburbs need to have that residential in the high 50s low 60s (percentage), industrial needs to be about 10 and commercial about low 20s.”
He also said about 75 percent of the county’s population goes to work each day in other counties.
“We have a lot of residents here who are employed in other counties,” Fenn said. “They have kids in our school system. Those companies do not pay any taxes into the school system to help educate the kids in their workforce. We, the residents, and our rooftops are paying for that. That’s a challenge.”

Read more in the July 28 edition of the News.