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.