Although there

hasn't been much interest from industries looking to locate in Peachtree

City, there aren't many places left to put them, according to Chris Clark,

president and chief executive officer of the Fayette County Development

Authority.

Clark met with

the Peachtree City Development Authority at its regular meeting Monday

night to explain the activities of the county authority. In addition to

seeking new industry and screening those candidates, the authority also

strives to help existing industries while attracting and supporting new

and home-grown businesses, Clark said.

Inquiries about

industrial locations typically come from state project managers, brokers,

consultants and sometimes directly from companies themselves, Clark said.

They typically

ask for information on all the 25-acre and 50-acre industrial parcels,

but there aren't many of those left, Clark explained.

All industrial

inquiries are screened to "make sure it's something we want here,"

Clark explained.

"We ask

them about their water and sewer needs, and about air quality and noise

issues," Clark said. Less desirable industries will be steered to

neighboring communities first and outside the area if necessary, he added.

The Fayette

County Development Authority also has a Web site chock full of statistical

data about the county, which is also translated into Japanese, Clark noted.

The county

development authority has also commissioned a study by Georgia Tech on

how zoning decisions affect industrial and commercial support of the tax

base for the county, its municipalities and the school board.

Such an undertaking

"has never been done in the country," Clark noted. The results

are expected sometime in September.

Most communities

ideally want to have industries and businesses share 30 percent of the

tax burden although Fayette County averages approximately 10 percent.

That leaves local residents paying about 90 percent of the taxes collected

said.

The county

development authority also keeps tabs on possible redevelopment opportunities

and fostering the creation of locally-owned small businesses, Clark said.

Small business

owners can take advantage of classes offered locally by Clayton College

& State University and the authority is also working on hosting a

"small business appreciation week" in the near future, Clark

said.

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