EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
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The Ben Hill County Board of Assessors is hiring a field appraiser to assist in field inspections of properties. Applicant must be 21 yers of age, have a high school diploma, valid driver's license and a clean driving record. Job will consist of physically inspecting properties and computer data entry. Applications are available at 113 S. Sheridan St., Fitzgerald, Georgia. Please submit applications in person at the above address. Please call (229) 426-5147 for any questions regarding the application process or job description.
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PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS BRINGING A
MUCH ANTICIPATED BIKE PARK TO REALITY
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Wooden stakes with orange marking tape outlines the path for the new bike park at Boggus Park (adjacent to Legion Park). The bike trail has been a dream of a group of local business owners and bike enthusiasts. They wanted a place to ride their BMX bike and to encourage others to ride. A BMX Bike Park would also provide an opportunity to host events and bring in revenue through tourist spending. The dream took another step towards reality when local business owner, Neal Bussone took a plan to city officials. A team of people went to work identifying materials needed to complete the project. What the team discovered was that nearly all of the materials were already on hand and available to repurpose for this project.
Fitzgerald leaders have been working towards identifying and completing projects like this. Community driven projects that utilize existing assets. Fitzgerald is one of a small group of cities selected to participate in the Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative. This is a three-year program designed to assist our community team in learning the process of place and asset based economic development strategies |
and implementation of placemaking development projects that are equitable, inclusive, and complement our community’s overall vision. The Collaborative assists the community teams in identifying projects that reflect the unique cultural and historic character of the community. The success of the Collaborative is the variety of statewide organizational partnerships that finance, support, and manage the program. The Collaborative partners are: Georgia Municipal Association, Georgia Cities Foundation, UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and Georgia Power.
Through this program, we identified locations that needed further development and potential community partners that could put their passion behind these projects. One of the locations discussed was the Skate Park at Boggus Park. It needed some attention. Local business owners, Jonathan Bargeron and Neal Bussone, were interested in seeing that space cleaned up and revitalized. They started the cleanup and collaborated with us to host an event called First Friday Lunchtime Adventure in July. We had great participation. Half way through the event it began to rain but the crowd stayed and enjoyed the event in the rain. We were amazed. This was something that the community wanted and enjoyed. The local business continued the cleanup and began hosting more events on a regular basis. During this, they realized that they needed to have skateboards available to help grow interest in the skate park. They started carrying a few skateboards in their existing business. That little skateboard display at Lil Chub Customs has developed into another business and has now outgrown that space. Lil Chub Decks is now located in an adjacent building that not only carries skateboards but other merchandise as well. The Skate/Art Park has become a place that families gather evenings and weekends and not just during planned events. It has become a viable place in the community creating a resurgence of interest in skateboarding, creating a place for families and friends to gather and supporting a new local business.
During this process, several other ideas discussed included the BMX bike park. Once the skate park was reestablished and the community buy in was apparent the group brought the bike park idea back to the leadership with a clear plan. A true public/private partnership makes projects like this possible. In addition to the enjoyment these projects bring to the community, it is also an economic opportunity supporting small business growth.
Through this program, we identified locations that needed further development and potential community partners that could put their passion behind these projects. One of the locations discussed was the Skate Park at Boggus Park. It needed some attention. Local business owners, Jonathan Bargeron and Neal Bussone, were interested in seeing that space cleaned up and revitalized. They started the cleanup and collaborated with us to host an event called First Friday Lunchtime Adventure in July. We had great participation. Half way through the event it began to rain but the crowd stayed and enjoyed the event in the rain. We were amazed. This was something that the community wanted and enjoyed. The local business continued the cleanup and began hosting more events on a regular basis. During this, they realized that they needed to have skateboards available to help grow interest in the skate park. They started carrying a few skateboards in their existing business. That little skateboard display at Lil Chub Customs has developed into another business and has now outgrown that space. Lil Chub Decks is now located in an adjacent building that not only carries skateboards but other merchandise as well. The Skate/Art Park has become a place that families gather evenings and weekends and not just during planned events. It has become a viable place in the community creating a resurgence of interest in skateboarding, creating a place for families and friends to gather and supporting a new local business.
During this process, several other ideas discussed included the BMX bike park. Once the skate park was reestablished and the community buy in was apparent the group brought the bike park idea back to the leadership with a clear plan. A true public/private partnership makes projects like this possible. In addition to the enjoyment these projects bring to the community, it is also an economic opportunity supporting small business growth.
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN FITZGERALD
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WALB: Giant Topiary Chicken in Fitzgerald Expected to Break RecordsFitzgerald leaders are building what they said will be the world’s largest topiary chicken.
Wall Street Journal: Small Town in Georgia has Big Plans for Enormous Chicken
Hoping to feather its nest and scratch up some tourism, a community is trying to build the world’s tallest topiary sculpture; ‘It’s something different’
WBIR: Small GA town seeks big boost in tourism with a room-for-rent inside a giant chickenThis Instagram-worthy topiary chicken will give a small town something to crow about.
Watch LIVE on YouTube: Fitzgerald Chicken Cam |
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The Wild Chicken 100 Gravel RideYours truly is extremely motivated to ride and explore, despite what is happening on the planet with the Covid-19 pandemic. If you love exploring on the gravelly roads less traveled, now is the perfect time to do so. Less cars, less people, it is a good time to be a cyclist, assuming you are permitted to ride outdoors. Read More...
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10 Ways to Soak Up Adventure in Magnolia Midlands - Visit Fitzgerald, Georgia for arts and entertainment.
Read More |
