The LCDA serves as a free professional facilitator readily available to local companies as needed in providing the knowledge of and access to local, state, and even federal agencies and personnel that can provide assistance to companies with their retention or expansion plans.

The LCDA also serves as a knowledgeable resource center that provides easy access to needed workforce, education, staffing or other economic data through the utilization of services such as Chmura, ESRI, Location One, GA Labor Explorer, Bureau of the Census, Deloitte, etc.  With these resources, the LCDA can quickly run reports to help answer the needs of local companies.  The LCDA is viewed as a prime “go to” resource by existing companies.

A company that locates in Liberty County isn’t forgotten after the ribbon cutting.  The LCDA continues communications with the company after it locates just as consistently as when it was recruiting the company.

Whether through surveys, periodic emails, newsletters, telephone calls or visits to the company, the LCDA seeks to remain knowledgeable of the needs of the company and communicate possible approaches to addressing those needs.  Company leaders are provided with the cell numbers of Authority staff and encouraged to call any time day or night with any question, complaint, concern or opportunity that might arise.

The LCDA serves as a connections hub, linking new and existing companies to knowledgeable private and public individuals, agencies, companies, and each other.  This is accomplished through consistent periodic surveys, emails, newsletters, and telephone calls.

An annual in-depth visit is used to go deep with each company on an extensive survey designed to obtain information on problems or opportunities facing the company, and then bring in the resources needed to address the problem or sieze the opportunity.  A regional representative of the Georgia Department of Economic Development is included on the annual visit to be certain each company is made aware of new resources being made available by the state.

The LCDA also has representatives or close contacts on several local and state committees, such as the Coastal Workforce Investment Board, Liberty-Long Employer Committee, Liberty College and Career Academy Advisory Committee, Greater Savannah Development Authority, Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Georgia Department of Community Affairs.  These connections ensure the industrial community can easily be connected to numerous state and regional resources.

The Authority also holds semi-annual appreciation events, such as evening receptions (with some offering tours of local industries) and golf tournaments for local industries as tokens of thanks for their investment and involvement in the community.  The companies enjoy the opportunity to relax with good food and drink and enjoy meeting and socializing with their counterparts in the community, Authority staff and board, local professionals, and elected officials.

The LCDA offers incentives tailored to any expansion need, including:

Expanded workforce: Expedited through assistance in the recruitment, screening and hiring process, and for qualified projects, by customized training provided at no cost through the Georgia QuickStart program. Projects may also qualify for state tax credits based on the number of jobs and types of benefits offered.

Expanded facility: Supported through industrial revenue bonds, investment tax credits, and graduated property tax abatements.

Equipment upgrade: Facilitated for qualified projects through industrial revenue bonds, investment tax credits, and graduated property tax abatements.

Expanded export/import: Promoted through port tax credits available for qualified companies with an 10% export/import increase over the base year or previous year.