The Fitzgerald And Ben Hill Development Authority

The Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority was created in 1963 by an amendment to the Georgia Constitution. The authority was created to develop, promote and expand Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County for the public good and general welfare of the community.

Governed by a five-member board, the Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority has three seats established by the legislation and two appointed seats. The three automatic seats consist of the Mayor of Fitzgerald, the chairman of the Ben Hill County Board of Commissioners and the chairman of the board of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce. The Fitzgerald City Council and the Ben Hill County Board of Commissioners each appoint one member to the board.

The Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority has worked on 60-plus successful projects since its inception, all of which influenced positive job creation in the community totaling nearly 6,000 new jobs. During that time, the Authority has developed industrial parks, recruited industry from all over the country, and had the vision to confidently invest in potential industrial sites that are now “shovel ready”.  Today, 50 years later, the Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority continues to work diligently each day to have a posititive impact on the economic development efforts of the community.

The Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority is well capitalized and offers aggressive incentives to capture capital investment and job creation by new and existing employers.

Incentives

Businesses choosing locations in Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County can take advantage of a number of local and state incentives for development. 

Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County and the State of Georgia offer a wide array of incentives to expanding, existing industries as well as new sites or start-up locating in our state.

Local Incentives

  • Graduated tax incentive program based on investment (includes real and personal property)
  • Competitive land costs
  • Industrials revenue bond financing
  • Expedited permitting
  • Revolving loan funds
  • 100% Freeport exemption
  • Discounted utilities for qualifies projects
  • Pre-construction site work

State Incentives

  • $4000/Job Tax Credit - If two or more jobs are created in seven strategic areas; manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, warehousing and distribution, research and development, processing and tourism. These credits may be redeeemed for up to a five year period gien that each year the job is maintained in Ben Hill County. These credits may be applied toward 100% of the company's Georgia Corporate Income Tax Liability.
  • Georgia Quick Start Training Program has provided customized training for new employees to qualifying companies for more than 40 years.
  • Federal Opportunity Zone