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Thomas: Co-op Apr 21, 2023,1
GEORGIA COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER
William A. Thomas
Cooperative Development Specialist
Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development/
Georgia Cooperative Development Center
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,2
SWGACOOP Background
Golden Triangle RC&D submits proposal for RCDG program to start agrotourism cooperative in 2002
Rep Bishop assists in obtaining funds RBS would not approved program of work as
written Golden Triangle requests support from
Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,3
SWGACOOP Background
CAED developed POW– Broaden scope to be comprehensive Co-
op Development Center– Focus on feasibility studies and business
plans with technical assistance in co-op development
– Office at Golden Triangle office in Albany– Most of work done by CAED personnel in
Athens and Tifton
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,4
SWGACOOP Background
RBS approves POW Southwest Georgia Cooperative
Development Center begins operations Focus in 9 SW GA Counties Focus on value added cooperatives
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,5
GCDC Background
FY 05 Application expanded to Georgia RC&D Council and to cover all of state
CAED still executes grant Grant Total: $266,816 Match Total: $289,667
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,6
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,7
Organization
GCDC is arm of existing organizations Steering Committee
– One Member From Each RC&D– Review applications & progress– Set Priorities
Applications to CAED for evaluation and delivery Educational requests do not go through Steering
committee Educational efforts may or may not result in formal project Emphasis on Technical Assistance
– No Pass Throughs Request Match (in-kind or $)
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,8
GCDC Staff
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,9
GCDC Services -Development
Technical Assistance (organizing and management)
Survey Design & Execution Feasibility Studies Market Identification Impact Analysis Business Planning
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,10
GCDC Services -Education
General Co-op Education Interest Group Meetings Board Training Manager/Employee Training Special Interest Areas (Taxes) Youth Education
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,11
GCDC Services -Continuity
Continuing Technical Assistance Updating Plans/Studies Expansion Studies Education Marketing Web Page Development/Hosting
Management Audits
Thomas: Co-op Apr 21, 2023,12
SWGACOOP Projects
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,13
Southwest Georgia Escapes
Agrotourism Co-op in SW Georgia Members: 10 Type of Assistance:
Organizing – Articles, bylaws Board Training Business Plan, Marketing Plan, Leverage
marketing efforts Sales: $300,000 Jobs:
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,14
SW GA Escapes
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,15
Southern Gin Inc.
Cotton Gin in Mitchell County (SW Georgia)
Members: 20 Type of Assistance:
Organizing – Articles, bylaws Feasibility Study, Business Plan, SOPs Net Income: $ 250,000 in first year Jobs: 35
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,16
Southern Gin
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,17
Chad Heard, et al.
• Potential Chicken Litter Composting Co-op in SW Georgia
• Type of Assistance:• Financial Analysis
• Facility constructed, compost being made
• Organized as a LLC
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,18
Patmos Peanut Co-op
Potential Peanut Buying Point Co-op in SW Georgia
Type of Assistance:Feasibility StudyOrganizational assistance
Group organized as LLC and purchased buying point
Facility continuing to operate
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,19
Flint River Farms
Potential Cantaloupe & Watermellon Production and Marketing Co-op in Decatur
Type of Assistance: Organizational Assistance Feasibility Study
Group did not pursue concept due to lack of capital
Thomas: Co-op Apr 21, 2023,20
Georgia Cooperative Development Center Projects
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,21
GA Corn Growers
Potential Ethanol Co-op Type of Assistance:
– Feasibility Study Study underway Issues
– Profitability– Competitiveness– Source of inputs
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,22
AgriEnergy South
Potential Ethanol Co-op in Alma Type of Assistance:
– Feasibility Study– Organizational
Study underway Issues
– Profitability– Competitiveness– Source of inputs
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,23
Catahilhi Cooperative
Agrotourism Co-op in Wigham for the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe
Type of Assistance:– Organizational – Board Training– Marketing Plan/Feasibility Study
Organized, raising capital Conducted Board Training Members: 6
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,24
Carroll Co. Grass Fed Beef
Value Added Co-op with members in Georgia & Alabama
Type of Assistance:– Organizational – Feasibility Study
Interest Survey Completed
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,25
Farmers’ Fresh Food Network - Carroll Co Value Added Co-op with members in
Georgia & Alabama Type of Assistance:
– Organizational – Business Plan– Board Training
Co-op Organized and Board Training Underway
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,26
Ogeechee Area Cooperative
Small Scale Poultry Processing Value Added Co-op with limited resource farmer members
Type of Assistance:– Feasibility Study– Regulatory Analysis – Organizational
Feasibility Study Complete
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,27
Sparta/Hancock Cooperative
Value Added Vegetable Co-op with limited resource farmer members
Type of Assistance:– Organizational – Feasibility Study of Packing Shed
Co-op Organized and Cost Analysis Complete.– Regulative Study Under Way– Market Analysis to be Conducted
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,28
Sunbelt Organic Gold
Poultry Litter Pelletizing Co-op in Coffee County
Type of Assistance: Organizational Updating Feasibility Study
Co-op Organized and Feasibility Complete
Co-op Raising Capital
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,29
Pending GCDC Projects
Alma Pak Inc.– IQF Blueberries & Cold storage– Feasibility & Organization
Metro Atlanta Forestry Cooperative– Organizational assistance– Feasibility
Pearl Millet Cooperative– Organizational– Market analysis
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,30
Pending GCDC Projects con’t
Sleepy Hollow Farms Gold Seal Market Analysis Organization
Oconee County Poultry Litter Growers Organizational assistance Feasibility
Farm Fresh Tattnall Advertising Efficiency Organizational Market analysis
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,31
Educational Programs
Co-op Basics/GCDC– 4 RC&Ds– 10 producer groups
Board Training– Use USDAs Leading Board– 3 Co-ops
2005 Tax School 2004 Cooperative Youth
Conference
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,32
Co-op Youth Conference
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,33
Educational Programs, con’t
Team Ag Georgia– Selecting form of business– Market Plans – Co-op example
Agrotourism Workshops– Use SW GA Escapes as Example
Celebrating Rural Georgia– Display– Marketing– Agrotourism
Georgia Agricultural Week – Atlanta Monthly Steering Committee Meetings
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,34
What About the Future?
Continuing Existing Projects Pending Projects Grass Fed Beef Catahilhi Cooperative Ethanol (2) Farmers Fresh Network Forest
Support Current Clients New Projects
Regional Agrotourism Catfish
Educational Outreach
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,35
Sustainable Center?
Cooperation Works!– Professional Development– Information Sharing– Grants Funding Support
Fee For Service Matching State Approprations
Thomas: Co-op,Apr 21, 2023,36
QUESTIONS
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