Thomas: Co-op October 15,1 GEORGIA COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER William A. Thomas Cooperative Development Specialist Center for Agribusiness and Economic

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


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


SWGACOOP Background

RBS approves POW Southwest Georgia Cooperative

Development Center begins operations Focus in 9 SW GA Counties Focus on value added cooperatives


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



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 $)


GCDC Staff


GCDC Services -Development

Technical Assistance (organizing and management)

Survey Design & Execution Feasibility Studies Market Identification Impact Analysis Business Planning


GCDC Services -Education

General Co-op Education Interest Group Meetings Board Training Manager/Employee Training Special Interest Areas (Taxes) Youth Education


GCDC Services -Continuity

Continuing Technical Assistance Updating Plans/Studies Expansion Studies Education Marketing Web Page Development/Hosting

Management Audits


SWGACOOP Projects


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:


SW GA Escapes


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


Southern Gin


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


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


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


Georgia Cooperative Development Center Projects


GA Corn Growers

Potential Ethanol Co-op Type of Assistance:

– Feasibility Study Study underway Issues

– Profitability– Competitiveness– Source of inputs


AgriEnergy South

Potential Ethanol Co-op in Alma Type of Assistance:

– Feasibility Study– Organizational

Study underway Issues

– Profitability– Competitiveness– Source of inputs


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


Carroll Co. Grass Fed Beef

Value Added Co-op with members in Georgia & Alabama

Type of Assistance:– Organizational – Feasibility Study

Interest Survey Completed


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


Co-op Youth Conference


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


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


Sustainable Center?

Cooperation Works!– Professional Development– Information Sharing– Grants Funding Support

Fee For Service Matching State Approprations


QUESTIONS

Documents

Thomas: Co-op October 15,1 GEORGIA COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER William A. Thomas Cooperative Development Specialist Center for Agribusiness and Economic