Community Overview

Demographic Information

                                                      Population

                                                      Ashburn                            5,249

                                                      Turner County                   9,160

                                                      Area Labor Market           59,148

Note: The area labor market is composed of Turner and its 6 surrounding counties: Ben-Hill, Crisp, Irwin, Tift, Wilcox, and Worth.

Trends                         1990                         1998                         2003                         Growth
                                    Census                      Estimate                    Forecast                    Rate

Population
City of Ashburn           4,827                         5,031                        5,670                         4.2%
County                        8,703                         9,160                        9,656                         5.3%
State                           6,487,216                  7,642,207                 6,955,190                  18.0%

Population -By Race
Caucasian                    58.96%                      53.13%                     50.14%
African-American        40.61%                      45.93%                      48.00%
Asian                           0.23%                        0.37%                        0.40%
Other                           0.23%                        0.58%                        0.58%
     Hispanic                  0.4%                          0.71%                        1.1%
     (% of above )


Population -By Gender
Male                            47.28%                     47.21%                       46.86%
Female                         2.72%                       52.79%                       53.14%

Income

                                    1990                           1998                           2003
                                    Census                       Estimate                    Forecast

Turner Households                                                                                                                 Households                   $3,043                        $3,334                       $3,603
Average Income            $22,610                      $32,832                     $35,200
Median Income             $18,106                      $24,135                     $24,135


According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Turner County topped the state's growth chart with a per capita income increase of 39% between 1990 & 1994. Metro communities only averaged a 16.2% per capita income growth.

Per Capita Income in Turner County in 1996 was $16,976 and in 1998 is 12,025. In 1990, Georgia's was $17,045, the Southeastern U.S. was $16,514 and the United States was $18,696.

The median Household Effective Buying Income (roughly the same as disposable income) was $17,776 in 1989. This relatively low EBI is a good indicator of a lower cost of living and a competitive wage rate. Thus, Turner County is a very attractive location for businesses, which seek to reduce operating expenses.

Taxes

Ashburn:                    Effective Property Tax                    $9.50 per $1000 of fair market value
                                  Mileage Rate                                  9.5
                                  Freeport Tax Exemption                 100%

County:                      Effective Property Tax
                                  (school, county, state)                      $26.38 per $1000 affair market value
                                  Mileage Rate                                    26.38
                                  Freeport Tax Exemption                   100%
                                  Local Sales Tax                                3%
                                  Job Tax Credit: $3500

State:                          Sales Tax 4%

Georgia Job Tax Credit
Businesses creating ten (10) or more new jobs in Turner County may be eligible for a jobs creation state tax credit of $3,500 per employee. The credit begins in the second year and continues for five years. The total tax cannot exceed 50% of a manufacturer's state corporate tax liability; however, any unused tax credit can be carried forward for ten years.

Freeport Exemption
Turner County has passed freeport exemption by referendum vote. Turner County is currently at 100% freeport exemption on Class I and Class 2 inventories (raw materials, goods-in-process and finished goods held by original manufacturer).

Transportation     

Ashburn and Sycamore have excellent locations on 1-75 and U.S. 41, 160 miles from Atlanta and 80 miles from the Florida border. A total of 22 motor carriers provide trucking to Ashburn. Norfolk Southern and CSX serve the County's rail needs. Albany's airport, 45 minutes away, provides commercial air service to Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport.

Utilities

Utility services in Turner County have been rated highly by area manufacturers. Georgia Power is the primary supplier of electricity to the area, with Irwin EMC supplying selected areas of Turner. Natural gas is available to manufacturers in both firm and interruptible quantities. Excess water capacity of 2,700,000 gallons per day is ample for virtually any industrial user, while the sewer system. with 400.000 gallons per day of excess capacity. can accommodate all but the heaviest users.


Education

The County supports a quality school system as evidenced by the significant expenditure per student, $3,299.87 in 1994-95, compared to the state average of $3,374.00, and the excellent attendance rate of 95.9%, above the state average of 90.8%. Gifted programs are offered to students on both the middle and high school levels.

Source: Georgia Department of Education, Statistical Services Office

Community Schools:
           3 county public facilities
                      2, 100 students
                      159 teachers
                      18 administrators
                      3 guidance counselors
                      87 other employees

           1 private school (grades K-12) within 10 minutes of the city of Ashburn.

           Higher Education:
                      Abraham Baldwin College -20 miles
                      Albany State College- 38 miles
                      Darton College -38 miles
                      Georgia Southwestern College -30 miles
                      Valdosta State University- 59 miles

           Technical Education:
                      Albany Technical Institute -38 miles
                      East Central Tech Turner - located in Turner County
                      East Central Tech -28 miles
                      Moultrie Area Technical Institute -39 miles
                      South Georgia Technical Institute -42 miles.


Recreation

Turner County has, within easy access, an abundance of recreational activities, including several state parks and golf courses, a wildlife preserve, public parks and recreational areas, museums, and much more.

Local Government

Turner County:            Five Member Board of Commissioners

City Of Ashburn:            Mayor
                                      Five Member City Council
                                      City Manager

Ashburn City Council                                             Turner County Commission
Mayor Bob Hunnicutt                                            Al Rose, Chairman
Major Sanders                                                       Tommy Horne
Richard Weaver                                                     Joe Burgess
Bob Hudson                                                           Jack Paulk
John Y. Christian                                                    David Young
Arty Eld

City Manager Jerry Grimes                                     County Clerk Mary Wynn


Community Officials
Chamber of Commerce                       Magistrate Judge                       Probate Judge
Shelley Zorn, President / Econ. Dev.    Craig Poole                               Dot Coker
238 East College Ave.                        261 East College Ave.               East College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714                           Ashburn, GA 31714                  Ashburn, GA 31714
(800) 471-9696                                 (912) 567-3155                        (912) 567-2151


Clerk Of Court                                   Chief of Police                             District Attorney
Linda House                                       J.C. Harris                                   Paul Bowden
East College Ave.                               238 S. Main St.                           P.O. Box 1252
Ashburn, GA 31714                           Ashburn, GA 31714                    Tifton, GA 31793
(912) 567-2011                                 (912) 567-2323                           (912) 386-7900

Postmaster                                          Sheriff                                         Tax Commissioner
Wayne Hightower                                Donnie Sellars                            Charles Evans
United States Post Office                     261 East College Ave.                East College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714                            Ashburn, GA 31714                   Ashburn, GA 31714
(912) 567-2432                                  (912) 567-3636                         (912) 567-3636


Emergency Services

Turner County:
           24-hour Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
           Enhanced 911 System
           Turner County Sheriff's Department -8
           Deputies Fire rating -9                                                                                                                            ISO rating - 5

City of Ashburn:
           Ashburn Police Department -12 FT officers
           3 FT fire fighters; 18 volunteers
           Fire rating -5

City of Sycamore:
           Sycamore Police Department -2 PT officers
           16 volunteer fire fighters
           Fire rating -8

Note: Turner County EMS, as well as the E-911 system covers all 3 municipalities as well as all of Turner County.