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GEORGIA COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER

GEORGIA COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. William A. Thomas Cooperative Development Specialist Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development/ Georgia Cooperative Development Center. SWGACOOP Background.

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GEORGIA COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER

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  1. GEORGIA COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER William A. Thomas Cooperative Development Specialist Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development/ Georgia Cooperative Development Center

  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

  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

  4. SWGACOOP Background • RBS approves POW • Southwest Georgia Cooperative Development Center begins operations • Focus in 9 SW GA Counties • Focus on value added cooperatives

  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

  6. 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 $)

  7. GCDC Staff

  8. GCDC Services -Development • Technical Assistance (organizing and management) • Survey Design & Execution • Feasibility Studies • Market Identification • Impact Analysis • Business Planning

  9. GCDC Services -Education • General Co-op Education • Interest Group Meetings • Board Training • Manager/Employee Training • Special Interest Areas (Taxes) • Youth Education

  10. GCDC Services -Continuity • Continuing Technical Assistance • Updating Plans/Studies • Expansion Studies • Education • Marketing • Web Page Development/Hosting • Management Audits

  11. SWGACOOP Projects

  12. 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:

  13. SW GA Escapes

  14. 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

  15. Southern Gin

  16. 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

  17. Patmos Peanut Co-op • Potential Peanut Buying Point Co-op in SW Georgia • Type of Assistance: • Feasibility Study • Organizational assistance • Group organized as LLC and purchased buying point • Facility continuing to operate

  18. 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

  19. Georgia Cooperative Development Center Projects

  20. GA Corn Growers • Potential Ethanol Co-op • Type of Assistance: • Feasibility Study • Study underway • Issues • Profitability • Competitiveness • Source of inputs

  21. AgriEnergy South • Potential Ethanol Co-op in Alma • Type of Assistance: • Feasibility Study • Organizational • Study underway • Issues • Profitability • Competitiveness • Source of inputs

  22. 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

  23. Carroll Co. Grass Fed Beef • Value Added Co-op with members in Georgia & Alabama • Type of Assistance: • Organizational • Feasibility Study • Interest Survey Completed

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. Co-op Youth Conference

  32. 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

  33. 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

  34. Sustainable Center? • Cooperation Works! • Professional Development • Information Sharing • Grants Funding Support • Fee For Service • Matching • State Approprations

  35. QUESTIONS

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