By Pat D onahue pdonahue@coastalcourier.com

RICEBORO — Not far from where the three counties meet on the map, the development authorities from Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties pledged to join forces.

The three development authorities announced the creation of the Tri-95 Georgia Joint Development Authority, bringing all three together to work on projects of common interest and benefit to their communities.

“We’re here to talk about unifying the effort,” said state Rep. and Liberty County Development Authority chairman Al Williams. “With three counties coming together, we’re talking about a population of almost 100,000 people.” “More than a partnership, it’s a milestone for us,” added Kate Karwacki, chair of the McIntosh County commissioners. “It is designed to unlock an economic potential that long existed for our shared corridors along I-95. We are choosing to move beyond county lines and focus on what unites us — a shared future that is stronger when built together.”

The effort also is expected to tap into not just one of the busiest north-south highways in the nation — hence the name Tri-95 — but also into the booming and expanding ports of Savannah and Brunswick. Savannah is the third largest container port in the U.S. and Brunswick has topped ports in roll-on/ roll-off traffic.

Just beyond Savannah and Brunswick are the ports of Charleston, S.C., and Jacksonville, Fla. Bringing the three development authorities together is seen as a way to market the area to prospects.

“We can combine our strengths and attract larger, more impactful economic development projects than we could do individually,” said Jimmy Shanken, chairman of the Long County Development Authority. “The joint development authority allows us to present a unified front in site selection.” The ability to work together on projects also is viewed as crucial when securing state support for projects, such as grants for infrastructure work or site development.

“Our struggle in our part of the state is most of the state representatives and state senators live in metro Atlanta. So if we don’t combine our forces down here and put organizations together like this, we don’t have a chance,” said state Rep. Buddy Deloach, a Liberty County native who represents Long and McIntosh counties and a part of Liberty. “So it’s incredibly important.”

It was a joint development authority between Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham counties that helped land the Hyundai metaplant near Black Creek in Bryan County.

“Some of the biggest projects in our state have come from the formation of these joint development authorities,” said Bob Kosek, division director of global commerce at the state Department of Economic Development.

Kosek also lauded the pool of labor available to the three counties, especially given the number of soldiers who are exiting the service at Fort Stewart each year.

“I can’t think of another area in the state that has the depth and breadth of that here on the coast,” he said. “I am so excited to see what comes out of the communities working together.”

Tom Draffin, CEO and president of the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, said he was having lunch in a Darien restaurant one day when Deloach came to his table. Deloach told Draffin he needed to attend a meeting with some people in Hinesville later that day — and his answer to whatever they asked of Draffin was going to be yes, Draffin said.

Draffin said the commissions of each county getting on board with the idea was pivotal.

“This doesn’t come together easily on its own,” he said. “None of this happens unless we have county commissions that support this idea.”

Brad Day, executive director of the Long County Development Authority, said the county is excited about the partnership and pointed out there are three things the new joint development authority will have.

“First, it is efficient,” he said. “When we pool our resources, we use our resources more wisely. We’ve got three seasoned economic developers, three seasoned economic development authorities. By working together, we can be more attractive, across Georgia, across the nation and across the globe. A partnership like this creates a kind of energy you can’t find. We’re excited about the energy this is going to create on behalf of our region.”

Liberty County Development Authority CEO Brynn Grant said the prospects the Tri-95 JDA could entice also could bring wages and benefits that could address other problems. The number of people in Liberty County who fall under the blanket of ALICE — asset limited, income constrained, and employed — is at 45%. Those are people, Grant said, who are working and earning a living but aren’t getting ahead financially.

The numbers for Long and McIntosh counties — 52% and 53% — are even more severe, Grant added. “We have reason to keep driving our economic development goals and visions in these three counties,” she said. “We want to do it in a way that balances our natural resources and assets and our people for the very highest good. I have great faith in the last year in working with my board of directors and I feel very encouraged.”

There is work ahead to be done — the new JDA will have to establish its board of directors and its governance policies before it can work on development partners, infrastructure improvements and strategic investments.

“If we try together, to work together, than we can do things together,” Draffin said.

The announcement of the JDA and what could be ahead also left the development authority leaders and officials buoyed.

“Communities that work together have great leadership,” Day said. “It is far more productive to work together and those communities that have worked together have grown and they have grown well and they have grown smart. And I believe that is what is going to happen here.”