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Chamber wants to get seeds to grow businesses
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Patrick Donahue
Editor
Updated: Nov 20, 2007, 10:00 AM
Published: Oct 26, 2007, 9:23 PM

Effingham County Chamber of Commerce officials hope a visit to Valdosta will help them grow small businesses here.
Effingham’s contingent will see what Valdosta’s chamber of commerce has done with its renowned and successful Home Grown Entrepreneur Program. Valdosta’s small business resource center is called SEEDS, the Sowing Entrepreneur and Economic Development Success Center.

The SEEDS Center offers a reference library, market research databases, on-site consultation, work space and other materials to help entrepreneurs in starting and building their businesses.

“I’m really, really proud of our entrepreneurship committee,” Effingham Chamber President Freddy Long said. “We’re really excited about it.”

The local chamber is in the process of getting an entrepreneur-friendly designation from the state and wants to be able to start a small business resource center.

“We have not had a resource place to start this,” Long said.

That place could help answer questions from prospective business owners, such as “where does he go to get started and where does he need to go get financing,” Long said.

It’s not just getting a business off the ground that the small business resource center comes into effect; it’s also keeping that business running.

“It’s great to go into business for yourself,” Long said. “It’s another thing to stay in it. We’re also going to be here to help them stay in business.”

Long is himself a small business owner with eight full-time employees.

The Chamber’s recent membership drive swelled its ranks to more than 450 members.

“Most of our expansion is coming from existing businesses,” Chamber Executive Director Ken Stoner said.

Effingham Industrial Development Authority Chief Executive Officer John Henry said there is a possibility of a $25,000 grant to get a small business resource center started in Effingham.

“The small business resource center goes hand-in-hand with an entrepreneur-friendly community,” he said.

The state now has 63 entrepreneur friendly communities as designated by the Department of Economic Development.

Laurens County, with 91 percent of its 2,014 companies employing 20 or fewer people, was the latest to earn the recognition.

Qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners in Laurens County are eligible for customized market data, such as demographic and business information.
Effingham Schools Approve Property Tax Rate Increase
School Property Tax Rate Increase
Comparison of the property tax impact for Effingham County homeowners under the approved millage rate increase, showing the difference from fiscal year 2025 to 2026.
Updated: Sep 19, 2025, 12:52 AM
Published: Sep 19, 2025, 12:53 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The Effingham County Board of Education unanimously approved raising the property tax rate from 16.5 to 18.45 mills. For a homeowner with a $350,000 property, that’s about $22 more per month. The vote was 5-0.

Why the Increase is Needed
District officials said the adjustment is necessary to cover rising costs and remain competitive in attracting and retaining teachers and staff. More than 87% of the district’s budget goes to salaries and benefits for employees ranging from classroom teachers to bus drivers, nurses, counselors, paraprofessionals, and administrators.

Most of the increase is tied to an $8 million spike in required contributions to state benefit plans.

The state’s health and retirement benefits for certified employees — teachers — are going up 7% in 2026, finance director Lauren Cain, said. Benefits for non-certified employees — staff — are rising 36%. That’s a total of $8 million more in health and retirement benefits the district will have to cover.

Although the state is increasing funding to Effingham schools by $4 million, it will cover only about half the benefits hike, she said.

As of July 1, premiums for the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) have nearly doubled since FY2023, jumping from $945 to $1,885 per month per employee. In addition, the district’s contribution rate to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) has increased from 20.78% to 21.91%.  

To help offset those rising costs, the district voted to raise the millage rate.

Millage Rate

Balancing Costs & Education
Superintendent Yancy Ford previously called the increase “an investment in every child’s future.” He said, “Smaller class sizes, highly qualified teachers, and strong support staff are all proven to raise student achievement. This millage rate increase allows us to continue building on our successes and to make sure every child in Effingham County has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”

Ford also acknowledged the strain on taxpayers. “We don’t want to put the taxpayers in this position next year,” he said. He promised to “dissect the budget” and search for ways to “lower costs” while still doing what’s best for students. “We know people are feeling it,” he added.

Fiscal Accountability & Academic Record
While the millage rate itself rises about 11.5%, higher property values mean overall revenue collections will increase nearly 26%. School leaders say the additional funds will help preserve Effingham’s strong academic record, which includes a 90.7% graduation rate, above-average reading scores in elementary grades, and SAT results that top both state and national averages.

Ford  emphasized accountability in managing taxpayer funds. Every dollar from this millage rate increase is an investment directly tied to student learning, he said.

Effingham Schools recently earned a 4.5 Financial Efficiency Star Rating from the Georgia Department of Education, ranking fourth out of 180 school systems statewide.

Public Concerns
About 20 residents attended the final public hearing before the vote. Several property owners, retirees on fixed incomes, and business owners voiced frustration over rising appraisals, cost of living increases, and tax abatements for industry.

Historical Millage Rate Chart

Looking Ahead: ESPLOST Vote

Looking ahead, the district is preparing to ask voters in November to approve another ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). If passed, funds would go toward capital projects such as facility upgrades and technology improvements.