HINESVILLE — The Middle Coastal Unified Development Authority (MCUDA) recently elected new officers for two-year terms. Officers include: President – Ronald E. Tolley, CEcD (Liberty County); Vice-President – Jean Bacon (Bryan County); Secretary – Dorothy Glisson (Screven County); and Treasurer – Ricky Nessmith (Bulloch County).
The MCUDA, created in August 1994, is a legally recognized economic development authority consisting of 13 counties in Georgia’s middle coastal region, including Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, Montgomery, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs and Wheeler. John Henry, Lamar Allen and Herb Jones represent Effingham County in the MCUDA, having been appointed by the Effingham County Commission. The MCUDA’s mission is to focus on multi-community assets and cooperative efforts to promote and encourage economic growth.
As a joint development authority, the MCUDA has worked tirelessly to improve the economic conditions in the participating counties. Because of the support of the MCUDA, 10 counties in the region have received a combined total of $23.8 million in grant funding for economic development projects.
In an effort to promote professional development, the MCUDA has supported the regional Georgia Academy of Economic Development through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The MCUDA has also sponsored and co-sponsored events like the Green Diamond and Red Carpet Tours, as well as hosted events in Atlanta to meet and make presentations to key decision makers in economic development organizations like the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power, Georgia EMC, MEAG and the Georgia General Assembly.
“The MCUDA has a rich history of working together to promote the economic development of the middle coastal region to site selection consultants and the state of Georgia,” Tolley said. “I look forward to working with the officers and members of the MCUDA to continue to elevate the organization to be the premier joint development authority in the state.”
