Lowe’s Coming to
Americus Despite Opposition
Staff Reports
The Americus Sumter County Payroll Development Authority
voted to enter into an agreement with the city council and county commission to
bring Lowe’s Home Improvement Store to Americus. The PDA’s agreement will be
“contingent upon the fact that there is a governmental agreement reached between
the city, county and PDA sharing equally in the total of $846,400.
The decision was not popular with some members of the
audience such as Johnny Shiver of Shiver Lumber Company, Carlos Gay of Volvo
Equipment Rentals, and Frank Joiner of Farmers Feed and Seed just to name a few.
Former Americus High School Principal Juanita Wilson made the motion and it was
seconded by new member Mike Donnelly of Georgia Power.
The motion passed 3 to 1 with the lone dissenter being
Scott Ivey, chairman of Southland Academy Board of Trustees and President of
First State Bank. PDA member Scott Ivey said the interest rate would be 3.5
percent, and the point was made that Lowe’s would be required to create 79
full-time jobs and 15 part-time jobs.
The point was then made that Lowe’s would have to pay
penalties for not creating those jobs, depending on whether the positions were
part-time or full-time. The penalty for not creating the full-time job is $5,000
per job, and the penalty for not creating the part-time job is $2,500 per job.
The proposed site
for the new store will be on Highway 280 near Wal- Mart on Thomas Drive. The
land for the new site belongs to former Americus Mayor Russell Thomas Jr. The
matter now has to go before the city council and county commission for final
approval.
