IDA turns attention to retail

Noting that he deals with realtors in every adjoining county, Buchanan said there appears “to be a lot more movement in the surrounding counties” in retail projects than in Jackson.

Buchanan rattled off a list of projects in Hall County over the past 10 months comprising 150,000 square feet of retail space, then did the same thing for Barrow County.

“We seem to be in a dead area,” he concluded. Buchanan pointed out that Jackson County has no Chick-Fil-A restaurants, no Walmart, Home Depot or Lowe’s.

“It just seems that people are bypassing this county,” he complained. “We need some kind of concerted effort to bring that kind of business to Jackson County.”

The most important business to attract, Buchanan said, is Walmart, which he said attracts other business. He pointed to the development around the Walmart at Hamilton Mill Road just into Gwinnett County as an example.

“When you open a Walmart, it becomes the heart and nucleus for tremendous activity,” Buchanan said.

He got no disagreement from other members of the IDA, although Jon Milford pointed out that the demographics of surrounding counties — Hall and Barrow in particular — are significantly different from Jackson.

Board of commissioners chairman Hunter Bicknell expressed the view that Jackson County has been “pre-empted” in regard to the big-box development.
“All of those things are kind of on the edge of Jackson County,” he pointed out.

According to several IDA members, there has been talk that the Banks Crossing Walmart wants to expand and cannot do so on its current site, raising the possibility that it could relocate to Jackson County.

“I feel confident that at some time there will be a Walmart in Jackson County, either in Braselton or on (U.S.) 129,” Bicknell said. Referring to the possibility of the Banks Crossing Walmart relocating, Bicknell said, “We could become a two-Walmart county.”

Buchanan floated the idea that “it makes sense” for Jackson County to donate land to entice a Walmart, but Bicknell quickly nixed that concept.

“The cost of land is insignificant to Walmart,” he said. “That is not what drives their decision. …They look at it from the revenue end back. Giving them the land isn’t going to make them make a decision.”

Chairman Scott Martin offered to talk to a Georgia EMC project manager who works exclusively on retail projects.

“He has a relationship with every retailer you know,” said Martin, who noted that Barrow County consulted the same person several years ago “and made a concerted effort” to attract retail development.

Courtney Bernardi, the chamber of commerce’s manager for economic development, reported that the chamber’s Alliance for Economic Development will focus on retail at its June meeting and suggested it would be appropriate to bring in expertise to “tell us what we have, what we need and what they see” in regard to retail development.

Martin expressed confidence that major retailers “are watching us” and suggested that the county might be able to hasten development “by developing some contacts” with retailers. He agreed to contact the Georgia EMC program manager “to see what preliminary steps he can take.”

“That’s a good starting point,” said Buchanan. “I think it’s a good idea to have a professional stepping in and telling us where we stand. Are we barking up the wrong tree?”
Buchanan expressed gratitude for the fact that the Tanger Outlet Center, which is the county’s largest generator of sales tax revenue, is in Jackson County. That led Martin to suggest talking with Tanger manager Mark Valentine in regard to retail businesses that would add to Tanger’s traffic.

Short On Hotels Too

Bicknell also reminded the group that Jackson County has just one hotel or motel.

“How do we tap into the hotel business?” he asked. “Talk about being under-served!”

Martin agreed, reminding the group that the Jackson County Recreation Department will host three Dizzy Dean World Series this summer.

“All of those people will stay outside of Jackson County,” he pointed out. “We’re talking about at least 1,000 to 2,000 people… we won’t be able to capitalize on it.”

“There are people out there who can provide that kind of information,” Martin said, in regard to Bicknell’s question.