Houston County still waiting for spec building decision

WARNER ROBINS -- Houston County remains in the running for a company that could bring 150 jobs and finally fill its speculative building.

At Wednesday’s Houston County Development Authority meeting, Executive Director Angie Gheesling said the project has been the focus of most of her time during the past two months. She announced at the June meeting that the county was a finalist with one other unnamed community for the project.

She said Wednesday the company has not made a decision, but the authority has been working diligently to seal the deal.

The county built the speculative building in 2001 in hopes of luring an industry, but it has never had an occupant. Although the building is in Perry, Gheesling said the project has been a joint effort among local governments.

“All three cities (in Houston County) and the county have jumped in, and I think that’s a testament to cooperation,” she said.

The company as been described publicly only as an international manufacturer looking to start its first operation in North America. The other community being considered for the project has not been named, but it is not believed to be in Georgia.

Gheesling also said she is working on one other project that would expand an existing industry that hasn’t been publicly identified. That would be a $10 million investment by the company, she said, but the expansion also could go to a plant in Oklahoma.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Houston County still waiting for spec building decision ."