Houston County approves transfer of 15.85 acres in Stuart-Ham industrial park to development board

Houston County commissioners voted March 20 to transfer roughly 15.85 acres in the Stuart-Ham Houston Industrial Park to the county's Industrial Development Board to facilitate a possible private development and job creation.

Commissioners said a company has expressed interest in the site and plans to construct its own facility and infrastructure. "We're probably looking at 18 to 20 employees to start at $21 an hour," said Speaker 6 (Committee member), who described the company's expansion plans and said the firm might ultimately hire 40 to 50 people depending on growth. Speaker 6 also said the company would build a $75,300 facility and do its own groundwork.

Commissioners discussed which parcels would be conveyed (about 5.5 to 6 acres of the larger tract would be used initially) and confirmed that sale terms would include an expectation that a manufacturing facility be constructed on the lot, though options to reclaim or enforce performance after sale were limited. One member asked whether there are protections if the buyer abandons plans; the response from staff indicated limited remedies once the land is sold but said the sale paperwork will require the buyer to produce a manufacturing facility.

The resolution to transfer the acreage to the Industrial Development Board passed by roll call. Commissioners said the transfer is intended to make the property marketable and support local economic development efforts while allowing the county and IDB to be responsive to a company's timeline.

County staff said more detailed terms and any incentives would be handled by the IDB and in future documentation if the company proceeds toward a final purchase and build-out.