During their Oct. 6 meeting, the Development Authority of Dawson County approved a key measure to help the Dawson Chamber of Commerce in the search for a new Director of Economic Development. 

When the chamber invests in the executive search services of The Chason Group, the DADC will help pay for half of the company’s cost. 

The development authority’s allotment of funds toward that end is not to exceed $11,250, since Chason provided a bid of $22,500. The chamber is the hiring entity for the director position, which has been vacant for about six weeks. 

DADC chair Tony Passarello explained that so far, the chamber has done well promoting the director position, and through no fault of its own, hasn’t been able to identify a prime candidate. 

“I think it’s an expense we need to make because of the position we’re in,” Gary Coates, DADC Director said at the meeting. “We’ve got a lot of things happening over the next year, [and] we need someone in here to help us right now.”

The DADC also passed a motion for their attorney to talk to the Board of Commissioners’ attorney regarding the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) over SPLOST VII revenue. The directors passed the motion since using a lawyer would be an expense. 

Through dialogue with the BOC, Passarello and the DADC hope to take steps toward securing funds for an industrial park soon. The project is currently lower on the priority list for SPLOST funds, below items like a new 911 center that have to be funded first. 

“We could borrow against future revenue…[and] be able to act a little sooner,” Passarello said.