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Ex-Chamber exec questions EDC separation

• A former Albany economic leader voices concerns about current Chamber and EDC trends.

Holly McCarthy

ALBANY — Former Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and Albany Economic Development Commission CEO Jones Hooks expressed concern Thursday regarding the recent splitting of the organizations, saying “separation is a killer.”

Hooks, who recently returned to Georgia as the executive director of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority, spoke Thursday at the Rotary Club of Albany meeting at Doublegate Country Club.

“In economic development,” Hooks said, “the benefits of working together far exceed, in my opinion, the issues associated with going it alone.”

“It’s a very expensive ball game to be engaged in today, that’s gotten more expensive over the years,” he continued. “I just don’t think that you can raise enough money to support adequately several different individual organizations.”

Bobby McKinney, interim president of the Albany EDC, said he has great respect for Hooks, but disagrees with his assessment.

“I think the direction of the EDC and the chamber is the right direction,” McKinney said.

McKinney said investors have “spoken clearly and loudly” with confidence that separating the chamber and EDC allows each division’s director to devote full concentration to that organization.

“For our community, the right decision has been made,” he said.

Hooks also addressed the revitalization efforts underway at Jekyll Island, including the construction of three hotels and planned changes to the Linger Longer Community Project.

The island is wrestling with outdated facilities and strict development codes. Hooks said 65 percent of the island must remain undeveloped.

Hooks said guest expectations have increased while the island’s facilities have decreased.

“As a result of that, many of the conventions that you have attended over the past several years no longer meet on Jekyll Island,” Hooks said.

More than 50 organizations have stopped meeting on the island, choosing instead to congregate at locations such as Hilton Head, S.C.; Amelia Island, Fla., and Point Clear, Ala. Hooks said he plans to “roll out the welcome mat” to bring them back.

“It’s time for those groups to come back to Georgia, not only for the benefit of Jekyll Island, but also for the benefit of the state of Georgia,” Hooks said.

Hooks said one hindrance to development is that property owners do not own the land under the structures they build.

“It is an issue because during these financial times, financing can be very tricky, especially when you’re looking at properties you can only give someone a lease on,” Hooks said.

Jekyll Island residents pay property taxes to Glynn County as well as a lease to the Jekyll Island Authority, Hooks said.

Residential property is now leased for 40 years, Hooks said, in contrast to older leases, which started out at 99 years.