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The Woodruff Company invests $25 million in shopping centers on Airport Thruway

Otis Scarborough, president, The Woodruff Holding Company, talked about the $25 million invested in The Landings along with the new design for the consolidation of the three shopping centers on Airport Thruway.

A bronze sculpture was unveiled during the announcement that will be placed on the grounds of The Landing as public art in honor of George Woodruff, Jr.

"The Landings is an exciting project for The Woodruff Company," said Otis Scarborough, president of The Woodruff Holding Company. "We are investing in and transforming this area of Airport Thruway into an upscale shopping friendly experience. It's great to build new shopping centers, but it is equally as important to revitalize existing centers in terrific locations. The Landings is centrally located and easily accessible from all directions. You can see the work is already underway creating a new atmosphere with trees and design. This effort has already yielded success in attracting many new businesses to The Landings."

(L-R) Mike Gaymon, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Phil Tomlinson, vice chair Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Bob Poydasheff, George Woodruff, Jr., Otis Scarborough, Wendy Elliott and Lucy Jones break ground for the shopping center's planned revitalization.

New businesses locating in the redeveloped site include: Valley Fabric, Fine & Funky, Dancing Needles, Doodlebugz, Snappy Auction.com, New Image Medspa, the expansion of Kinnucan's, Daffin's Meats & Deli, Buford's Brownies, Sample Shop and we are currently in negotiations with other local and regional tenants. In addition, there are 37 existing tenants whose facades will be remodeled.

"The Landings are bringing redevelopment near the geographical center of the community." said Mike Gaymon, president and CEO, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. "It sets a new high mark for future growth and development within this area of the community. This is an exciting project for our region as its retail market place becomes more regional in nature."

Partners In Education holds annual awards and appreciation ceremony

This year partners contributed more than 29,000 volunteer hours, 237,000 student contact hours and more than $396,000 in financial contributions to the schools. These numbers are from the 57 partnerships reporting of the 196 partnerships!

During the awards program, 51 partners and four partners-at-large received Gold Achievement Awards and two partners received Silver Achievement Awards. For a complete list of schools and partners who received awards, click here.

The program was sponsored by Alexander Electric Co., Atmos Energy, Columbus Bank and Trust Company, Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Technical College, Cott, Communicorp, Goldens' Foundry, The Home Depot, MEA Federal Credit Union and Sprint.

For more information about the Partners In Education program, contact Phyllis Lott at plott@columbusgachamber.com or 706-327-1566.

Fort Benning is the third largest gainer in the BRAC process. The Department of Defense has recommended to BRAC Commission that the Armor Center and School be relocated to Fort Benning from Fort Knox, KY. This is a welcome home, because the Armor School originated at Fort Benning in 1937 and was moved to Fort Knox following the end of WWII in 1945.

Billy Blanchard, chair of Economic Development Advisory Board, talks with Georgia Public Broadcasting about the impact of Fort Benning's growth on the community.

The Army will create the Maneuver Center of Excellence with this realignment at Fort Benning. What does this mean to our business community? More than 1,500 permanent solders, 750 government civilians, and several hundred civilian contractors all moving here looking for apartments and homes. There will be more than 1,500 officers and Non-Commissioned Officers attending Armor School courses and more than 6,000 average daily number of Army and Marine entry level solders gaining Armor expertise, totaling 24,300 annually. By 2009 that total will grow to 29,000.

The local economy will benefit as these solders eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, many of the NCOs and Officers will buy cars and many of their families will stay in our hotels when they visit.

The Armor school awards more than $92 million a year in the local area for contracts and services. The Department of Defenses has recommended $460 million in construction for the new Armor School and Center and $21 million for a large Reserve Component site. Our local contractors will be able to bid on these projects as well.

All of this growth is in addition to the estimated 2,800 military jobs currently being added to Fort Benning.

If you want to participate in the Fort Benning Futures Partnership, contact Biff Hadden, sr. vice president of Economic Development and Military Affairs, at bhadden@columbusgachamber.com or 706-327-1566.