b'EDITORS LETTERStepping up to ServeThressea H. BoydDemand American Grown of Medicine to establish an internal medicine Farming is not a job for the faint of heart.and emergency residency program in Valdosta.The landscape of the American family farm is changing. Last year, Georgia had 41 familyThe City of Valdosta recently received a farms file Chapter 12 bankruptcies, up from 26Georgia Smart Communities Challenge grant the previous year. to equip traffic signals with smart technology to increase safety and efficiency. In a uniting effort to save family farms, the American Grown movement is working toNew to Decatur County, A-1 Trusses will build Food is one of our most basic human needs.educate consumers and government leadersa 150,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, While the majority of Americans give littleabout the economic importance of buyingrepresenting a $17 million investment and 130 thought to how or what they will eat each day,American grown and produced food.jobs. Paerosol Global Partners will add 140 sadly, thats not true for everyone. jobs to the region with a $17 million facility As Americans, we are in this fight togetherto manufacture and assemble solutions According to Feeding America, before theto leave our world a better place, says Russto eliminate air- and surface-based borne coronavirus pandemic, an estimated 37 millionGoodman, a seventh-generation farmer frompathogens such as mold, bacteria, and viruses. Americans faced food insecurity. This year,Clinch County. And this means leaving our that number is projected to jump to 54 millionchildren with a safe and abundant food supplyIn Cook County, BASF recently announced due to the increased number of workersfor the future. a $70 million expansion of its Sparks facility, furloughed or laid off during the pandemic. leading to 30 new jobs. Houston-based Waycross-Ware County Renewable Biomass Group will create 60 jobs While considering the importance of feedingIn this issue, we highlight Waycross-Warewith the construction of a new $95 million the hungry, I thought about the story of Jesus,County, a regional transportation hub thatwood pellet facility. when he fed more than 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. It was getting late, and the disciples wanted to send the people back to the village to get food because they were concerned about the costForget the former things; do not dwell on the to feed that many people. Jesus demonstrated compassion and understanding and modeledpast. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs the value of providing for a persons spiritualup; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in and physical needs. In the end, there was food to spare. When they all ate and werethe desert and streams in the wasteland.satisfied, the disciples picked up 12 baskets full of broken pieces of bread and fish, Mark 6:42. - ISAIAH 43:18-19During the pandemic, food banks around the country continue to answer the call to feed thousands of people. While breaking food distribution records, its apparent that thebenefits from a Class 1 rail serviced by CSX need is great, especially for lower-incomeTransportation, an extensive highway system,Orion Boatworks has selected Valdosta-families. and easy access to international seaports. Lowndes County for its new facilitya $3.5 Locally, Second Harvest of South Georgia is onmillion investment that will create 120 jobs. In the frontline in the battle against hunger. ThisOur strength is transportation, says JanaLake Park, Bates Precast Concrete will increase year from mid-March through July, SecondDyke, president and CEO of the Waycross- its footprint in Lowndes County with a $5 Harvest of South Georgia distributed moreWare County Development Authority. Withmillion expansion project. than 11 million pounds of foodthe equivalentthe rail lines and highways, cargo can move of 9.71 million meals (based on 1.2 pounds ofanywhere in the U.S. We truly are where theA partnership with Colquitt EMC and food per meal).ways cross. Windstream will bring broadband access to some of the regions most rural areas during Moving Forward the next several years. When the academic year ended early, ClinchAmid the pandemic, South Georgia County School System delivered 74,400 mealscommunities are building partnerships thatNow more than ever, its important to promote (breakfast and lunch) to students. And inprovide solutions, drive innovative growth,South Georgia as a great place to live, work, Lowndes County, dozens of volunteers andfoster the expansion of existing businesses,and play. We thank our advertisers for helping restaurants helped Living Bridges Ministryand bring new industries and jobs to theus continue to tell South Georgias story!prepare more than 64,000 hot meals for localregion. families. editor@sgamag.comSouth Georgia Medical Center has formed a partnership with the Mercer University School BUSINESS + CULTURE 5'