Lee Chamber’s Oxford: Lee, Albany joined at the hip

ALBANY, Ga. — Calling Lee County’s growth “a natural extension of Albany,” Lee County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Winston Oxford told the Dougherty County Rotary Club Tuesday he envisions slow and steady growth for Lee.

“Albany grew west, then grew north and Lee County benefited,” Oxford said. “To be honest, Lee County is not an industrialized location.

We are not spending a lot of time chasing smokestacks. Instead we are heavily into recruiting commercially.”

Oxford said Lee County’s population is predicted to push 47,000 by 2015.

“I don’t know if I believe those numbers or not,” Oxford said, “but I do think we will continue to grow.”

While commercial growth is expected in the county, Oxford says the are has something else to sell to companies and individuals.

“Albany is the health care magnet of southwest Georgia,” Oxford said. “In the future I can see the area becoming a retirement destination.

The cost of real estate here is very reasonable. Those people are solid citizens, will contribute to the tax base. They will also contribute to the growth of our commercial base.”

Oxford then pointed to the flood of 1994 as a blessing and a curse and provided a spark for Lee County’s growth.

“The flood of 1994 was devastating to many people,” Oxford said, “but it started a building boom in this part of the world. A lot of people made a lot of money, and I’m not just talking about contractors.

“In many respects a bad thing was turned into a good thing.”

Oxford then added when attempting to recruit a business to Lee County, he has two major offerings.

“I am paid to sell Lee County, but I also sell Albany,” Oxford said. “Then we’ll let the investor decide on what piece of dirt they will locate on.”

And the question he hears most when he is out and about in the community?

“When is the Olive Garden coming?” Oxford said, laughing. “Over, and over and over again. I don’t have a clue, all I can say is they’ve been here twice in the past six years and I’m still working on them.”