Little Ocmulgee EMC serves the following South Central Georgia Counties:  Wheeler, Telfair, the southern portion of Laurens west of the Oconee, and small sections of Montgomery and Dodge, and is between 31º 45' and 32º 45' North, 82º 30' and 83º 15' West.  This region is ideally situated for business, has three Vo-Tech Schools to train employees, three nearby colleges, and excellent infrastructure.  Three major rivers, the Ocmulgee, the Oconee, and the Altamaha flow through our area, and three aquifers lay beneath the region.  Thirteen incorporated towns and cities reside in or border on this region: Alamo, Cadwell, Dexter, Dublin, Glenwood, Helena, Jacksonville, Lumber City, McRae, Milan, Mount Vernon, Rentz, and Scotland,

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This region of Georgia enjoys eight major highways: U.S. 280, U.S. 341, U.S. 441, GA 19, GA 46, GA 117, GA 257, and I-16.  These highways provide easy access to the rest of the state.  U.S. 341 is in the process of being four-laned as part of the Golden Isle Highway project, and U.S. 441 is to be four-laned as part of the Governor's Road Improvement Program.

Two railroads cross through the area: Norfolk Southern Railway and Georgia Southwestern Railroad.  Airports in Dublin, Eastman, Hazelhurst, McRae, and Vidalia provide air service to the region.

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Three navigable waterways flow through the area and link the region to the Atlantic: the Altamaha and its tributaries, the Ocmulgee and the Oconee.  From the 1700's through the 1930's, these three rivers supported a high volume of river traffic, and this potential still remains today.  Smaller rivers and streams, such as the Little Ocmulgee River, provide excellent drainage to the area.

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Our section of Georgia has a relatively mild climate: the average annual temperature is 65º Fahrenheit (18 C).  Winter temperatures seldom drop below 0º F (-18 C), and prolonged periods of temperatures below 32º F (0 C) are rare.  Summers are warm, with highs in the 95º to100º F (35 to 38 C) range.  Degree Heating Days (base 55º F/13 C) average 876 days, and Degree Cooling Days (base 72º F/22 C) average 1,069 days.  Rainfall averages 46.5 inches (1.173m) annually.

The region's mild climate means that your business will not have to spend a large portion of its budget on heating costs.  This means savings for your company.

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The terrain varies from floodplain along the rivers, rising toward the north and northwest into farmland.  On the average the land is level, with low hills and the steepest slopes along the numerous creeks and streams.  While flooding is common along the rivers and larger streams, the majority of the area is above high water. During the Great Flood of 1994, most of the region was untouched, with flooding concentrated along the rivers themselves.  Elevation ranges from around 90 feet (27m) near the junction of the Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Altamaha Rivers up to around 345 feet (105m) in portions of Telfair and Laurens counties.  Sand ridges and deposits, a legacy of when this part of Georgia was a sea coast, are scattered through the region and are a source of sand for concrete and cement.

This section of Georgia sits atop the Principle Artesian (Floridian) Aquifer, one of the largest in Georgia.  Two other aquifers, the Clairborne Aquifer and the much deeper Cretaceous-Tertiary Aquifer are also below the region, and lay beneath the Principle Artesian Aquifer.

The Principle Artesian Aquifer is made up of water saturated limestone trapped between two layers of clay. Well depth ranges from less than 100 feet (30m) in the Dougherty Plain to 900 feet (274m) on the Georgia coast, and typically yield between 1,000 to 5,000 gallons per minute (3,785 to 18,927 liters per minute).

The Clayton Aquifer is deeper than the Principle Artesian Aquifer, and is formed by limestone beneath sand and clay.  Well depths range from 100 to 1,200 feet (30m to 366m) deep, and yield between 250 to 600 gpm (946 to 2,271 lpm)..

Deeper still is the Cretaceous-Tertiary Aquifer.  Formed by a sand and gravel formation, wells drilled into the aquifer range from 100 to 1,500 feet (30m to 457m) deep, and yield from 50 to 1,200 gpm (189 to 4,542 lpm).  Despite the depth, this aquifer is primarily used by municipal and industrial wells.

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In addition to standard elementary and secondary schools in all counties in this region, this area also has three nearby colleges and three trade schools.  Middle Georgia College based in Cochran, Georgia is an accredited two-year junior college, and has an extension campus in Dublin, Georgia.  Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia, is an accredited four-year Baptist college.  South Georgia College in Douglas, Georgia, is an accredited two-year institute. Heart of Georgia Technical Institute in Dublin, Georgia, Southeastern Technical Institute in Vidalia, Georgia, and Ben Hill - Irwin Technical Institute in Fitzgerald, Georgia, provide technical and trade training.

This fine selection of schools provides educational opportunities within thirty miles (50 km) of any point within our region.  This means that your business can be assured of having employees trained in the skills you need for a successful company.

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Our area is hungry for industry, and this is reflected in our tax structures.  Local governments realize the economic good that new industries bring to communities, and do not feel that industries should be penalized for doing business in communities.

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Located away from cities like Atlanta, the region enjoys relatively low property costs.  Whether it is land for a factory or subdivision, the relatively low costs of purchasing property make the region ideal for large projects that require substantial tracts.

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The Southeastern U.S. has some of the lowest power cost in the nation, and this part of Georgia is no exception.  In fact, our region has among the lowest energy rates in the country.  This can mean substantial savings for you, especially if your industry is energy intensive.

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Since taxes, property, and energy costs are low, this area has lower costs of living than is associated with major cities.  This translates into savings for your company, both in material and wages.

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Any one of our region's assets, transportation, climate, geology, educational facilities, low taxes, low power costs, low property costs, and low cost of living would help to make your company more cost effective.  When added together, they offer a winning combination that can help your business run a more successful operation.  For more information, contact Steve Murray at Little Ocmulgee EMC, 912-568-7171, extension 231, or contact the following Chamber of Commerces:

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