Jeff Davis County has long been an agribusiness powerhouse.

The latest annual farm gate value (or market value) of agricultural products generated in Jeff Davis County is a little over $122 million, with forestry products comprising $11.8 million and and poultry/eggs comprising more than $52 million. Jeff Davis County is also listed as a top 10 county in Georgia by valuse for citrus. (Source: College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, 2024)

Agribusiness is one of the largest employer segments of the Jeff Davis County economy. Indeed, one of the largest employers in Jeff Davis County is Beasley Forest Products, a 40-year-old, family-owned Georgia business that processes hardwood timber into products such as railroad ties, flooring materials, and lumber for pallets and construction. Beasley, along with subsidiary Thompson Hardwoods, is the largest production hardwood sawmill in the United States and employs approximately 400 people.

Manufacturing is another large sector of the area’s economy. Propex is a leading manufacturer of innovative composites and technical fabrics around the world. Propex employs more than 370 people in Jeff Davis County as well as other locations worldwide. Another manufacturer is EP American Footwear, the largest molded footwear company in the U.S., whose 250 Jeff Davis area employees produce injection-molded footwear for retailers such as Walmart.


 

economic development Major Employers

A variety of other employers operate in Jeff Davis County as well, including a growing and diverse contingent of start-ups, sole proprietorships, and small corporations, some of which are building their businesses while also revitalizing Hazlehurst’s historic commercial district.

Major Employers

Major
Employers

  1. Propex
  2. SunOne and PalletOne
  3. Williams Brothers
  4. EP American Footwear
  5. Jebs Chokes and Cauger Arms
  6. McPherson Manufacturing
  7. Arising Industries
  8. Beasley Forest Products

Manufacturers here may find that their goods are shipped on wooden pallets manufactured by PalletOne, another area employer that has about 70 people on its local payroll.

Jeff Davis County manufacturers need to ship their goods, of course, and to do so, they may use the services of Williams Brothers Trucking, one of the transportation industry's safest and most reliable providers of shipping and logistics services. Williams Brothers employs approximately 200 people. SunOne Logistics also moves products, primarily lumber products and building materials, throughout the southeastern United States from their headquarters in Hazlehurst.

A relative newcomer to Jeff Davis County’s industry base is solar energy collection. Silicon Ranch Corp. contributes significantly to the county tax base, helping to keep property taxes low for all businesses and residences in Jeff Davis County.

A variety of other employers operate in Jeff Davis County as well, including a growing and diverse contingent of start-ups, sole proprietorships, and small corporations, some of which are building their businesses while also revitalizing Hazlehurst’s historic commercial district.




 

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