The Development Authority of Polk County and the Cedartown Development Authority are both getting the chance to celebrate after the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) named the new opportunity with SOLARCYCLE as the Mid-size Community Deal of the Year.

The deal announced earlier this year is set to bring millions into the local economy and hire hundreds of new employees for a solar panel recycling and glass manufacturing facility. In recent weeks, the deal expanded beyond new construction to SOLARCYCLE taking over the old Gildan Yarn plant for part of their operations.

GEDA had this to say in a release announcing the awards:

“SOLARCYCLE chose Cedartown-Polk County, Georgia, for their new manufacturing opportunity. The community highly values quality jobs for their citizens and significant capital investments. To support SOLARCYCLE, they offered community support based on several factors: 1. Creation of 617 quality jobs with wages above the average industry wage of local existing industries. 2. Investment of $355.4 million in the local tax base. 3. Commitment to being a good corporate citizen and environmental steward.“

DAPC President and CEO Chris Thomas noted that the recognition comes not just from the efforts of his organization, but many across Polk County.

“Many have contributed to this economic win for Cedartown and Polk County years prior with hopes that something like this would happen, and I hope that all take great pride in celebrating this great accomplishment!” Thomas said.

DAS North America in partnership with Candler County was named the GEDA Small Community Deal of the Year and GF Casting Solutions’s deal in August was named the Large Community Deal of the Year.

The deal in Metter is the largest in the history of the community as DAS North America seeks to locate as a supplier closer to the new Hyundai plant.

GF Castings Solutions in a deal to locate a facility in Augusta is bringing $184 million investment into the city and 354 new jobs.