What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 12:30pm 1pm - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 12:30pm 1pm - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 12:30pm 1pm - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 12:30pm 1pm - 4:30pm

Development Authority of Jeff Davis County

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Development Authority of Jeff Davis County

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The Development Authority of Jeff Davis County is a public corporation created in 1984.

The purpose of the Authority is to drive economic development in the county.

10/01/2026

Reminder from the Development Authority: applications for the data center study committee close tomorrow at 4:30 PM.

As of this posting, no applications have been submitted from residents of the City of Denton.

Please apply at: https://form.jotform.com/262525169880061

09/21/2026

The Development Authority of Jeff Davis County, in partnership with the Jeff Davis County Board of Commissioners, City of Hazlehurst, and City of Denton, is seeking residents interested in serving on a study committee to examine data centers and their potential impacts on Jeff Davis County.

The Committee will serve in a volunteer capacity and work with experts to identify potential concerns, benefits, best practices, infrastructure needs, and other relevant information related to data centers and similar developments.

The Committee’s work will culminate in a report of findings and recommendations for local governments to consider as they evaluate future policies and planning related to data centers.

Applications are due by 4:30 PM on Friday, October 2, 2026.

Please note that this study is being conducted while a moratorium on data center development is in place. During the moratorium, the Development Authority is not soliciting or recruiting data center development in Jeff Davis County.

Interested individuals may apply at: https://form.jotform.com/262525169880061

08/13/2026

Our office will be closed today while our staff is participating in professional development outside our office. We will re-open tomorrow, Friday, August 14 at 9am.

08/07/2026

The following appeared in the Jeff Davis Ledger as a column. We are sharing it as requested. The picture shared is a painting by local artist Don Yaun of the home at its prime.

The End of the Dr. Martin Home
by President/CEO Oakley G. Perry

It’s been a busy year – as evident by my lack of column writing. Today is a sad day, and it has made me find the time to pen this. I am a history buff, and I love our local history. I can take you to the old township sites across our county, discuss the country schools that were once here, and tell you a decent amount about some of our historical figures in the county. Hazlehurst was once filled with grand homes. Many of them are now gone. Some lost to fire, others to development, and now it seems a new danger encroaches – neglect.

Built in 1911, Samuel Martin (1876-1966) lived in the home at 21 E. Jarmen Street. He received his degree from the Atlanta School of Medicine (now known as Emory University) and started his practice in 1911. The two-story building behind his home is where he had his medical office. He traveled the county to meet the sick, and he allowed many of your grandparents and great-grandparents to pay on credit when they needed.

He served for six years as an alderman for the City of Hazlehurst and later as Mayor. In 1932, he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he served until 1938. He then served as the 3rd District State Senator covering Appling, Brantley, Jeff Davis, and Wayne Counties from 1941 to 1942. While in the Senate, he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Hygiene and Sanitation. He also sponsored Senate Bill 194, which proposed scholarships for medical students who agreed to practice for four years in small towns and communities.

The Development Authority purchased his home for the commercial land that it sits on, but we have tried to find a way to save the building first. Since purchasing, I have spoken with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Community Affairs, and three different parties interested in the building. Every conversation ended with a no. Currently, we feel we have exhausted all our options for trying to preserve Dr. Martin’s home. You can see a Taco Bell in many communities in Georgia. Only one Dr. Samuel Wright Martin home exists. I’ll be saddened to see it disappear and our community lose another historical asset. If you are interested in the home, please contact our office soon at 912-375-4543.

05/20/2026

The Joint Development Authority of Jeff Davis County, Hazlehurst, and Denton will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow at 9 AM. Please note that this differs from what has been run in the Jeff Davis Ledger. The change has been made to allow board members and staff the ability to attend the funeral of Joel Chaney. Mr. Chaney served as the chairman of the Jeff Davis County Community Foundation and the Downtown Development Authority. He and his family have been involved with our office's work for a number of years.

11/27/2025

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving from the Development Authority! 🍁

This season, we are especially grateful for the businesses, industries, entrepreneurs, and community partners who drive growth and opportunity in our area. Your hard work and vision help create jobs, strengthen our economy, and build a brighter future for all who call our community home.

As we pause to give thanks, we celebrate the progress we've made together and look forward to the continued development, innovation, and collaboration ahead.

From the Development Authority, we wish you a warm, joyful, and blessed Thanksgiving. 🦃🍂
Thank you for being an essential part of our community’s success.

11/26/2025

🌟 Meet the Board 🌟

Wanda Marchant is a passionate advocate for community growth, natural preservation, and economic progress in Jeff Davis County. With decades of service, leadership, and vision, she has played a transformative role in shaping the cultural, environmental, and economic landscape of the region.
As owner and partner of Ocmulgee Outdoors, Inc., established in 1978, Wanda has long championed outdoor recreation and promoted appreciation for the area’s natural beauty. From 1995–2005, she served as the first Director of Tourism for Hazlehurst and Jeff Davis County, laying the foundation for what has become a thriving tourism industry.

A founding member of the Altamaha River Partnership (ARP), Wanda collaborated with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to develop Towns Bluff Park, now a cherished destination for both locals and visitors. Her visionary efforts also include saving The Big House, establishing a culinary program with Second Harvest, and organizing farm tours that showcased the richness of local agriculture. She was also instrumental as a founding member of the committee that created Peaches to the Beaches, Georgia’s longest yard sale.

Wanda’s commitment to community service runs deep. She has served as President of Friends of the Library, Secretary of the Jeff Davis Republican Party, and remains an active member of Elizabeth Baptist Church. In 2011, she made history as Jeff Davis County’s first female commissioner, serving from 2011–2014 and continuing to advocate for positive change in her community.

To Wanda, economic development in Jeff Davis County means creating a thriving, forward-moving community—one that offers new job opportunities, attracts and nurtures businesses, and strengthens the county’s infrastructure. It also means enhancing the beauty and livability of the area by improving green spaces, keeping the community clean, and preserving its charm through beautification and revitalization efforts.

Above all, Wanda believes economic development reflects a shared dedication to pride, progress, and purpose—where every improvement and act of service leaves a lasting impact on the future of Hazlehurst and Jeff Davis County.

Address

25 E. Coffee Street
Hazlehurst, GA
31539

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 12:30pm
	1pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 12:30pm
	1pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 12:30pm
	1pm - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 12:30pm
	1pm - 4:30pm

Website

http://jeffdavishazlehurst.com/

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