The Development Authority of Early County has been selected as part of the inaugural cohort for the Invest in Rural America, a program promoted within the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit. Twenty-one states with rural or tribal economic development organizations (EDOs) make up the cohort. The Development Authority of Early County is the only EDO in Georgia represented in the program. At the SelectUSA Investment Summit, rural and tribal EDOs showcase some of the most promising

Published in the Early County News on Feb. 3, 2026. My name is Scott Cochran, and I live in Early County. I have been in the critical power business for 33 years. I support and pray for the data center project to come to our wonderful county. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for our community, and I hope we do all we can to support our elected and appointed leaders as they negotiate the project. I pray for them each and every day. Why do I support this project, you may as

by Mac Gordon, Rotary Report (L – R) Warren Baxley, Rotary president; Susanne Reynolds, EC Dev. Authority Director; QTS Representatives Jose Burnes, Julie Byrn, Kyle Johnson, Megan Hofmeyer, Cisha Adams, Payton Flood, Karen DiMaggio, David Lawrence, Tiffini Waddell and Victoria Herring; Brianna Hamby and John Engler of McKnight Engler and David River of Palomar Group. An idea first proposed to community leaders and economic developers in July 2024 moved another step closer to