The proposed mineral sands surface mining project in Charlton County, Ga. will provide a significant boost to the local and regional economy via direct and indirect impacts, which include:
Total capital investment proposed by Twin Pines Minerals, LLC for the project is up to $300 million.
The estimated yearly taxes on an appraised value of $300 million, at a Charlton County millage rate of 36.46 is approximately $4.375 million. According to the chief appraiser for the Charlton County Board of Tax Assessors, the gross tax digest of Charlton County in 2018 was approximately $332.54 million. Therefore, the project would almost double the county’s entire tax base.
When fully operational, the project will directly employ hundreds of full time workers. The jobs will consist of standard labor, technical labor, heavy equipment operators, laboratory technicians, supervisors, managers and administrative staff.
According to the US Census Bureau, the median Charlton County household income from 2014-2018 was $40,283 per year. Per capita income in 2018 was $19,341. The average annual salary and benefits package for employees on the Twin Pines project will be about $60,000. This contrasts sharply with the county’s average total household income.
In addition to its own workforce, the project will result in creation of many more employment opportunities in support industries such as transportation, fuel suppliers, industrial materials providers, and power production systems.
The trickledown effect is that project workers and staff in support industries will spend more money in Charlton County. Local employees will have greater income from which to purchase groceries, home goods, cars, houses, etc. while workers from outside the county will spend cash in Charlton that might otherwise have been spent elsewhere (e.g., food, gas, etc.)
Twin Pines will donate a significant portion of valuable undisturbed land from the project area to the State of Georgia to be designated as a conservation area.
The project’s lifespan could be up to 20 years, which provides opportunities for long term employment and extended financial benefits for the county and its citizens.