The board members of the Tri-95 Joint Development Authority have hired a former development authority official as its parttime executive director — and the existing members await the naming of their new Long County colleagues.

The current board members entered into an agreement with Tom Draffin, the former chief executive officer of the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, to be the part-time executive director of the Tri-95 Joint Development Authority.

Draffin retired from the McIntosh County IDA in August, and his successor, Brian Warner, also has been seated on the Tri-95 JDA.

“I think 2027 will be a good year for us,” said state Rep. Al Williams, the chair of the Tri-95 JDA and the chair of the Liberty County Development Authority.

The Tri-95 JDA was launched in June 2025, with the partnership among the counties being used to market their proximity to Interstate 95 and to the ports of Savannah and Brunswick.

Long County commissioners dissolved their county’s development authority on August 20. Under a state law, the commissioners voted to temporarily dissolve the development authority, including restructuring its charter and its governing documents, and it will seek new applications to the development authority.

The commissioners are creating a Joint Long County-Ludowici Economic Development Authority, with two residents of Ludowici and two of the unincorporated county on its board. Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, three professional references and a letter of endorsement by November 23 to the board of commissioners.

The new members will be chosen December 1 and their terms of office will begin January 11, 2027.

“That puts us on track to be moving forward,” Williams said.

Long County commissioners also ended their contract with Brad Day of Southern Prosperity Consulting, releasing him from his contract for a cost of $99,000.

Long County commissioners voted at their October 6 meeting to re-activate the economic development authority, along with its by-laws and charter. The Long County development authority is statutory in creation — Liberty County’s is created by an amendment to the state constitution and cannot be dissolved through action by its board of commissioners.

The Tri-95 JDA board of directors are made up two representatives from each of the three counties — Liberty, Long and McIntosh — and the executive director of the development authority in each county.

“Our role is to work as one, not get involved in a county’s mechanisms,” Williams said.