LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. () — Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties have joined forces to form the Tri-95 Georgia Joint Development Authority which aims to bring new jobs and big opportunities along the I-95 corridor.

The three counties combine for nearly 100,000 residents.  In liberty county alone, more than half fall below what’s called the ALICE threshold. That means that residents are working but still don’t make enough to cover basic needs.

“Our goal is to attract quality investment from businesses that creates quality jobs, that pay people enough to live and to make a household budget work, to live above the ALICE threshold,” Liberty County Development Authority CEO Brynn Grant said.

She said being between Georgia’s two deep water ports gives the three counties a prime spot for companies that need to move goods.

“When you look north of us, to the Savannah region and the Hyundai project, that was the result of a collaboration of four counties and a joint development authority that came together to share resources, to collaborate, to share expertise and to attract funds they might not have qualified for independently,” Grant said.

She said teamwork creates a ripple effect, opening the door for more growth. She said Tri-95 Georgia is doing the same.

“We are looking for that same kind of value for our three counties,” she said. “We are looking for quality growth. We are looking for quality investment and quality jobs. We believe that being a joint development authority will help us achieve our mission to create jobs, attract investment and increase the standard of living in our communities.”

Grant said in order to attract those jobs; the infrastructure has to be there.

“We need to modernize and professionalize our water and sewer systems. In some cases,  we definitely need more roads.”

The first meeting will be held July 31.