• Industrial Development Authority

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  • The Barnesville-Lamar County Industrial Development Authority is the marketing agency for Lamar County, promoting its existing industry and new industrial development. The combination of support from the City of Barnesville and Lamar County enables us to offer sites that appeal to various manufacturing sectors including but not limited to transportation, advanced manufacturing, energy, wood and wood products. Lamar County offers a strong labor pool with a solid mix of carefully nurtured small businesses, as well as mid-size and large businesses. Lamar County is the place to live, work, and raise a family.

    Planned economic development is the key foundation for providing outstanding service, stable tax structure, and an excellent quality for life. You will find it all in our authentic town of Barnesville: rural land, an excellent educational system and college, library, roads, shopping, parks and recreation, cultural activities, and community events which attract and retain the work force and businesses. Visit our website for an up-to-date inventory of available properties, community demographics, workforce pipeline and answers to most questions about our community's economic indicators. www.choosebarnesvillega.com 

  • Kathy Oxford began her economic development career here in Barnesville in 1993 as the Executive Director of the Barnesville-Lamar County Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Authority.

    She moved on to the Georgia Department of Economic Development and most recently was a Senior International Trade Manager working with small to medium size companies across Georgia to help them expand their export sales.

    Kathy was with the Department 18 years initially working on the Regional existing industry support team helping companies utilize state resources to address a broad range of business challenges and opportunities.  In 2006, she moved to the International Trade Division for an opportunity to focus on what more and more companies were turning to—exports—as a way to expand their sales reach and manage what was the beginning of a severe economic downturn in the US economy. 

    She is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council, a graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management and a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations.

    She rejoined the IDA in February of 2017 in an effort to bring home many of the skills and relationships she acquired in her career and re-engage with the community she has called home for 24 years.

    She started the first Leadership Lamar Class in 1994.

    Kathy is married to her husband, Mike of 18 years.