Columbia County officials announce continued progress on a strategic economic development partnership that is expected to create significant new revenue for the community and advance the County’s commitment to providing long-term property tax-relief for Columbia County homeowners.

Following yesterday's meeting of the Economic Development Authority of Columbia County (EDACC), County leaders confirmed that the EDACC has continued working with Google on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that represents an important next step in advancing the partnership. Columbia County continues to work closely with Google to develop an agreement designed to deliver substantial long-term benefits to Columbia County homeowners.

“This is another important step forward in delivering on the commitment we made to homeowners of Columbia County,” said Chairman Doug Duncan. “We have been deliberate throughout this process because we want to make sure we get this right. We are building a partnership that has the potential to generate billions of dollars in revenue for Columbia County, and ultimately, provide meaningful property tax relief for our homeowners.”

The MOU process brings the parties closer to finalizing the framework for the partnership. County officials are continuing to work through the remaining details and expect to unveil a comprehensive tax relief plan once the agreement is finalized and the appropriate information can be shared publicly.

“We are not ready to announce all of the details today, but we are getting closer,” said County Manager Scott Johnson. “Our goal has always been to find innovative ways to grow our economy, protect our residents, and reduce the burden of property taxes. This partnership represents a significant opportunity to do exactly that, and we look forward to sharing more with the community when the time is right.”

Additional details regarding the partnership and the County’s comprehensive tax relief plan will be announced as the agreement progresses toward finalization.