A pivotal factor in Monroe County’ s allure is its convenience: residents can enjoy a tranquil small-town lifestyle while taking advantage of nearby Interstate 75 for an easy one-hour drive to Atlanta and its one international airport or a 20-minute commute to Macon’ s shopping centers and entertainment venues. In addition to convenience, ambience and superb services, affordable housing adds to the appeal.

This convenient location is also attractive to businesses, particularly logistics companies. For this reason, early in 2008, IDI, an Atlanta-based full-service industrial real estate company, closed on the purchase of 257 acres of land at the intersection of Interstate 75 and Rumble Road, sold by the Monroe County Development Authority. IDI plans to develop four distribution facilities totaling up to 3 million square feet. Meridian 75 Logistics Center will allow IDI to serve the growing demand for distribution and warehouse space along the I-75 south corridor between Atlanta and Miami. Meridian 75 Logistics Center will eventually employ between 1,000 to 1,500 people directly, while indirectly several thousand jobs could be created

through the industrial park’ s tenant companies.

The State of Georgia is also appreciative of Forsyth and Monroe County’ s central location within the state, having purchased and begun renovations on what will be the new headquarters of the Georgia Department of Corrections( DOC) on the former Tift College campus in Forsyth. With completion of the project anticipated in 2010, the 40-acre campus will be home to approximately 400 staffers--constituting an estimated annual payroll of $ 25 million--from the DOC’ s current Atlanta offices. In addition, the DOC will use the campus for corrections-officer training classes that run year-round, with 200 participants per class. The State also selected Monroe County as the site for

its most comprehensive training complex. Located on 620 acres adjoining Interstate 75, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center was designed in 1987 to address the specific needs of state and local public safety and judicial personnel.

Fun in Monroe County is also serious business. Visitors have discovered Monroe County’ s attractions, such as the town of Juliette and the legendary Whistle Stop Cafe, a unique selection of shops and the old grist mill, home to the first antique motorcycle museum in Georgia. Each March, when forsythias burst into color around Forsyth’ s historic courthouse and square, the town celebrates with the Forsythia Festival arts and crafts show, entertainment, games and food.