Part of the "SUPER TROUPERS" initiative
Create a set of housing and financial incentives that encourage recent graduates to live, rent, purchase, or build homes in Troup County after graduation. Proposed incentives include utility bill credits, employer rental and purchase assistance, affordable apartments/townhomes, donated buildable lots, and student loan reimbursement for graduates who buy homes in designated areas.
Tracks whether increased housing, graduate retention, and home occupancy contribute to an increased tax base.
Tracks whether utility providers experience an increase in the number of customers who are recent college graduates.
Tracks whether more recent college graduates rent, purchase, or build homes in Troup County than in the past.
Tracks whether all rental properties targeting recent college graduates are occupied.
Tracks whether the initiative strengthens the larger community through housing, workforce retention, and financial incentives.
Tracks whether desirable housing stock increases for recent college graduates.
Tracks whether recent college graduates report feeling less financial stress due to student loan debt than cohorts who did not take advantage of the incentives.
Tracks whether large employers report being able to attract and retain newly-hired college graduate employees more successfully than in the past.
Tracks whether the incentive mix retains talented citizens and recent graduates in Troup County.
Tracks whether all donated lots have new homes built on them.
Tracks whether the initiative increases the educated, motivated workforce.
Utility Credits: Total investment $48,000 annually; $100/month for 10 households equals $12,000 per year for each utility provider; utility providers include City of LaGrange, City of Hogansville, City of West Point, and Diverse Power. Employer Rental & Purchase Incentives: Total investment $122,500 annually; top five employers provide rental assistance to 2 households at $4,500 each employer per year, totaling $22,500; top five employers provide purchase assistance to 2 households at $20,000 each employer per year, totaling $100,000. Apartments/Townhomes: Total investment $700,000; vacant land to build apartments/townhomes $75,000; develop apartments/townhomes $625,000. Lot Donations: Total investment $200,000; each local municipality donates 5 lots at $10,000 each lot, totaling $50,000 per municipality. Student Loan Reimbursement: Total investment $200,000; each local municipality offers student loan reimbursement until the $50,000 fund is depleted. Fan the Flame Big Idea total initial investment: $1,270,500. Fan the Flame Big Idea total annual investment, ongoing: $170,500.