Ground Broken for New DFCS Center

City, county and state officials gathered for the groundbreaking of the Liberty County Department of Family and Children Services office in Hinesville.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) agency originally requested assistance in identifying available property back in 2009 because it had outgrown its current space. The State Properties Commission (SPC) worked with DHS to conduct an assessment of agency’s spatial needs. The market was canvassed for available space to satisfy those needs. When no available space could be identified in the county, SPC worked with the county to develop a plan to solicit bids for a build-to-suit project.

The county provided the land and a private developer is overseeing construction and management of the facility.

The site is located on U.S. Highway 84 on 3.76 acres of land. It is the site of the old county hospital. The building will be 22,690-square-feet and is designed to allow for a 30 percent expansion to serve the future needs of DFCS. The developer is Forum  MDS-Liberty out of Lilburn. The architect is Hill Foley Rossi & Associates out of Duluth and the contractor is J.K. Lockwood Construction Company out of Alpharetta.

Bank of America is providing the financing for the building. Once the debt is retired, the State of Georgia has the option to continue occupying the building by paying only the operating expenses.

Attending the event were Liberty County Administrator Joseph W. Brown. County Commission Chairman John D. McIver, State Sen. Tommie Williams, State Sen. Buddy Carter, State Rep. Al Williams, State Rep. Ron Stephens, past-State Sen. Eric Johnson and DHS Commissioner Clyde Reese.