The work that went into bringing a solar panel recycling company to Polk County has been recognized by one of the top economic groups in the state.
The Development Authority of Polk County was awarded the 2024 Mid-size Community Deal of the Year by the Georgia Economic Developers Association for its role in securing the deal to bring Solarcycle to Cedartown.
The award was presented at the GEDA Annual Awards Gala at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Nov. 18 and was attended by representatives from the Development Authority of Polk County, the City of Cedartown and Solarcycle.
The GEDA Deal of the Year Awards recognizes outstanding achievement in the location or expansion of new businesses in the state of Georgia that meet community economic development goals and involve significant community program support, such as financial or permitting assistance, workforce development and state financial support.
“Many have contributed to this economic win for Cedartown and Polk County years prior with hopes that something like this would happen, and I hope that all take great pride in celebrating this great accomplishment,” said Chris Thomas, Development Authority of Polk County President.
It was announced in February that Solarcycle is investing $344 million to bring a solar glass manufacturing facility to Cedartown. The company is the first-of-its-kind in the country to use recycled materials from retired solar panels to make new solar glass.
The facility will be located on undeveloped land in Cedartown’s North Business Park and have 600 full-time jobs.
The company then announced in October that it would also take over the former Gildan facility in the industrial park to increase its solar panel recycling capacity in Cedartown to 10 million panels per year, a project that will create an additional 640 full-time jobs.
Award winners were evaluated based on several factors, including economic impact, the degree of creativity and expertise required to complete the deal, and the obstacles and challenges that were overcome during negotiations and completion of the deal.