Jackson EMC has selected Garrard Construction Group of Duluth, Ga., to build its new Neese District office complex, with construction scheduled to begin in mid-to-late August.

The cooperative’s current Highway 106 South office was built in 1958 and, after 55 years of use, has outlived its usefulness. “It’s time for us to construct a facility that will better serve the cooperative and its members into the future,” commented Jackson EMC President/CEO Randall Pugh, citing inadequate space and customer service drawbacks of the present facility.

The new complex, designed by Millard Architects, Inc., will be constructed on land purchased in 2005 bordered by GA Highway 29 and Spratlin Mill Road, just about 2.5 miles from the current office. It will include a 14,324 square foot administrative building, with a 3,064 square foot auditorium, a drive-thru canopy and three drive-thru lanes; an 18,000 square foot warehouse/truck storage area; a transformer/pole yard; and fleet parking.

“In selecting Garrard Construction, we’ve honored a commitment we made at the beginning of this process to select a contractor from the region we serve,” said Pugh. The year-long construction project is expected to create jobs in the local economy. “Garrard will E-verify project workers, and has been encouraged to hire sub-contractors from the area, provided they are qualified and competitively priced.”

Jackson EMC’s Neese District serves some 15,000 meters in Madison County, as well as portions of northern Clarke, southwestern Franklin and northwestern Oglethorpe counties. Jackson EMC serves more than 209,000 meters in portions of 10 northeast Georgia counties.

Founded in 1993, Garrard Construction Group, Inc., is a family-owned and operated business serving clients throughout the Southeast to construct and develop real estate properties. It offers services in the industrial, medical, retail and office markets.