Official of Southern Energy Inc. and its parent company, Georgia Power, held a public meeting Monday night to introduce local businesses and the community to the Southern community investment and economic development programs.
About 60 people showed up at the Palms Court Harbourview hotel, mostly business people and government officials, to partake of the food and information.
Company officials described two programs they propose to establish in the local community if the Legislature approves the joint venture between the V.I. government and Southern for the company to acquire 80 percent of the Water and Power Authority. One is a $1 million line of credit at local banks as security for loans to locally owned businesses. The other is a mentorship program to assist vendors in doing business with V.I. Electric and Water, the company to be formed.
Someone in the audience asked why Southern would be willing to pay more to do business with local vendors instead of ordering supplies from the mainland. Jim Davis, Southern's community economic development director, said: "Ethics!"
Earlier Davis had told the audience, "Ethical behavior is a must." He said Southern wants to do business with local vendors because it is the right thing to do.
Sen. David Jones, who was in attendance, said he expected a vote in the Legislature by June. Gov. Charles W. Turnbull sent the legislation to the Senate on April 17.
Jones, who strongly supports the partnership, said, "Even Fred Flintstone could see this is a good deal."
Sen. Violet Anne Golden was also in attendance.
