Tim Estes, Chairman, Paulding County

In an interview with Focus:, Tim Estes, chairman of Paulding County, discussed the challenges and opportunities brought by rapid population growth regarding sustainable growth, strong leadership, and community-driven development. “The population growth in Paulding County is one of our greatest assets, but it also presents significant challenges,” said Estes.

What have been some significant changes over the past year that have most impacted the county and in what ways?

Looking at the past year, our population has continued to grow in Paulding County. Several years ago, we were zoned as an R-2 county and have successfully brought in residential developments. Now, we need to balance our commercial and residential zoning. We are gradually changing some zoning requests to achieve this. At one time, our tax revenue was split 90% residential and 10% commercial. That has shifted slightly, and our goal is to find a greater balance.

The population growth in Paulding County is one of our greatest assets, as it continues to expand and will keep doing so. We have wonderful people and families moving here to raise their children. However, this growth also presents significant challenges, particularly for our infrastructure. Roads, existing retailers, and traffic are all affected. One of my biggest concerns is the overpopulation in our schools. We are working diligently to address these issues and are making great progress.

When I examined the figures, in 1993, the population was about 43,000 in Paulding County. Thirty years later, in 2023, the Census recorded 183,000 residents, nearly four times the population in three decades. Through the Northwest Georgia Commission, I researched the projected growth rate for Paulding County to prepare for the next 10, 20, and 30 years. Current estimates suggest we are approaching 200,000. This rapid expansion requires careful planning, and our previous administration laid strong groundwork for managing it. We have exceptional leadership in Paulding County, with forward-thinking department heads who are among the best in Georgia.

What do you see as the county’s biggest strengths as a place to live, work, and do business?

I believe our greatest strength lies in our people, our environment, and our land. We have something many counties surrounding Atlanta lack, which is available land. If we manage it wisely and act as good stewards, Paulding County will see remarkable developments, particularly in commercial and economic growth. My background is in small business and leadership development, and I firmly believe that everything rises or falls based on leadership. We have about 40 departments within the county, each led by capable individuals. Ensuring strong leadership in these roles is critical, and we have made it a priority. Another significant strength is the foundation upon which I ran my campaign: faith and community. We are one nation under God, and in Paulding County, we put God first, followed by family and community. We listen to our citizens and work collaboratively to serve them. This principle guides our decisions and fosters a strong, united community.

What types of industries, companies, or developments are you hoping to bring to the area in the coming years?

We are focusing on several key initiatives. First, we are collaborating closely with our cities, including Dallas, which recently launched an early-stage development plan for a mixed-use downtown area. This will create new opportunities for residents and businesses alike. Additionally, Paulding County has received $32 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to improve our infrastructure, particularly our water treatment system. In 2015, we secured 404 permits to construct a reservoir, which now supplies 80% of our water, with the remainder supplemented by the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority. This infrastructure will attract more industries and reduce costs for residents.

Several major developments are already underway. Automann, a company investing $60 million in Paulding County, is set to open soon, bringing approximately 150 jobs. Hungryroot, a meal-packaging facility, will occupy a 100,000-square-foot refrigerated fulfillment center on 14 acres and is expected to create around 200 jobs by 2026.

Our healthcare system is also expanding. Wellstar Health Care is adding a multi-level parking deck and 56 cardiac care beds to accommodate our growing population. Infrastructure improvements, such as Highway 92, will soon connect Paulding County to major interstates, further boosting economic activity.

Finally, our airport is experiencing rapid growth. We have a private airport with 30 T-hangars and a commercial side with three existing hangars and 11 more planned. One aircraft alone generates the highest tax revenue of any business in the county. Commercial permits have increased by 20% in the past year, signaling strong interest from businesses looking to establish operations here.

What workforce trends are most influencing your conversations with prospective employers, and how are you aligning local talent pipelines to meet demand?

We are actively working with our Industrial Building Authority (IBA) and Economic Development Organization (EDO) to attract and retain businesses. Teamwork is essential, especially as I rely on the expertise of our department heads and partners to ensure we have the right people in the right positions. Many existing employers are expanding, creating more job opportunities. We prioritize workforce training, such as recent mental health training for legal staff, to enhance skills and meet industry needs. Retention is also critical, and we support local businesses to encourage them to stay and grow within the county. By fostering a skilled workforce and maintaining strong relationships with employers, we ensure Paulding County remains an attractive place for business and talent alike.

What are some initiatives in place that make Paulding a great place to live and to raise a family, and a thriving environment for all the citizens of the county?

In Ecclesiastes, it says, “One cord is easily broken, but when you put a lot of cords together, you can hardly break them.” We are working together as a team. Our economic development team is working with our IBA. We have several different political parties now that are working together, and if we all pull in the same direction, we will accomplish more. As everybody works together and pulls in the right direction to make Paulding County the best place to live, I think you will see growth in commercial and residential areas.

One of the biggest things we are working on, and I have four other commissioners who are all in agreement, is reversing some unfavorable statistics and percentages in the county. We are revising our Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), and it should be coming out soon to make this a more favorable place to build and to live. Additionally, we have a new sheriff who is dedicated to making this the safest county in Georgia. People want to move where they know it is safe.

We have also concentrated on new parks. Pickleball has been introduced in some of our parks and has brought in so many people. I had no idea how many people play pickleball. We have 14 parks and recreation areas throughout the county, and from our past commissioner, we are still looking at adding two more.

We had a railroad that came through our county that is no longer operational, so we turned the railbed into a walking/bicycling trail called the Silver Comet Trail. People come from all over the state of Georgia to ride their bicycles and take hikes. It goes from one side of our county through the other and into other states. I have done the whole trip myself. It is absolutely breathtaking. If you are a bike rider or enjoy walking in nature, you need to visit the Silver Comet Trail.

What are your top priorities for the county over the next few years?

At a recent Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) training in Savannah, the class asked me, “What is your big vision for Paulding county?” I will sum it up in a nutshell: I want the paper and social media to say, “Breaking news: Paulding County is the best place to live and the best place to do business.”

Personally, I believe in keeping God first, keeping families strong, being honest, and building trust between citizens and the workers in Paulding County. When I first decided to get into politics, which I did not originally want to do, as I am a business owner, not a politician, I found that many citizens had lost confidence in our government. Our government was designed to have godly and biblical insights, and we have gotten away from that. My goal is to bring that back as one nation under one God.

Another goal is to build trust, which is one of the hardest things to do. But if you are truthful and do the right thing, trust will come. And there are small, low-cost things that you can do in the meantime to build that trust. For instance, I have put in county suggestion boxes. That may seem small, but people love to give their suggestions. I have received over a hundred suggestions from citizens and county workers, and we have accomplished approximately one-third of these suggestions, many of which did not cost the county much money. Those little things add up to big things, and the suggestion box has been a tremendous asset in rebuilding trust in our government.

Additionally, we have one of the best financial departments in the state. When I am at ACCG meetings with representatives from all 159 counties, I tell them we have an AAA credit rating. People are amazed that we have achieved that in Paulding County. The woman who ran the finance department is now our county manager, so we are putting the right people in place to make things happen.

Currently, we have about 40 different departments in Paulding County. Right now, the state of Georgia recognizes four of them as templates to train other counties. My goal is to have all 40 departments achieve such great results that the state says, “We need you to train the other 159 counties.” That will happen, I promise you.