The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority heard a final presentation from its Ambassador Board during the regular meeting Tuesday.

The Ambassador Board made two proposals of projects to help create new jobs in the community. The first proposal, made by Ashleigh Stevens, Jay Rome and Christopher Dowse, involved creating a trucking hub in Lake Park.

The second proposal, made by Lexi Hurst, Emily Backes and Carrie Copeland, focused on a biomass, solar power or hydrogen liquefaction plant in Valdosta.

During the presentations, the Ambassador Board members listed the benefits and risks associated with each project. They also highlighted the number of jobs they would like to create and the overall investments for each project.

After the presentations were made, Industrial Authority Executive Director Brad Lofton and Chairman Gary Minchew presented the board members with notebooks.

The Ambassador Board is comprised of seven local high school students.

Since January, the Industrial Authority has allowed the students to shadow the Authority to learn how to recruit new industry to Lowndes County.

In other business, a letter of intent has been negotiated and signed for “Project Butter,” a commercial baking company interested in purchasing the Organic Milling facility on Forrest Street. Staff members recently traveled to Ohio to meet with representatives from the company, and are now working with the Georgia Department of Economic

Development to help the company obtain grants for building repairs.

The letter of intent for the project is currently under final due diligence review with the prospect. Project Butter is an estimated $7.5 million capital investment that could create 500 new jobs in Valdosta and Lowndes County.

Other items discussed include:

-- Industrial Authority member John Peeples submitted a letter of resignation from the board. The Authority has decided to hold off on its annual retreat until a new member can be appointed.

-- A reception for former Authority member Carolyn Eager is scheduled for June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts.

-- Authority members Crawford Powell and Roy Copeland were appointed to the nominating committee for the June election of new officers.