(Brunswick News (GA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Apr. 7--Trying to channel traffic and tourists to a community with a shopping center close to an exit on Interstate 95 sounds easy, but it's anything but that.

Just ask officials in Glynn and McIntosh counties.

An outlet mall built at U.S. 341 in Glynn County closed almost two decades ago. In Darien, Preferred Outlets Mall continues to pull in north- and south-bound motorists, despite the closure of a large percentage of stores at the shopping center, but the crowds are smaller than they used to be.

Camden County may have the answer to long-term success: build a mega commercial hub with state help in the form of tax forgiveness by officially labeling the development a "new tourist attraction." State Rep. Cecily Hill, R-St. Marys, could be one vote away from helping make that possible. She has authored a bill that could be instrumental in spurring a rapid, concentrated growth of businesses near an I-95 exit in Camden County that would draw a continuous stream of shoppers enroute to and from Florida, and from surrounding counties.

The bill, co-sponsored by state Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, calls for the state to extend sales tax refunds to new tourist attractions, which is what a destination shopping center featuring the who's who of retailers would be considered under the legislation.

One company may already be interested in developing a large shopping district in Camden County that could create as many as 6,000 jobs and be the place to stop and shop on I-95.

Businesses could include electronics store Best Buy, a super Target store and Sears, both general merchandisers, as well as movie theaters, popular restaurant chains and major hotel chains.

What the state would give in return, if the bill passes in the Legislature and is signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, is a 10-year refund on the sales tax generated by a development valued at more than $100 million.

Hill and Stephens have succeeded in getting the tax refund through the House. It now awaits action in the Senate, where Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, plans to carefully review it.

Chapman, who represents Camden and four other counties, including Glynn and McIntosh, said a priority would be to make sure Hill's bill would not have a negative impact on any other county in Georgia.

"We want to know if we are putting them at an unfair competitive advantage over others," Chapman said.

He said the state must be careful when handing out tax incentives, especially during bad economic times.

"When you give a tax credit and tax break and you don't measure it ... when we don't put systems in place to validate what it's doing, then we're just letting people avoid taxation," he said.

Chapman said Chip Drury, who owns property in Camden County, has been lobbying for the tax refund bill.

Legislation debated in the South Carolina Legislature that would grant tax breaks to similar mega-retail developments has its share of opponents. Those against it argue that the measure would only shift jobs from one county or community to the next, to the one offering incentives, and that there would be no real gain for the state or region. The tax break is being sought for a proposed development in Jasper County, S.C., just north of Savannah.

A stipulation in the Georgia bill is that developments that would qualify for the sales tax refund must not adversely effect existing employment in the state.

Irene Bates, center manager of Preferred Outlets Mall, said the Camden development could actually be beneficial to her shopping center in McIntosh County.

"I think it would be fabulous if there was another attraction on I-95," she said, though adding she would like to know more about the proposal. "It would be that much more traffic to draw off." Those who speak for businesses in McIntosh and Glynn counties have mixed emotions about a new commercial hub to the south.

Wally Orell, director of the McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce, concedes that he doesn't know much about what Hill is proposing or hopes to achieve and says he's always concerned about legislation that could affect McIntosh County.

But, he added, "I think anything that is taking place in Southeast Georgia will be good for us." Woody Woodside, president of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, said the competition for growth between Glynn and Camden counties is stiff.

"They hope to draw shoppers from Florida," Woodside said. "I hope they don't draw them from Glynn County." To see more of The Brunswick News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thebrunswicknews.com/.

Copyright (c) 2010, The Brunswick News, Ga.