The Ledger

Dear Editor,

What’s your best memory of downtown Cochran? Was it the movie theater? Shopping at the many stores downtown? Yes, shopping at the many stores downtown. There was a time when you didn’t have to drive to Dublin or Macon to shop. You could get jeans, dresses and shoes all downtown. When prom or weddings came around, you just went to Lyles’ to get measured for your tux. Crumpler’s Florist always provided you with flowers for your special girl.

Need a special gift for an anniversary or birthday? Then you visited R&B Jewelry. Pick out your china and silverware for the newly engaged couple starting their life together. TV goes out? Go get a new one from R&B Appliances. Need a tool for a project around the house? Cochran Hardware was there to provide all those needs. Need crafting items, thread or patterns? TG&Y always had what you needed.

What did we do on a Friday night in the small town of Cochran? You went to see the newest movie that had just been released. If the theater was showing something you had already seen, you went to the skating rink to roll, sweat and hang out for the night.

In Cochran? Yes. Cochran stores downtown were completely full in the ’70s and ’80s. No driving to another city to get what you needed. Lyles’, Davidsons, R&B, Allied’s, Cochran Hardware, Rozier’s, Bollinger’s Grocery, Mr. Harris’ pawn and, let’s not forget, Jazzbo’s All-In-One.

Now, in 2026, we are struggling to get anything new downtown. Wonder why? It’s not that people aren’t willing to step up and put in new businesses. There are three that I know personally who are trying to invest in our city. My husband is one.

We have been working at The Warehouse for the last four years. The Warehouse, located across from the courthouse, is the place where you have a variety of businesses. From occupational and speech therapy to accounting, insurance, financial planning, legal advice and coffee, you can get it here.

Earlier this year, my husband purchased the Cochran Bonded Warehouse in front of Domino’s Pizza. He went to the city before the purchase was made to verify he would be able to use the building for his business. After the purchase, when he applied for permits, he was told the building would need a variance because it was not zoned for “warehouse” use.

An email was sent to the city manager in July requesting to know if he needed a variance. Follow-up emails were sent with no response. This answer wasn’t received until 9/28/26, sixty-something days after the initial inquiry. Meanwhile, he has been trying to pay a mortgage on the new building he is not permitted to use, as well as paying rent on a current building. Now there is a struggle to keep the business above water financially.

This issue is not only our problem, but it is the main reason why Cochran doesn’t have new businesses. Outside investors are not going to put businesses in Cochran unless there will be a return on their investment. If it takes three months to get answers, this costs money.

People investing downtown are all local individuals like me and my husband. We are using our savings to build businesses here. We can’t afford to hear complete silence when you contact City Hall to find out where to go to get permitted or get answers regarding variances. This is costing money that small individuals do not have. Time is money.

No response from City Hall is deterring investments in Cochran. We have individuals who want to put in restaurants, wine bars and other shops to add to our economic progress. But if you can’t get answers for weeks or months, these small investors can’t afford this additional cost. Builders, plumbers and electricians struggle obtaining permits. Many have chosen not to work here at all for this simple reason.

I truly believe in Cochran, and I am not even a resident in the city. My husband and I were willing to take our savings and invest in something we believe in. Cochran is the diamond in the rough, and it’s our time to shine.

What is it going to take? A City Hall and council that is devoted to the people of Cochran, who were elected to serve and do the right thing for the citizens of Cochran. Support our local investors who are willing to put their necks on the line to make this city a better place for everyone.

We sit at a crossroads with the construction and expansion of Hwy. 96. Cochran has what people are looking for: a welcoming community, an expanding college and an outstanding school system. Young families and retired couples are moving here for these reasons and more.

Are we going to get the support of council and City Hall to provide an environment and process that is business-friendly? Or will they continue to stifle local individual investors, sending them to the surrounding towns that are friendly to new business?

I encourage you to reach out to your council members and let them know we need help.

We need our City Hall to respond quickly to requests from new business owners. Simplify the process for permitting and license registration. Make Cochran a business-friendly place.

Dale Fordham

Editor’s Note: Letters to the editor reflect the opinions and views of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect those of The Ledger, its editor or its contributors. Letters may be edited for grammar, punctuation, spelling and other basic mechanics without altering the writer’s meaning or viewpoint.