Little League International, Houston County, Ga., Formalize Land Purchase Agreement, Break Ground for Southeastern Region Headquarters

By Communications Division
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
May 4, 2009

The Houston County, Ga., Development Authority, Houston County Commissioners and Little League Baseball, Incorporated, based in Williamsport, Pa., have executed the memo of understanding that will re-locate Little League’s Southeastern Region Headquarters to Warner Robins, Ga.

The first shovels full of dirt were moved today at the Snellgrove Drive site in Warner Robins, during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, Dennis Lewin, Chairman of the Little League International Board of Directors, and other local government officials. Officiating as Master of Ceremonies for the groundbreaking was Warner Robins American Little League President Ken Hathaway.

“Today’s groundbreaking represents more than just a facility being constructed,” Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, who was unable to attend the event, said. “On these fields, our young people will learn teamwork, sportsmanship and the value of hard work. Those are the lifelong values I learned as a Little Leaguer that I have carried throughout my life, and I am so proud that this great organization has chosen Warner Robins as its Southeastern Headquarters home base.”

In the memo of understanding, Houston County donated 26.08 acres of land – valued at $867,000 – inside the city limits of Warner Robins off of Cohen Walker Road on Snellgrove Drive.

The estimated cost of the project is $5,528,780, which includes engineer and design consultant fees, as well as site work and construction.

Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball (right) and Dennis Lewin, the Chairman of the Little League International Board of Directors (left) prepare for the groundbreaking ceremony along with Warner Robins Mayor Donald Walker.

“Working with the various city and county constituencies to complete this agreement has been a positive experience,” Mr. Keener said. “As an organization, we are looking toward the next phases of this project. With the effort and support of the Warner Robins community and Houston County we expect to move swiftly to create a facility that the city, county and state of Georgia can be proud of.”

Little League Baseball, Incorporated contributing $3,313,140; the state of Georgia providing $598,640; the City of Warner Robins allotting $500,000 of in-kind services and the Houston County Development Authority earmarking $250,000 for the development of a facility that will include administration office space, a championship Little League-size stadium, maintenance facility and site developed for future program expansion.

“For a great number of years, people have heavily invested in our youth sports, especially baseball – our nation’s pastime,” Donald S. Walker, Warner Robins Mayor, said. “Our young people have flourished in this sport thanks to the support of parents and adults in this community. The location of the Little League Southeast Regional Headquarters in Warner Robins is a crown on their head.” 

On June 26, the Little League Southeastern Region office in St. Petersburg, Fla., will close. A temporary office in Warner Robins will be staffed by Southeastern Region personnel on, or about, July 6. More details and contact information for the temporary office will be available soon.

“Locating Little League’s Southeastern Region facility in Warner Robins will provide Middle Georgia residents with family entertainment, and youth-related sports opportunities for years to come,” Ned Sanders, Houston County Commission Chairman, said.

“The Houston County Development Authority served as the primary point of contact on behalf of Warner Robins throughout Little League’s site selection process,” Neal Rearden, Chairman of the Houston County Development Authority, said. “Little League has been a part of the fabric of Houston County since the 1950’s and we are proud to help facilitate the relocation of the Southeastern Region Headquarters to Warner Robins.”

The Southeast Region Headquarters serves as the administrative center for Little League Baseball and Softball activities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The annual Southeast Region Championship game (formerly the Southern Region Championship game) has been televised nationally on ESPN or ESPN2 every year since 1997.
 
As the site for the new Regional Headquarters is developed in Warner Robins, it is necessary to play the 2009 Little League Baseball and Softball Regional Tournaments at an alternate location. That location, Ceredo-Kenova, W.Va., was announced in December 2008, and is to be used only for this year’s regional tournaments.