In one day — Jan. 11 — the city of Valdosta will auction off 2,236 acres of privately owned property in what will be the single largest land sale in the city's history.

Divided into 81 parcels ranging from 3.6 to 421 acres, the land represents 10.5 percent of Valdosta's total area, but local officials say it's economic potential and impact on the community could be far beyond that.

Jo Ann Spicer, the chief appraiser of Lowndes County, said the property in the northeast section of the city is valued as a large agricultural tract. She said the tax base in the city of Valdosta and Lowndes County will increase considerably because the property is being marketed for commercial purposes.

"I have no idea what kind of increase it would bring to the county, but it would be much more than what it is now," Spicer said. "It will depend on how the individual parcels are zoned."

The land, owned by the J.N. Bray family, has 11.3 miles of frontage on nine different roads, including U.S. 84. The land along U.S. 84 will be zoned for commercial, industrial and residential development. Interested buyers will be able to bid on individual tracts, a combination of tracts or the entire property.

Because the acreage accounts for more than a tenth of the city's land area, Myrna Ballard, president of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, said it is difficult to put the significance of the sale in perspective.

"The growth in our city has been aiming in every direction but east in the last 10 years. Now we have the opportunity to see that same level of development in the other quadrant of our city," Ballard said.

In an area where the largest employers are Moody Air Force Base, the South Georgia Medical Center and Valdosta State University, officials are looking to explore a host of development opportunities.

Brad Lofton, executive director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, said said there is always room for current and future growth, something the auction will facilitate.

The sale, he noted, has the potential to bring 5,000 new jobs, $200 million in annual payroll and a combined investment of nearly a billion dollars. Lofton is basing his hypothesis on similar-sized tracts that have been developed over the years.

"It could very well go to one user who may decide to not develop it," Lofton said. "It has the potential to be a world-class development that would bring a lot of revenue to the community. . . Of course, we would like to see it developed, and developed in a professional way, but I don't think there is a fear of it being developed speculatively."

Founded in 1960, the authority is composed of appointees from the city and county who promote economic development by recruiting new industry and retaining existing companies.

"Valdosta has seen a lot of growth in residential and retail and we certainly expect to see our population increase in the next 10 years," Lofton said. "It may be a good time to go ahead and go forward with the sale. We certainly have the consumer base here to support a large, commercial mixed-use development."

With enrollment at Valdosta State University reaching historic highs last fall, the university is looking to expand its commitment to economic development in South Georgia.

"Valdosta State is preparing to provide an even greater role in the overall economic, educational, and social impact on South Georgia and the state, as enrollment is expected to reach 16,000 by the year 2020," said university spokeswoman Thressea H. Boyd. "More of VSU graduates want to remain in Valdosta and South Georgia after they graduate. They enjoy the size of the community, convenience to major cities, and continued opportunities for professional growth."

Since 2004 the chamber has sought to attract businesses that will hire graduates from Valdosta State or Valdosta Technical College in its Targeted Business Expansion Program.

Ballard said information technology, environmental technology and medical support and services are three clusters that have come to the area since the initiative was launched.

"Virtually, everything we do in the chamber draws back to the need to keep our best and brightest right here in the community."