Exhibit 10.17

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$600,000.00                                                         July 9, 2004
                                                              St. Marys, Georgia

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, AmeriFirst, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (hereinafter
referred  to as  the  "Debtor"),  promises  to pay to  the  order  of Lee  Tawes
(hereinafter referred to as "Holder"), at such place as the Holder may designate
in writing,  the principal sum of Six Hundred  Thousand Dollars  ($600,000),  or
such  portion  thereof as shall have been  advanced  by  Holder,  together  with
interest at a rate equal to eight (8%)  percent per annum on the unpaid  balance
in lawful money of the United States,  which shall be legal tender in payment of
all debts and due, public and private, at the time of payment as follows:

      Payments of principal and interest shall be payable in full to Holder from
      the Net Operating  Income of Debtor in accordance  with the  provisions of
      Section 3 of that certain Letter Agreement dated of even date herewith and
      attached  hereto as Exhibit A;  provided,  however,  the repayment of this
      Note shall be  subordinate to the repayment of the  Operational  Loans (as
      defined in the Letter  Agreement)  and  subject to the terms of the Letter
      Agreement and any definitive  documentation  executed by  AmeriFirst,  the
      Shareholders and Tawes, incorporating the terms thereof.

      This Note may be  prepaid,  in full or in part,  at any time,  without the
payment of any prepayment fee or penalty. Any payments shall first be applied to
accrued interest and the balance against the principal.

      If Debtor  shall fail to perform  any of Debtor's  obligations  hereunder,
then a  default  of  Debtor's  obligations  hereunder  shall be  deemed  to have
occurred.

      No delay on the part of the Holder in exercising any right under this Note
shall  operate as a waiver of the right or of any other  right  under this note.
The waiver of a right on any one  occasion  shall not be construed as the waiver
of the right or remedy on any future occasion.

      The Debtor  hereby  waives  presentment  for  payment,  demand,  notice of
non-payment,  notice of  protest  and  protest of this Note,  and  diligence  in
collection or bringing  suit.  If the Debtor is in default and all  indebtedness
owing under this Note is due and payable,  the Debtor agrees to pay the Holder's
costs of  collection,  including  reasonable  attorney's  fees and  court  costs
incurred by the Holder in enforcing collection of this Note.
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      Debtor  acknowledges  that  Holder may  assign  this Note to any person or
entity at any time without prior notice to Debtor.  This  obligation  shall bind
the Debtor and the  Debtor's  successors  and assigns,  and the benefits  hereof
shall inure to the Holder hereof and his successors and assigns.

                                       AMERIFIRST, INC., a Delaware corporation

                                       By: /s/ John G. Tooke
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           John G. Tooke, President

STATE OF GEORGIA

COUNTY OF CAMDEN

      The foregoing  instrument was executed,  acknowledged and delivered before
me this 9th day of July 2004 by John G. Tooke, President of AmeriFirst,  Inc., a
Delaware   corporation,   who  has  produced  a  Florida   Drivers   License  as
identification.

                                                 /s/ Chinesia Sykes
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public, State and County
                                         Aforesaid
                                       Print Name:  Chinesia Sykes
                                       My commission expires: 8/21/05
SEAL                                   My commission number: