Freight Traffic, Price Farmhouse, and McLemore Expansion Mentioned by IDA
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
At the November 6th meeting of the Industrial Development Authority, Executive Director Evan Stone reported on a topic at the recent Thrive Summit he attended: truck/freight traffic. At the next IDA meeting, Stone hopes to show the board Thrive’s portal that shows truck and freight traffic flow and patterns.
Stone said, “What’s basically happening, by the state of Georgia being so aggressive in the Savannah port and the inland port, folks are leaving California freight-wise and they’re shipping to the east coast. That’s why we’re becoming the new hub. 80% of the freight that comes through Chattanooga goes somewhere else. They’re trying to understand how they can alleviate the [traffic] as much as they can.”
Stone then discussed tearing down the Price farmhouse. He reported that Ted Rumley (county executive) said that the county should be able to complete the demolition in about two hours. The IDA will reimburse the county for this work and the removal of materials. The IDA voted to approve the demolition and expense.
Stone reported that there is still no movement on Project Caspian, but the interested company has narrowed their considerations down to only two areas: Dade County and somewhere in Tennessee.
Stone noted that the Georgia Department of Economic Development wants to come to Dade County to tour local industries. The IDA is planning this tour for the end of November.
Representatives from the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority, Jeff Mullis (president and CEO) and Spencer Hogg (project manager), attended the meeting, with Mullis saying, “There’s a lot of interest in northwest Georgia. It doesn’t happen just because; it happens because of a big effort between all of us. I know Evan and Spencer have done a lot of requests for information…It’s all about creating jobs. The government don’t create jobs, but we create the atmosphere that companies want to either expand or relocate. We’ve all heard that a rising tide floats all boats.”
Stone asked Mullis about the McLemore Club expansion which will impact both Dade and Walker (as the expansion will be partially in Dade County). Mullis noted the impact of tourism on both Dade and Walker’s economies. He said, “The golf course has been in the black for several years. COVID and golf sort of worked together.”
Mullis noted that a regional mountain emergency services facility is in discussion to serve McLemore. He said that Dade, Walker, Chattooga, and potentially northeast Alabama would be involved in the facility.
Hogg noted interest in Northwest Georgia as a whole, with Mullis adding that the JDA sees many requests for information from Europe, specifically Germany, regarding vehicle manufacturing.
James Cantrell (chairman) then brought up scholarships for Dade County High School students. He proposed that instead of board members accepting compensation for IDA meetings, the IDA would use those funds for several $1,000 scholarships for DCHS seniors who are entering fields related to industry, noting that this is a broad umbrella.
Robin Rogers (attorney) noted that the IDA cannot make charitable donations, but he would look into the legal details of how to fund these scholarships.
The IDA then entered executive session, after which they unanimously voted to declare the 26 acres of the Price Farm that lies on the west side of I-59 as surplus property. They then unanimously voted to have these acres appraised before putting them up for sale.
Also in the session, Cantrell appointed board members Adam Austin, Will Garrett, and Seth Houts to the Land Acquisition Committee to seek out more land appropriate for industrial use.
The IDA will not hold its regularly scheduled December meeting, instead meeting on January 8, 2024 and keeping the regularly scheduled January 15 meeting if needed.
