IDA Works With Alliance To Match Signage Styles

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

The main topic of the March 17 meeting of the Industrial Development Authority was signage. Evan Stone (executive director) reported that the cost for the temporary signs to denote the Trenton/Dade Business Park North on Highway 11 North is about $500 more than first anticipated.

The IDA approved the bid from Highway 11 Graphics of $2,021.53 for the two 8×16 signs. The posts and labor (to be completed by the county) will be an additional expense.

The board then discussed the upcoming permanent signs for the existing industrial park, as first mentioned at last month’s meeting. These signs will denote the industrial park and showcase the industries housed inside the park.

Stone reported that he talked with Sandy White (Alliance for Dade president and CEO) about matching the design of the signs with the wayfinding signage that the Alliance is working on with the University of Georgia. The Alliance’s wayfinding signage will be throughout the county and will all fit a color and style theme.

White created a quick mockup for the IDA of what the sign could look like. Stone reported that it will cost between $7,500-$10,000 a piece for these signs. The Top of Georgia grant covers $5,000 of this cost.

Stone will meet with each industry in the industrial park to discuss adding their logos to the sign. Each industry will pay for its individual spot on the sign. The IDA hasn’t decided on a price per spot yet, but Stone reported that it likely won’t be a revenue-generating price but rather a cost-offsetting price.

James Cantrell (chairman) requested that Stone make sure the industries are one board with the overall design of the sign.

Moving on, Stone noted that he has met with realtors and two companies which he would discuss further in executive session.

Spencer Hogg (president and CEO of Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority) and Robin Rogers (attorney) both referenced projects they’ve been working on that would be discussed in executive session.

Hogg also reported that South Korea is the top foreign direct investor in Georgia, citing companies like Kia.

Leisa Cagle (board member) asked if Hogg knew anything about a data center coming to a nearby county (she thought it was Walker County) and negative responses to the center due to potential noise pollution. Hogg said that while he wasn’t familiar with this exact situation, there’s been a lot of data center activity across the state.

He said, “Typically what you see with those facilities is very, very, very high capital expenditure investment with relatively low employment numbers…With some of the new data centers, I’ve stood right outside of them, and you wouldn’t hear any more noise from them than you would a substation that has power coursing through it.”

Local business owner Alex Stayte sat in on the meeting simply to learn more about the IDA and happenings in the county and to network. He is the co-owner/co-founder of Dade Fabrication, a small welding company located in Trenton. He said, “We do all kinds of steel fabrication, especially in the construction and industrial industries.”

Stone later told the Sentinel that any companies are welcome to contact the IDA and attend meetings to learn more. Especially for small businesses like Dade Fabrication, the IDA may not be aware they exist. Email idainfo@dadecounty-ga.gov if interested in connecting with the IDA.

The board entered executive session. No vote was taken after the session.