Roger Waldrop, right, presides over his first meeting of the Development Authority of Polk County since being named chairman. (Agnes Hagin/thepolkfishwrap.com)
They have committed to placing the first phase of a road that would give access to pads for new industry location in Cedartown North Business Park.
Total estimated cost to complete both phases of this project is $500,000.
The Georgia Department of Transportation has allocated a local assistance grant of about $150,000 to create the access road. DAPC is paying $18,000 in engineering fees to create and submit plans for the road.
President Eric McDonald, DAPC, pointed out that prospects are driven down Collard Valley Road and asked to “imagine access over there”.
He said that it is difficult for prospects to visualize trucks reaching 11 and 28-acre rough graded pads.
DAPC board members have also approved the following capital improvement plan:
Build a speculative industrial building, totaling $1,800,000 (local debt).
The idea is to build a 105,000 square foot shell building on the 11-acre pad of the Cedartown North Business Park, which would be accessed by the proposed new road.
Rough grade the 22-acre site in Rockmart 101 Business Park, $500,000 (local and SPLOST funds).
The advantage would be to provide a site that is quickly available to companies serving Atlanta or markets North of Georgia. It would be ready for rail or a building.
Industrial park sign/entrance improvements, $45,000 (local funds).
This would be a co-op program with development authorities from Rockmart, Cedartown and Polk County.
DAPC has voted to replace the entrance sign at the Cedartown Industrial Park. Cost of the project is $15,000.
Tourism / navigational signage improvements, $100,000 (SPLOST and DOT funds).
The proposal is that signs at vantage points throughout Polk would help capture the attention of travelers and point them to public and private locations. Included on the list are downtown areas, trail heads, conference / wedding facilities, sky diving locations, museums, libraries, parks, civic centers and more.
County / city gateway and targeted intersection landscaping, $250,000.
The JANUS assessment gave attention to the fact that Polk lacks a significant gateway announcing to travelers they have arrived. It points out that several major intersections appear abandoned and are unsightly.
Local officials have indicated that the most beautiful gateway would be along scenic Morgan Valley Road.
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