Hamilton County Commission approves Enterprise South projects

Hamilton County commissioners approved three resolutions Wednesday designed to facilitate site preparation at the Enterprise South industrial park in advance of Volkswagen building its assembly plant there.

The biggest of the three creates an agreement among the county, the city of Chattanooga and the Industrial Development Board to do their part in the site development.

“Really, the purpose is to flow some of the money from the state to us,” said County Mayor Claude Ramsey. “The money’s there.”

The resolution did not specify how much the improvements would cost.

Mr. Ramsey said the county and city have been footing the bill for the site improvements that already have been done. He said improvements included building roads, putting up fencing and developing the welcome center that will be built in the park that borders the megasite.

Volkswagen and the county may use the site as both a welcome center and a showroom where VW can showcase its green initiatives, Mr. Ramsey said.

County Commissioner John Allen Brooks asked how long the agreement would last. County Attorney Rheubin Taylor responded there was no set end date.

In addition, the commission approved resolutions to pay the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation for $48,502 for environmental assessment work at the Enterprise South site and to sell easements on the property to Tennessee-American Water Co. for $500. The easements contain water pipes already in the ground.

Also on Wednesday, the commission unanimously voted in favor of providing a 15-year tax abatement for the developers of a new downtown Chattanooga movie theater.