Dalton launches campaign to help grow economy

DALTON, Ga. -- Whitfield County leaders on Monday launched Grow Greater Dalton, a campaign to create jobs and direct growth.

Dalton has witnessed the birth and now the maturation of the carpet industry, and it's time to plan for what's coming, John P. Neal III, chairman of Grow Greater Dalton, said at the launch event.

"If we're honest we say, 'Right now is a difficult time,'" he said. "We're about what is going to happen."

Grow Greater Dalton is a four-year campaign -- 2009 to 2012 -- seeking to raise about $4.5 million in private and public funding for economic development. Grow Greater Dalton so far has raised about $1.5 million, Mr. Neal said.

Most of the money will be used to create jobs, establish new and existing sites for industrial development and market the community to businesses, according to budget information from the program.

Chuck Dobbins, chairman of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority, said after the meeting that about six businesses are looking at the county as a possible location.

Leslie Hough, project director for Grow Greater Dalton, said in a phone call after the meeting that the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce and Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority will carry out much of Grow Greater Dalton's work while an investors council will make policy decisions and provide guidance.

Grow Greater Dalton also will work with the Archway Partnership of the University System of Georgia in a community visioning process, Mr. Neal said.

Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brian Anderson said town hall meetings will be held so citizens can help guide community development.

Mr. Neal said Whitfield County is drawing from examples of similar economic development initiatives in other communities.

"Chattanooga is certainly a wonderful example ... they have landed Volkswagen," he said. "They didn't start the year before they got Volkswagen. My understanding is that had been going on perhaps as long as a decade."

Grow Greater Dalton started in 2008 but has become truly active in recent months, he said.

Dalton Mayor David Pennington and Whitfield County Commission Chairman Mike Babb both pledged their commitments to economic development.

"Our contribution to Grow Greater Dalton in the public sector is that we will spend public funds to make Whitfield County a great place to do business and to live," Mr. Babb said.