Catoosa industrial park nets nibbles

RINGGOLD, Ga. -- They stopped short of calling them prospects, but Catoosa County development officials have two companies showing interest in the county's industrial property.

Representatives from one of the companies toured the property recently, according to members of the Catoosa County Development Authority.

At their meeting Tuesday, board members heard a report from Mike Gray of Panattoni Development, who said the two "suspects" were manufacturing or assembly operations but were not related to Chattanooga's Volkswagen plant.

He said Panattoni, the county's partner in the Catoosa Commerce Center on Highway 151, would be finishing up the survey and studies on the land in the next two weeks and would be in full-bore marketing mode by the end of the year.

So far, the company has found nothing "to cause alarm" at the property, he said, though the process has been slightly delayed after asbestos was found in one of the houses scheduled for demolition.

He didn't know Tuesday what would come of the two companies or when any details would become more firm.

"My crystal ball's not that good these days," he said.

Overall, Mr. Gray and members of the development authority said they are pleased with the level of interest in the property, whether either of the first two callers turns out to be their new tenant. Authority members said they didn't mind that the companies had nothing to do with VW.

"Obviously, our goal is to find a good, green industry and quality jobs for Catoosa County," said board member Chris Casey, president of Bec-Don Ringgold Inc.

Board member Randall Peters said the two interested parties are good news, but he was leery of getting too excited.

"They've just called and asked about the property," he said.