Recommended ARC funding:* $100,000: Biomass to energy, Dalton Utilities* $70,000: Howard Finster property, Chattooga County* $245,000: Smith Iron Works, Chattooga County* $300,000: Fannin-Blue Ridge Industrial Park sewer* $300,000: Fort Oglethorpe sewer* $300,000: Pickens County water project* $300,000: Trion water and sewer* $300,000: Walker County stormwater* $95,200: White County sewer projectSource: Northwest Georgia Regional Commission
By Amy Zajac
Correspondent
CALHOUN, Ga. -- A biomass-to-energy project in Whitfield County and the purchase of the late folk artist Howard Finster's property in Chattooga County are among nine projects recommended for funding this year by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
In all, Northwest Georgia has pre-application approval for $4 million to spend on nine projects, members of the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission were told at their meeting last week.
They include water and sewer projects throughout the region and the relocation of an electric line at Smith Iron Works in Lyerly, Ga. All the projects will require a local funding share.
Chattooga County Commissioner Jason Winters attended the meeting and was happy with the news that three projects had pre-application approval.
"We are encouraged and really excited by the pre-application approvals," Mr. Winters said, noting that the funding will be spread among existing projects, new projects and a tourism project.
"We need assistance in all these areas," he said.
ARC office director James Thompson briefed Northwest Georgia Regional Commission members about the funding. He said Gov. Sonny Perdue, the 2010 ARC states' co-chairman, approved the pre-applications.
"We had 38 applications for funding for 2010, and of those we recommended 20 projects for funding this year, nine of which are in the Northwest Georgia region," Mr. Thompson said.
Mr. Thompson said 60 percent of the new ARC funding will go for infrastructure such as water and sewer. Criteria for approval included feasibility, strategy, possible jobs created and innovation. The next step is to submit full applications to the ARC for final approval later this year.
Local participation is provided through multicounty local development districts.
"ARC is very pleased to help spur economic development with these needed projects that will create jobs for Georgia citizens," Mr. Thompson said.
ARC is a regional economic development agency created in 1965 that represents a partnership of federal, state and local government in 13 Appalachian states.
Amy Zajac is based in Gordon County. Contact her at azajac10@yahoo.com