DALTON, Ga. -- County commissioners agreed Monday night to fund some capital projects at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, but plans to expand the facility's kitchen are on hold for at least a year.
"Ultimately, I would like to see the facility have a kitchen (expansion), but right now is not the time for that with the current economy," Commissioner Randy Waskul said.
The county and the city of Dalton each will contribute about $61,000 this year for capital projects at the center such as fixing a leaky roof, a new banquet hall wall covering and some smaller items to improve food service, Mr. Waskul said.
Shashank Gairola, general manager of the trade center, said originally they'd hoped for about $500,000 for capital projects and a large part of that funding request would have been used to double the facility's 600 square-foot kitchen.
Mr. Gairola said the $122,000 from the county and city takes care of "immediate needs," but the kitchen expansion is "essential for the growth of the convention center and business here going forward."
Officials said they hope the kitchen expansion can take place in 2011.
In other business, commissioners rezoned 167 acres off the Interstate 75 exit for Carbondale Road from general agriculture and general commercial to heavy manufacturing.
The county recently purchased the land, located in the south end of the county, for $5.25 million to create the Carbondale Business Park.
Commission Chairman Mike Babb was out sick from Monday's meeting, but said in a phone interview that several companies have inquired already about the business park.
and two are seriously looking at the property.