The East Ridge City Council on Thursday agreed to request $13 million in state funds to help the Chattanooga Red Wolves owner with public infrastructure in his planned $200 million development.
“I’m excited about the development,” Mayor Brian Williams said at a meeting of the panel. “We’re seeing that come to fruition already.”
Developer Bob Martino, who owns the soccer team and is building the mixed-use project at Interstate-75 and Interstate-24, said the chance to land the state grant is “a great opportunity for public infrastructure” such as for parking lots, sewer, water and sidewalks.
“It will help us with a lot of improvements,” he said in an interview.
Martino said the grant is similar to what was provided to Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, who is redeveloping a downtown site in that city into a new minor league baseball stadium along with nearby development.