(Floyd County Board of Commissioners media release):
As a result of the 2013 and 2017 SPLOST, the citizens of Floyd County approved funding for real estate and infrastructure for economic development and job creation. After many months of review and analysis of available land, the Floyd County Board of Commissioners, the City of Rome, and the Rome Floyd Development Authority secured an option for purchase of 202.34 acres from the Braden family, fronting US 411. This property will give any future and current industries the opportunity to expand to the eastern portion of our community. It also coordinates with previous efforts where additional rights of way were purchased for frontage roads. These efforts will provide connectivity while also preventing congestion along the route.
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of forty years of dreaming and planning. I want to extend my thanks to the Braden family for working with us on this project that will plant the seed of economic development and growth along the 411 corridor. Our citizens in this area of the unincorporated community will benefit from the extension of water and sewer lines to the area. This is another great example of the importance of our SPLOST investments to our entire community,” announced Floyd County Chair Wright Bagby.
The Rome-Cartersville Development Corridor (RCDC) is also a vital part of our growth in connecting future industry to I-75. The RCDC is connecting US 411 to I-75, providing improved mobility for commuters, residents, and freight movement throughout Floyd and Bartow Counties and will relieve congestion along the existing US 411/ SR 20. The combination of land, right of way, and GDOT connectivity to I-75 will make this property very attractive for new industry or expansion of existing.
“This is an amazing opportunity to finally open up the true potential of the RCDC to be the economic engine it was designed to be,” added Rome-Floyd Development Authority Chair, Jimmy Byars.
Rome Mayor, Craig McDaniel, praised the announcement. “I applaud the work of Missy Kendrick and the entire Rome Floyd Development Authority team in securing land to ensure our continued success in industrial recruitment. Having worked in economic development throughout the region for many years, I can tell you that having available industrial land is critically important for us to be able to attract large employers to our community. New economic development activity along the 411 corridor will continue to benefit our entire community for years to come.”