With 2004 upon us and as we embark on another calendar year, your Chamber will hold fast to the projects of its business plan – Partnerships for Economic Success. We are on track with all the Hallmark Initiative programs of education, economic development, and government affairs and remain within budget. However, there are several issues that face the business community in 2004. They are as follows:
1- Sewer Infrastructure – This has been an on-going need for the past 25 years, and we will continue to encourage our elected officials to move forward to find a way to support the fast growing South Hall area with water and sewer needs.
2- Comprehensive Land Use Plan – We will follow the progress of this plan development for Gainesville and Hall County and keep the Chamber membership informed on the changes. We will encourage all of our members to give input on how it will affect them personally and the entire community.
3- SPLOST V – The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Referendum is on March 2, 2004. There is a lot of work – do to educate the community on these much needed SPLOST projects. Listed below are the latest proposed projects (subject to change).
4- Lastly, in the spring we will host the Northeast Georgia Red Carpet Tour. It is very important that we provide all resources to make this event a huge success. We will host corporate decision-makers from across America and around the world in Gainesville-Hall County. Our region still enjoys the fruits of previous Red Carpet Tours by the quality businesses that located here as a result.
As you can see, the new calendar year brings a number of opportunities for your Chamber, and we want to be positioned to represent the membership in the best possible manner.
Hall County Proposed SPLOST V Projects
Road Improvement Projects
$40,300,000
Box culvert & bridge replacement
Intersection improvements
Skelton Road, Phase II
Guardrail & striping
Sardis Road connector
Resurfacing
Grading, base & paving
Park & Ride lots
Municipal road projects
(with additional Georgia DOT funding
of $30,200,000)
Candler Road Landfill Expansion
$8,500,000
Cell construction closure & heavy
equipment
Public Safety Projects
$70,000,000
800 MHZ trunked radio system
New/expanded Detention Center
South Hall Library
$4,000,000
Park & Leisure Projects
$8,500,000
North Hall Community Park
South Hall Community Park
Fire Department Projects
$ 5,200,000
Fire station relocations
Fire Station #16
Municipal Allocations
$9,500,000
Gainesville Water
Municipal projects
TOTAL FUNDING ESTIMATE: $146,000,000
NOTE: This is a preliminary list of projects and is subject to change.