Retail Initiative on Target
In 2006, the Greater Hall Chamber, led by former Chamber Chairman Dick Valentine, United Community Bank, began a Retail Initiative to expand and attract quality retail establishments to Gainesville-Hall County. Since the program initiation, over 600,000 square feet of new retail space has been added.
In April, Pacolet Milliken Enterprises announced the development of a new 460,000 square-foot planned retail/commercial development at the intersection of Jesse Jewell Parkway and Limestone Parkway in Gainesville.
Tim Evans, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development, said the development planned by Pacolet Milliken could boost the local economy by creating roughly 1,000 jobs and additional benefits. “With every dollar that’s spent, sales taxes generated that will stay here in Gainesville-Hall County,” said Evans. “The benefits of a high-quality retail project are numerous including additional tourism, quality of life and sales tax dollars to support education and infrastructure.”
Evans said the development may be in the conceptual stages by the end of this year with an opening date of 2011 or early 2012. Carolina Holdings, Inc. was retained by Pacolet Milliken Enterprises to develop the 55-acre site.
“We believe Gainesville is under-served in many retail categories,” said Bill Misiaveg, principal of Carolina Holdings. “Notwithstanding the current economic environment, the strategic location of the site combined with the growth characteristics of the market will provide the impetus for a development of the size and scale we are planning.”
“The goal of the Retail Initiative is to provide Gainesville-Hall County’s growing population base with quality developments that will allow our community to become a retail destination for Northeast Georgians,” noted Evans. “This new development is precisely what our economic development team seeks to add in retail options and benefits for our community.”
——