A citizens committee is recommending the county prepare a new industrial park for prospective tenants using funding from a special purpose, local option sales tax extension.

The SPLOST Citizens Advisory Committee rejected a similar application in 2006, but included $5.98 million for the project in the $41.9 million recommended package this year.

“I think

‘job creation’ could be a hard sell to voters, but keep in mind no one knew Pirelli was coming until there was an announcement,” member Randy Quick said.

The Rome City and Floyd County commissions, along with the Cave Spring City Council, will hold a joint session July 29 to finalize the package that will go before voters in November. The open meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. at The Forum in downtown Rome.

If approved, the 1-cent collection would continue without a break when the 2006 SPLOST expires July 1, 2010, and would last 33 months.

The industrial park earmark would go toward buying the land needed to make up a 375-acre site on the northeast corner of Ga. 140 and 53.

Easy access to Interstate 75, Richard B. Russell Regional Airport and railroad tracks are touted as additional attractions.

David Newby, chairman of the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority, said purchase options on the parcels totaling $7.8 million expire in February 2010, but could be extended if funding was on the horizon.

“This is an investment in our community’s economic future,” he told committee members during a presentation of the project’s merits. “Where will our children work?”

The authority initially sought $9.9 million, to include $2 million worth of basic site improvements, but lowered the request to the bare minimum under pressure from the SPLOST Committee.

Floyd County, the Rome Water and Sewerage Department and the Georgia Department of Transportation are among the entities promising contributions, Newby said, once the property is under government control.

Committee member Barbara Beninato agreed the purchase of land to lure industry that should be paying its own way could be a “hard sell.” But she noted the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. makes northwest Georgia a prime location for second-tier auto suppliers.

“Chattanooga started leveling the area and putting in streets before Volkswagen said they were coming,” she said. “I think we have to be prepared for opportunities.”

Members Bill Davin and Larry Atwell questioned the application sponsors on the risk involved in committing the money, especially when the site has been marketed for several years with no takers.

Newby said the economy would likely have turned around by the time infrastructure is installed.

And Al Hodge, president and CEO of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, emphasized infrastructure is the key to competitiveness.

“We’ve shown the site to consultants, state economic development officials and employers. But if you don’t have it prepared, all you have is a concept,” he said. “The more steps that are done, the more attractive it is.”

Officials said money from the sale of the prepared sites would be used to ready more land for industrial prospects.

Click here to see the industrial park application.

2009 SPLOST applications*

Projects recommended by the SPLOST panel:

Countywide Communications System — $26,696,250

Coosa Valley Regional Development Center Building Expansion —$1,899,631

Fire Dept Headquarters Renovation with Rome-Floyd Emergency Operations Center — $4,000,000

Barron Stadium Renovations — $3,369,000

Industrial Park — $5,983,500

Total — $41,948,381

Projects removed:

Cave Spring Water System Improvements — $350,000

System wide recreation improvements — $1,600,000

City Auditorium Renovations — $1,300,000

North Georgia Regional Fairgrounds and Horse Park — $12,000,000

Regional Recycling Center — $5,600,000

Etowah Park — $680,000

Alto Park — $206,000

Lock and Dam Park — $305,000

Ridge Ferry Park — $402,000

Riverview Park — $178,500

Shannon Park — $383,500

Armuchee Park — $305,000

Garden Lakes Park — $103,000

Wolfe Park and Gilbreath Recreation Center — $125,000

Rome-Floyd Tennis Center — $48,000

Coosa Park — $105,000

Cave Spring Park — $55,000

Heritage Park — $40,000

Riverside Park — $110,000

Midway Park — $350,000

Eagle Park — $25,500

*These are projects submitted to the Citizens SPLOST Advisory Committee. The Rome, Floyd County and Cave Spring elected bodies will finalize a package to put before voters countywide on Nov. 3. Some of the costs have been revised since the original $77,383,550 list was released.