The home construction market and new industrial expansion have slowed in Northwest Georgia as part of an overall national trend, but infrastructure development continues in preparation for future growth, officials said.
“We continue to actively recruit manufacturers in our four-county area of Catoosa, Dade, Walker and Chattooga,” said Jeff Mullis, director of the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority. “There has been some interest from the plastics and automobile industries. Improvements are being made with roads, sewer, water and railway facilities.”
Staff Photo by D. Patrick Harding -- Work continues along Cloud Springs Road as crews expand the two-lane road to four lanes in a multimillion-dollar project.
A commercial growth corridor receiving improvements in Fort Oglethorpe is Cloud Springs Road.
The current phase of a $23 million state contract to increase capacity from two to four lanes runs from Interstate 75 to the intersection of Lakeview Drive and Cloud Springs Road.
Catoosa Utility District is upgrading a water line along the improved road, while Fort Oglethorpe wants to extend the West Chickamauga sewer interceptor from north of the road south to Battlefield Parkway.
“The upgrade of Cloud Springs Road from two to four lanes will make it a prime commercial property area,” Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Ronnie Cobb said.
He said a 175-acre tract on Mack Smith Road that reaches to Cloud Springs Road has residential growth potential. A 50-acre commercial tract is now being developed off Cloud Springs Road and Scruggs Road on the west side of Interstate 75.
“Our council wants to secure financing and complete the West Chickamauga sewer interceptor from north of Cloud Springs Road south to Battlefield Parkway,” he said.
Fort Oglethorpe resident Neil Carden said he is pleased city officials are working to attract commercial businesses to the city.
“Commercial growth is good,” he said. “It keeps taxes down.”
Ringgold City Manager Dan Wright said commercial growth areas for the city are along recently annexed Battlefield Parkway, state Highway 151 South and the truck city complex at U.S. Highway 41 and Interstate 75.
“About $4 million will be proposed in a September tax referendum to extend a sewer to that area for commercial growth,” he said.
Barnett Chitwood, Northwest Georgia Regional Development Center in Dalton, said the number of new subdivisions started a steady decline several months ago.
He said the area from North Dalton heading toward Cohutta remains popular along with western parts of Whitfield County.
Mr. Chitwood said there is more pressure on land away from the urban core in Dalton.
“Water lines in the area have reduced the lot size for homes with septic tanks,” he said.
Mr. Chitwood said more plans are being developed to expand sewer to other parts of Whitfield County.
“There are sewer needs in the Tunnel Hill and Mill Creek Road areas,” he said.
Mr. Chitwood said as industrial plant growth develops it should be south of Dalton where water lines are located.
Lori McDaniel, Dalton Utilities communications specialist, said water service was expanded to every road in the county between 1999 and 2006.
“We are in the process of expanding sewer service in the northwest area of Whitfield County,” she said.
Mr. Mullis said a major upgrade of the railroad line is planned from Rossville to Lyerly and a larger rail spur is in the works to the Walker County Industrial Park in Rock Spring.
“Dade County needs to expand its industrial park and is preparing to purchase property with funds from a new special purpose local option sales tax referendum,” he said.
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