East Ridge City Council

The federal government may boost eco-tourism in East Ridge with a $1.6 million stimulus grant that city officials expect to be approved soon.

During a special called meeting Friday, the East Ridge City Council unanimously approved a land transfer agreement for 120 wooded acres next to Camp Jordan. East Ridge had to acquire the land from Luken Holdings to complete an application for federal stimulus money meant to preserve flood plains.

If the grant is approved, $500,000 of the grant will go to Luken, which as part of the deal will erect two billboards on the property near Interstate 75, and the remaining $1.1 million of unrestricted money can be used by East Ridge.

City Manager William Whitson said he dreams of turning the area next to Chickamauga Creek into a nature preserve with walking and biking trails as well as an area for canoeing.

“This is something else we could offer visitors to our area to do,” Mr. Whitson said during the meeting at East Ridge City Hall.

City Attorney John Anderson said the land transfer agreement must be completed for East Ridge to have enough property to be considered for the grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

With that business settled, city officials then had to finish the grant application by June 1, so they had no choice but to call the meeting Friday afternoon, they said.

“Every once in a while the stars align, and I think that’s what’s happened here,” Mr. Whitson said. “This is a fast-moving train.”

The property transfer is contingent on the city receiving the grant, Mr. Whitson said. After a high score on an initial grant application, the city manager said he is optimistic that East Ridge will receive the money within the next couple of weeks.