2000 ANNUAL REPORTNORTH GEORGIA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
503 WEST WAUGH STREET*DALTON, GEORGIA 30720
2000 Activity Highlights
Regional Planning
Regional Data Systems
Local Planning and Implementation
Economic Development Assistance
Development Projects
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
through service to our local governments and other stakeholders. This report briefly highlights the past years activities and initiatives of local and regional significance. A great many local, state, and federal officials and community leaders have provided support and assistance, and I thank them all. On our 30th anniversary, I would also like to remember the leadership and contributions of all who have served on the NGRDC Board of Directors and especially recognize the twenty-two past Chairmen of the NGRDC Board since 1970.
Presentation of this Year 2000 Annual Report marks the 30th anniversary of the North Georgia Regional Development Center. Many significant changes have occurred over these three decades to our physical landscape, our economy, and our quality of life. NGRDC has been a positive influence by helping our communities manage change to the benefit of the region. NGRDC continues in the new millennium to address issues and opportunities of regional importance
Sincerely,
Al Hoyle, Chairman
NGRDC Board of Directors
30th ANNIVERSARY JANUARY 27, 1970 - JANUARY 27, 2000
CHAIRMEN OF THE NGRDC BOARD
1970-71 Harold Hefner (Gilmer)
1971-72 Harold Hefner (Gilmer)
1972-73 Al Rollins (Whitfield)
1973-74 Trammel Carmichael (Cherokee)
1974-75 Benny Whitaker (Gilmer)
1975-76 Letchwich Watkins (Gilmer)
1976-77 Herb Martin (Whitfield)
1977-78 Cecil Boling (Cherokee)
1978-79 Kirby Patterson (Murray)
1979-80 E. Trammell Scott (Whitfield)
1980-81 W. F. Garrett (Cherokee)
1981-82 J.L. Hufstetler (Murray)
1982-83 Henry C. Gartrell (Gilmer)
1983-84 William J. Willis (Whitfield)
1984-85 Al Rollins (Whitfield)
1985-86 Al Rollins (Whitfield)
1986-87 Gene Hobgood (Cherokee)1987-88 Dan McEntire (Murray)
1988-89 Dan McEntire (Murray)
1989 Walton Davis (Cherokee)
1990 James A. Middleton (Whitfield)
1990-91 James A. Middleton (Whitfield)
1991-92 James A. Middleton (Whitfield)
1992-93 John N. Brandenburg (Cherokee)
1993 Martin I. Teem, Jr. (Gilmer)
1993-94 James A. Middleton (Whitfield)
1994-95 James A. Middleton (Whitfield)
1995-96 Bobby Mosteller (Murray)
1996-97 John Weaver (Pickens)
1997-98 John Weaver (Pickens)
1998 Jimmie Witherow (Murray)
1999 John Weaver (Pickens)
1999-2000 Al Hoyle (Gilmer)NGRDC develops, promotes, and assists the establishment of coordinated and comprehensive planning in the region and assists in the implementation of the plans. Highlights of activities for 2000 include:
•Completed the annual update to the North Georgia/Coosa Valley RDC Joint Comprehensive Plan Regional Agenda. •Collaborated with the State Service Delivery Region One Advisory Council's consultant to prepare a variety of informational and map materials in support of a Growth Management Initiative for the 15-county northwest Georgia area. •Completed an Assessment Of On-Site Sewage System Failures in Murray and Whitfield Counties. •Coordinated with other Regional Development Centers in finalizing a comprehensive planning project that enables RDCs to assist Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) with road centerline information; the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program public involvement process; Scenic Byway, Pedestrian, and Bikeway planning assistance; implementation of the Transportation Enhancement grant program; and historic and environmental resource data. •Coordinated with the Coosa Valley RDC in securing a contract with Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD) to conduct Source Water Assessments for 20 public water intakes in northwest Georgia. •Conducted a search for industrial sites with potential of becoming a regionally significant industrial park.
Protection of public water supply intakes is a State priority.
The NGRDC maintains an extensive regional data system that is responsive to NGRDC programs and projects and to the needs of local governments and other public and private sector data users. Data is available in numerous formats, from maps and charts, to tables and electronic files. Activity highlights for 2000 include:
•Helped local governments with appeals to add almost 2000 addresses for the 2000 Census. •Helped organize and train Census Complete Count Committees covering all 5 counties. •Trained over 400 volunteers to man assistance centers. •Distributed 1,800 Teacher Curriculum Guides and 15,000 Georgia
labor force estimates, carpet industry data, school data, employment by place of work). •Using the Geographic Information System (GIS), produced a variety of maps for local governments, regional entities, and the private sector displaying all types of data from boundaries and population, to land use and zoning, to environmental features.
Curriculum Supplements among local school systems. •Monitored Census efforts and provided feedback to Census, state and local officials. •Updated and published the 2000 edition of the North Georgia Area Data Profile. •Updated and expanded major data series maintained by NGRDC (ie.,
LOCAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
NGRDC provides assistance to local officials in preparing and implementing local comprehensive plans and in maintaining Local Qualified Government status for State programs. Activities in 2000 include:
•Assisted in updating Short-Term Work Programs for Gilmer County and Cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay; and Fannin County and Cities of Blue Ridge, McCaysville, and Morganton. •Initiated work on the new Joint Comprehensive Plan for Whitfield County and the cities of Cohutta, Dalton, Tunnel Hill, and Varnell. •Completed a draft 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan for Pickens County and Cities of Jasper, Talking Rock and Nelson. •Continued local planning services to Blue Ridge, Chatsworth, Dalton, Eton, Ellijay, Jasper, and Whitfield County with review and approval of 20 annexations; 47 subdivisions; 61 rezonings or special use reviews; 13 text amendments to zoning ordinances; and 4 major amendments to
comprehensive plans.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
NGRDC provides a variety of services to facilitate business expansion and development throughout the region. The major emphasis in 2000 was on tourism development and marketing assistance, and increasing capital investment through alternative business financing programs, as illustrated by the following highlights.
•Continued to assist the Historic High Country Travel Association with their tourism marketing and promotion efforts. •Assisted Appalachian Gateway Group (consisting of Pickens, Gilmer, Fannin, Union and Towns Counties) in conducting a tourism marketing study and preparing a promotions program for attractions along the Appalachian Development Highway (State Route 515). •Assisted the Southern Highroads Development Association in initiating a project to develop and distribute compact disks and audio cassettes that will feature attractions and amenities along that portion of the Southern Highroads Route in Georgia. •The total economic impact from tourism activities in the region in 1999 was $178,429,618 in tourism expenditures; $33,905,773 in wages supportedby tourism; 187 businesses
supported by tourism; and 2,954
jobs supported by tourism.•Continued administrative entity services to the NGCDC, Inc., a certified development corporation, which has cumulatively provided the direct financing for 119 businesses, creating approximately 1,918 jobs and an area investment of nearly $51.6 million. •Maintained NGCDC, Inc. loan program coordination and packaging services in closing three Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans, creating 40 jobs with a total area investment of $2.3 million; approved two SBA 504 loans creating 11 jobs with an investment of $1.7 million (closings pending); closed three Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) loans, creating 27 jobs with an investment of $1.0 million; and approved two RLF loans creating 30 jobs with an investment of $572, 000 (closings pending). •Initiated a new RLF Express Program for expediting smaller loans to eligible businesses. •Maintained marketing strategies for NGCDC, Inc. through program brochures, personal contacts, and the website (www.ngcdc.org).
Tourism is a rapidly growing economic sector in North Georgia due in part to tourism marketing and promotion efforts.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
NGRDC provides technical assistance to local governments, agencies, and authorities in securing available funding for infrastructure and community improvements. NGRDC assisted in the preparation of 22 project applications in the region in 2000. Grant
and/or loan projects which were funded are summarized in the table below.
Built in 1877, the old schoolhouse
is representative of early education in the Appalachian foothills.
GRANT-IN-AID/LOAN ASSISTANCE
FUNDED PROJECTSARC - Appalachian Regional Commission LDF - Local Development Fund
APPLICANT/PROJECT SOURCE/
AMOUNTLOCAL MATCH City of Jasper - Sewer line extension to a commercial site off of Highway 515 & 53. ARC
$245,190$572,100
City of JasperEllijay/Gilmer County Water & Sewerage Authority - Water/Sewer line extensions on Highway 515. ARC
$300,000$156,400
Ellijay/Gilmer Water
& Sewerage AuthorityCity of Ellijay - Employ a code enforcement officer. LLEBG
$10,000$20,000
City of EllijayCity of Jasper - Relocate the Oglethorpe Monument into the city limits and restore the monument. LDF
$10,000$18,500
City of Jasper
$8,934 (in-kind)City of Talking Rock - To purchase interior furnishings for the Talking Rock Schoolhouse Teaching Museum. LDF
$7,000$4,000
City of Talking Rock
$3,109 (in-kind)North Georgia Regional Development Center - (On behalf of the Southern Highroads Development Association) - Employ a consultant to develop an inventory of tourist attractions that will be used to create cassette tapes/CD's for a driving tour of the Georgia portion of the four state region. RAP
$25,299$4,812.50
Southern Highroads Development Association $20,586 (in-kind)
Chambers of CommerceCity of McCaysville - Various improvements including public restrooms, furnishing the new city hall, renovation of the city park, and striping downtown parking spaces. LAF
$40,000N/A TOTAL GRANT FUNDS RECEIVED $627,489
LLEBG - Local Law Enforcement Block Grant LAF - Local Assistance Fund
RAP - Regional Assistance Program
What Is NGRDC
