Mathis proposes development of eco park

Grady County Joint Development Authority Executive Director Chadd Mathis has been busy brainstorming ideas to give this community a leg up when competing for new jobs and investment.
Mathis told authority members Tuesday the community needs something to make it stand out from the rest. He recently toured a new business park near Griffin that it is billing itself as an “eco industrial park.”
The JDA executive believes a similar approach could be used for the city’s former land application sewer project site on Wight Road, which is already home to a couple of local businesses.
“I could see this being developed with a green development theme and maybe incorporate some natural features and implement some walking trails,” Mathis said.
Approximately 200 acres of the site cannot be developed. It was deeded to the county as part of the mitigation for Tired Creek Lake.
Mathis suggested an existing pond on the property could be used to enhance the landscaping.
According to Mathis, over $20 million was invested in the eco park in Griffin and it is already home to three international companies and officials are negotiating with another tenant.
He acknowledged that the Griffin development is close to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Interstate 75, but he said on a smaller scale, a similar project could be done here and it is quickly accessible to Interstate 10 and the Tallahassee International Airport.
“This is a concept that would be good to model a park by. It would be a good scenario and could be done here,” Mathis said.
Tuesday’s presentation was the first authority members had heard of the concept, so there was no discussion of the proposal.