By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–At a busy meeting Tuesday evening, the Henry County Commission heard an update on the Paris-Henry County Industrial Park from Rob Goad, Executive Director of the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee.
The goal, he said, “is to be ahead of the game” and his office is pursuing a $1M grant which would pay for clearing trees and leveling the ground of the industrial park, located between the Hwy. 218 bypass and Russell Street.
Goad distributed information sheets which outlined deadlines for pending grant funding and maps showing work that is to be done at the site.
Only two grants are available for development costs not related to committed industry, he said: Tennessee Economic & Community Development Site Development Grants and the Tennessee Valley Authority InvestPrep Program.
The ECD grant is a $1M-5M grant depending on funding levels and currently requires a 10 percent match. The ECD only allows one grant open at a time, he said.
The TVA grant maximum request is for $500,000-$1M depending on the site and the project. It currently requires a 30 percent match from Special Opportunity Communities. The TVA grant also only allows one grant open at a time. Any prior TVA project ust be closed out prior to submitting a new proposal.
Goad said he personally is not in favor of building spec buildings. “I think it’s best to build a pad and let the industry build their own buildings on it,” he said.
The direction his office is moving, he said, “is what we’re trying to shoot for. This is what we need.”
In other business:
–The commission tabled a resolution for a farm rental contract between Henry County and Clint Diggs until the airport committee can meet to discuss it.
Diggs requested approval, noting that the farm has been in his family for 120 years. He said, “We continue to have a good relationship with the airport supervisor, like we always have.”
Commissioner David Flowers said the airport committee had not had a chance to review the request and suggested it be tabled until that could take place. Flowers said he had no problem with the request, but he just thinks the airport committee should discuss it before a vote.
–After a lengthy discussion, the commission approved an interlocal agreement over the landfill.
Photo: Rob Goad distributes information sheets to commissioners. Shannon McFarlin photo.