Carbondale area: Room for growth

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January 26, 2010

Jamie Jones

Like many small business owners throughout the nation, Eugene Miller is living on faith.

Double-digit, record-high unemployment, lingering doubts about the economy and a yo-yoing stock market have that effect. But Miller hopes a new industrial park covering 150 acres near the Carbondale exit off I-75 will be a boost for his restaurant, Miller Brothers Barbecue, which is just a few hundred feet from the site. County officials hope it’s a much bigger boost.

“Any signs of progress to me is always good with the economy the way it is,” said Miller, noting the restaurant will mark its two-year anniversary in April. “It’s going to cause an increase in people looking to that part of town. To me, there’s a lot of room for growth in that area. That’s what I’m hoping for, that it will cause some growth.”

Last week, the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to buy 150 acres in south Whitfield County for $5.25 million from several property owners. The park targets six industries: advanced manufacturing, automotive, chemicals, data center, plastics and retail. It includes two large sites and five smaller parcels. Its main entrance is along South Dixie Highway, about a half mile from exit 326 off the interstate.

Today, the land is covered with trees and vegetation. The park is expected to open in early April. Lots will be offered for sale in the spring at a price that includes land and utility expenses. The project is being funded through a Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority bond issue. Included is an unspecified amount of money to help businesses pay for utilities to the site.

Economic development has been scarce at the Carbondale exit. Just one exit two miles north, Connector 3 is peppered with carpet outlets and plants for major floorcovering companies such as Shaw Industries.

At the Carbondale exit, there are three convenience stores just a few feet from the northbound and southbound exit ramps. Further east on Carbondale Road is a large Pilot Travel Center that was built several years ago and houses a McDonald’s and Subway. The center also includes a large truck repair shop. Just a few hundred feet south of the future industrial park is a strip mall where Miller Brothers Barbecue is located. Some storefronts are vacant. Current businesses include Domino’s Pizza, a martial arts studio and a salon. Miller said there are several new businesses expected to open at the strip mall.

Few people at the Pilot Travel Center were aware of the county’s plans. Some were indifferent, while others were concerned about added traffic.

“It’s progress, I guess,” said Tamara Wilkins, who lives over the county line in Resaca. “This area has been kind of a sleepy town for years. It seems like a logical place to put new businesses.”

Last year, the county paid $1.28 million for land near the South Bypass and Connector 3. The land is the home of vinyl manufacturer IVC U.S. Inc. Company officials said they plan to invest $70 million, create 115 jobs and build a 520,000-square-foot plant. It is expected to open in late 2011. The county and state gave IVC several million dollars in incentives — including property tax breaks and grants — to help lure the company to Whitfield County.

For years, neither the city nor county actively sought new business because the floorcovering industry was still growing. Now that the industry has matured, the county has become a recruiter, board of commissioners chairman Mike Babb said. The IVC project put the county “on the map” and signaled officials here are serious about economic development, he said.

Commissioner Randy Waskul said with 3,000 feet of the property fronting I-75, the new industrial park should make an attractive destination for businesses looking to expand or locate to Whitfield County. With Wacker Chemical building a $1 billion polysilicon plant in Bradley County, Tenn., and Volkswagen constructing a $1 billion manufacturing plant in Chattanooga that is estimated to create 2,000 jobs, Whitfield County could be in line for satellite business.

“This is prime real estate for new development, especially with Volkswagen coming in and their partners, along with the news from Wacker Chemical,” Waskul said. “The interstate front property will provide a wealth of opportunity.”