Grading on potential industrial property on the northwest corner of Ga. 53 and Ga. 140 is expected to begin soon, said Al Hodge (GA, '10), president of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. The Rome-Floyd County Development Authority and Development Authority of Floyd County, which own the property, approved a contract for the work Tuesday.
Brad Cole Construction of Carrollton will grade 68 acres of the 100-acre tract for $1,310,608. The highest of the nine bids was $7,468,491.10. Assistant Floyd County Manager Gary Burkhalter said the preliminary estimates for the work were between $700,000 and $900,000. Cole’s original bid figure was $1,496,608, but it was negotiated down.
The 2013 special purpose, local option sales tax package included funds that will pay to make the property pad ready for a potential industry.
“We are working with active prospects, plural, on various sites in the community including the 100-acre site,” Hodge said. The contract calls for the project to be substantially completed within 300 days from the date the contractor gets the order to proceed.