Coweta County Administrator Theron Gay last week provided an overview of 2012 economic and other accomplishments across Coweta to members of the Newnan Kiwanis Club. The report showed Coweta in better shape than many of its neighbors.
A sampling of Gay’s report spanned areas that included an overview of countywide activities, the county’s economy and local government, transportation and recreational, cultural and social issues.
In the overview, Gay said the state of Coweta’s economy is good despite the slowed growth brought on during the past few years from the effects of the recession. He said local revenues are down but good economic signs are emerging.
Examples of the uptick in the Coweta economy include recent developments such as the Cancer Treatment Centers of America hospital at Ashley Park, the new Piedmont Newnan Hospital on Poplar Road at Interstate 85, the 40,000 sq. ft. medical building across from the new hospital, ongoing construction of the new car dealership on Ga. Highway 34 and a number of other smaller developments around the county during the past year.
Among the road projects in the report was the reclamation and paving of 31 miles on 17 roads. And while not a completed project by any stretch, significant work is continuing on what has been approved by the state and federal governments, and partially funded through local dollars, for the full-diamond interchange at Poplar Road and I-85. The project is currently in the preliminary engineering phase, with eventual planning and construction costs totaling $21 in local money and $27 million in state and federal funds. Construction could begin by 2016.
Gay in the portion of the report on recreational, cultural and social issues noted the continuation of filming for the AMC network production of “The Walking Dead,” soon to begin filming its fourth season in Senoia and areas of Coweta County. Film projects in 2012 also included the “Drop Dead Diva” television show.
And in terms of recreation, Gay noted work on three new ballfields, parking lots and a concession stand at Andrew Bailey Park and at the soccer field on Ebenezer Church Road at the county’s central library.
