Could Fayette

County reap some economic benefits from a proposed Ford plant in Meriwether

County?

While Ford

officials refuse to confirm they're looking at placing a plant in Fayette's

neighbor to the south, speculation has run rampant in the last two weeks

from the existing Ford plant in Hapeville to the corridors of government.

Three weeks

ago, Meriwether and Coweta officials discussed the use of a site near

Grantville for a "major" industrial project.

Word then leaked

out that Ford Motor Company was looking at the site for a possible new

factory, or moving the operations from its Hapeville plant to Meriwether

County.

The site is

being marketed by the Tri-County Development Authority, which includes

Fayette County.

Fayette County

Development Authority CEO Chris Clark said he'll know more about the plans

next week.

"We're

meeting Monday in Warm Springs, and I'll have a better feel for the project,"

Clark said.

Whether Ford

moves or builds an additional plant, Clark said the key is keeping the

auto giant in the south metro area.

"It looks

like Ford wants to have more of its suppliers near the plant, which could

help us in any scenario," he said.

Clark said

the county still has 500 acres left of industrial space left that he would

love to show to some of the supply companies.

The choice

for a new plant location is apparently between Meriwether and Morgan County,

according to published reports, but Ford could not comment on any negotiations.

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