The first $10 million installment of the state's three-year, $30 million economic development package for Augusta is expected to arrive in late June or early July.
Although this is cause for jubilation, some members of the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corp. -- the agency charged with distributing the funds -- say they worry that the list of projects to benefit from the money is being changed, that some of the more popular projects are in limbo and that the board as a whole is being left out of the loop.
These issues are expected to be addressed at Monday afternoon's board meeting.
State Sen. Charles Walker, who is credited with much of the work that brought the money to the Garden City in the first place, has acknowledged that the list of projects to be funded this year has changed and could continue to change.
Mr. Walker said the board has had a lot of preliminary talks on where the money should go.
``Some of the money will go to the Augusta Commons project, some to beautify the main entrances to the city, some for the housing development in the Laney-Walker neighborhood, some in tourism and attractions ... (some to) work at the Augusta Canal,'' said Mr. Walker, who serves as vice chairman of the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corp.
Money also will be used for the Golf Hall of Fame and the Springfield Village Park project.
``None of this is final,'' Mr. Walker said. ``Where the money is going, the board has to approve all of that.''
But when board member and Augusta Commissioner Lee Beard was asked whether he knew the list could change, he replied: ``I don't think it has changed. The board has the authority to change the list, but I think most of it has been talked about and agreed upon. I thought we voted on it.''
Board member Julian Osbon, who also serves as head of Augusta Tomorrow, said he has found the list to be ``very fluid.''
``There's lots of softness to it,'' he said. ``I don't think the board has been included as much as it should. There's been some concern we're not as informed or as included as we need to be. But it's still a work in progress. I don't think it's time to panic. We just need to make sure we're focused on what our goals are. The board doesn't need to start having to micromanage things, but it is very important for the long-term success of the organization that we sign off on certain things so when things get rough and we get criticism from the community, we can all take the blame.''
Board member H.M. ``Monty'' Osteen described the process simply as having ``growing pains.''
``Just like any new organization, you think you've thought of everything and you haven't,'' he said. ``We'll work everything out. This type of organization is new to Augusta; we're learning as we go along.''
Former Augusta Mayor Charles A. DeVaney is now serving as the interim executive director of the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corp. He said none of the board members has mentioned changing the list of projects to be funded.
``They could change, I suppose,'' Mr. DeVaney said. ``As our board meets, we could change our minds. It's a preliminary list, but as the board votes on projects, things could change.''
Right now, Mr. DeVaney said, the distribution list includes $4 million for housing and neighborhood development, $500,000 to improve gateways and corridors to Augusta, $500,000 for the Augusta Canal and $500,000 for Springfield Village Park.
An earlier version of the projects to be funded this year showed housing and neighborhood development receiving $4.5 million and the gateways and corridors project getting $1 million. No funding was listed for either the Springfield Village Park or Augusta Canal projects.
Bernie Silverstein, who serves as chairman of the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corp., said the flexibility of the list is a good thing.
``Money can be put where it's needed most,'' he said.
Regardless of the amounts ultimately distributed to each project, Mr. Walker said the most significant item on the list is neighborhood development.
``I think the most important thing to us is to rehabilitate the housing infrastructure. The impact is outstanding. We're helping 600 and 700 families,'' Mr. Walker said. ``I think this is real important. Look at the total economic impact: Once you rehabilitate and build those houses, and you sell them at $65,000 to $75,000 ... What's $70,000 times 700? Almost $50 million.
``This is a real economic impact to the Augusta community.''
Mr. Walker said he and a group of community leaders, politicians and city planners originally came up with a list of 25 items that should be addressed with the economic funds from the state.
Since then, the list has been whittled down to 10 or 12 items that need money this year.
As the list has shortened, Mr. Walker said he and others have left off the list those items that may take longer to develop, such as the Merry Ponds Rowing Regatta venue.
The project would transform a portion of the Merry Brickyard ponds into a national rowing site.
``The thinking is there are some environmental questions that neither ANIC or the state wants to get tied up in,'' Mr. Walker said. ``People are concerned about river races in natural habitats and the impact on the birds and the turtles. Even though there is no gasoline involved, people say the large number of people, the trash and the oars, the rowing would disturb the natural environment. That's a debate that could very well go on for a long time.''
Local projects
The current list of projects to be funded with the first $10 million of the state's economic development money:
Housing and Neighborhood Development:
$4 million
The Gateways and Corridors project:
$500,000
Augusta Commons:
$1 million
Springfield Village Park:
$500,000
Feasibility study for Paine College's health science center:
$250,000
Feasibility study for an Augusta aquarium:
$250,000
Feasibility study for a Phinizy Swamp Nature Park:
$250,000
The Augusta Canal:
$500,000
Economic Development Loan Program:
$500,000
Biotech/Biomedical Research Authority:
$1 million
Medical research facility:
$1 million
Local certifiable community housing organizations ($250,000)
Source: Charles A. DeVaney
January's list of projects:
Housing and Neighborhood Development:
$4.5 million
Augusta Commons:
$1 million
The Gateways and Corridors Project:
$1 million
Development of a biomedical industrial park:
$1.5 million
Feasibility study for an Augusta aquarium:
$250,000
Two other projects -- a feasibility study for Paine College's health science center and the development of a medical research institute in Augusta -- were on the list, but a monetary amount for each had not been established.
Source: Georgia Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker
Reach Justin Martin at (706) 823-3552.
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