Banks County officials have been promised as much as $5 million for a sewer project at Martin Bridge Road for the past several years but have yet to get any of the funds.
Elected officials and other county leaders are again traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with senators and congressmen to find out if these funds are still available and when they will come to the county.
This is the sixth year that the Banks County Chamber of Commerce has organized this annual visit to Washington, D.C. This year’s trip was scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Chamber executive director Tara Fulcher said the trip will “continue to bring significant value and exposure to Banks County by having our legislators focus on issues essential to our community.”
“We are prepared to show our shovel-ready projects, our work toward being a Work Certified Community and our assets already in place to train the work force,” Fulcher said. “We are identifying where the federal funding needs are and are prepared to show our need in those areas. Our desire is to see all of Banks County expand and grow.”
Fulcher said the focus during the trip will be: “an assessment of the pre-existing proposed money for sewer infrastructure, expansion of existing water, influxes of funds for an industrial park and support for the continuation of community block grants.
Banks County Board of Commission chairman Milton Dalton said the group planned to meet with three or four senators and representatives.
“We will be talking about the money that the county has requested for sewer work at the Martin Bridge Road area,” Dalton said. “We are going to see what else we can get promised, whether we get it or not.”
Those going on the trip include: Fulcher, Dalton, Jerry Boling, Wayne Abernathy, Mike Kelley, Robin Trotter and Joseph Greer.
Fulcher said: “We look forward to working with and for our county’s local, state and Washington leaders today and tomorrow to ensure the chamber’s mission statement rings true throughout our county — ‘To promote existing businesses and agriculture within its community while supporting the attraction of new business opportunities.’”
