By Helen Borland / Staff

Brandon Beach was recognized at the Roswell City Council meeting Feb. 1 for bringing the “Opportunity Zone” to the city in an effort to create jobs.

This is “a tool in our toolbox to attract companies to Roswell,” said Beach, CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and a Georgia Department of Transportation board member. Kimberly-Clark was mentioned as a company in the Opportunity Zone that could bring new jobs from out-of-state.

Also on the podium was Penn Hodge, a real estate investment and venture capital firm manager, who told council members that Roswell is the only impoverished area in the 400 corridor. “I think it [the Opportunity Zone] is a no-brainer because there’s no cost [to the city]“ he said.

Joe Young, an attorney who has been working with Alice Wakefield in the Department of Community Development, also stepped up to the podium to support the urban redevelopment plan in Roswell. 

At a previous work session, he had given council members an overview of the program, but he reiterated some key points: The Opportunity Zone is based on the 2000 census; no money is paid out; a tax credit is available to any employer who hires at least two employees; employers don’t have to apply for the tax credit — they are entitled to it; and the tax credit is worth up to $3,500 per employee a year for five years.

Young reminded council members that after Union City applied to become an Opportunity Zone, approval was granted within 60 days and 1,200 jobs were created within six months.

Councilwoman Becky Winn was excited about the prospect for Roswell. “I want to rival Union City with 1,200 jobs,” she said.

Alice Wakefield reminded the council that a public hearing, required for the plan’s approval, will be held at City Hall at the Feb. 8 council meeting.

Stuart  Moring, director of the Roswell Environmental / Public Works Department, presented a resolution to submit a grant project through the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (MNGWPD).

The council approved four improvement plans: The water supply on Big Creek needs to be redesigned and built to the latest varied conditions; the Big Creek Sub-Basin needs rehabilitation due to bank erosion and high flows; two dams need to be rebuilt at the Leita Thompson Park; and a million-gallon elevated tank is needed to provide water storage during peak demands.

If federal funds are made available, a match of 35 to 40 percent from the city will be required. The total cost of all the projects was estimated at  $2.5 million to $2.7 million. The council authorized a request for federal appropriation, an amount not to exceed $2.7 million, which would cost Roswell taxpayers between $875,000 and $1.08 million for these projects. Moring said an award decision could be made in about a year.