Bradley County will not only be getting a new 330.6-acre industrial park at Exit 20 of I-75 next year, hundreds of acres nearby are expected to be developed with hotels, restaurants and other commercial and office projects.
Doug Berry, vice president, economic development at the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, said some investors have assembled 200 acres along APD 40 by the new Spring Branch Industrial Park.
Another 200 tract closer to Highway 11 will also be available for development.
And he said another 300-acre property near Highway 11, that was offered to be part of the industrial park, may also see commercial development.
It all was made possible by a fly-over being built by TDOT that accesses the site, which currently has no paved entryway off APD 40.
Motorists will be able to get off Exit 20 and head toward Highway 11, then exit to the right toward the new industrial park and the new commercial developments.
Motorists will be able to head back toward I-75 by taking a new bridge over APD 40 and circling back toward the freeway.
The Bradley County Commission on Tuesday night voted to apply to the state to go forward with the industrial park.
After that is approved by a state board, the city and county are set to put up $3 million each to put in sewers and water and build roads at the site. Mr. Berry said the entire infrastructure cost is expected to be around $7.5 million. He said it is hoped that an industrial prospect will be landed while the roads are still being built. He said grants could then be sought to serve that client at a particular site at the park.
He said some leads on prospects are being worked.
TVA is being asked to provide $500,000 to prepare pads for the expected industries.
Mr. Berry said the TDOT access road should be ready by October.
He said work should begin on the infrastructure in September and October and it should be completed by next July or August.
The Bradley County Commission approved a no-tax-increase budget for the 17th consecutive year.
County Mayor D. Gary Davis said the last tax hike was in 1999 and was made to help build Walker Valley High School.
Milan Blake, who heads the commission's finance committee, called it "a pivotal budget and a game changer" because it takes a pay-as-you-go stance toward capital projects. He said, "This will reduce the debt for future generations."