John Coffelt, Editor

The Coffee County Industrial Board unanimously approved a policy during the Jan. 15 meeting to raise the cost of acreage in the industrial parks.

CCIB Park Development Committee Chairman William “Huel” Goldston said the land price rate has not been adjusted in a long time.

“We did a comparison to similar communities and (the committee voted to) increase prices,” Goldston said.    

The cost of Industrial Park Land will go from $15,000 per acre to $30,000 for uncertified land and $40,000 for certified land.

Industrial Board Chairman Young said certified land is property that has had due diligence processes started and Phase One environmental surveys done.

The board approved the motion 8-0 with Member Jaine Colley absent.  

Coffee County in top consideration for Projects Greenhouse, Epic

Coffee County Industrial Board Executive Director Anne Hosea-Majors said during the Dec. 18 meeting of the CCIB that two Coffee County Industrial Parks were in the running to be selected for a new industrial plant. The names of industrial projects are kept private during the selection process and referred to by codenames.

Hosea-Majors said the county is top two contenders for Projects Greenhouse and Project Epic. One is looking at the Manchester Industrial Park and the other at the Joint Industrial Park.

Hosea-Majors told Industrial Board members that representatives with Project Greenhouse returned on Tuesday, Jan. 21 for a second site visit that followed one in November.

“We’ve had almost daily meetings and calls with the Project Greenhouse as their interest grows in our community,” she said.

“We’ve been in close contact with Project Epic…That one is looking promising,” Hosea-Majors said.

Project Epic has interest in the Coffee County Joint Industrial Park on the New Tullahoma Highway.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.