PERIODICALSPOSTAGE

PAIDRome, GA

30161

G R E A T E R R O M E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C EMomentum

October 2013

*Learn more about the SPLOST with FAQ’s

T h e P o w e r o f T h e P e n n y

*12 SPLOST Projects and how your 1 ¢ can make them a reality

We’ve Got YouCOVERED

Immediate Care1825 Martha Berry Blvd.

Rome, GA 30165706-238-8073harbinclinic.com/immediatecare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

For Advertising and Editorial Information:

706-291-7663

Published by:Greater Rome

Chamber of Commerce1 Riverside Parkway

Rome, Georgia 30161

October 2013 3

G R E A T E R R O M E C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C EMomentum

October 2013

On the Cover:

All content by:

Blake BufordCommunications Coordinator

Momentum (USPS 395-030)Published monthly by the Greater

Rome Chamber of Commerce, 1 Riverside Parkway, Rome, GA 30161.

Periodical Postage Paid - Rome, GA 30161. Subscription Rate $25 per year

in U.S.A.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MOMENTUM, 1 Riverside Parkway,

Rome, GA 30161

The SPLOST and ESPLOST are “penny” taxes that are

voted on by the community. If approved, the SPLOST and

ESPLOST will provide funding to priority projects chosen by the Citizens Advisory Committee.

In this Issue...SPLOST Projects

FAQ’s with David Newby ..........................................6

Animal Control Center/Dog Park ..........................8

Rome-Floyd Recycling Center. ...............................9

Industrial Land/Expanded Trail Connectivity 10

The Forum ................................................................. 12

Tennis Center of GA at Berry College .............. 14

Richard B. Russell Runway Extension .............. 15

Fannin Hall ................................................................ 16

Coosa High School and County School Upgrades ..................................... 18

Ribbon Cuttings/Chamber Happenings. ....... 20

New Members.......................................................... 21

Renewals/Advertiser’s Index............................... 22

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

C h e c k t h e co m m u n i t y c a l e n d a r a t w w w. r o m e g a . co m fo r e ve nt d e t a i l s .

242013 Sporting Clays TournamentLocation: 597 Barnsley Gardens RoadTime: 12:00 p.m.Event Description: The 7th Annual Sporting Clays Tournament at Barnsley Gardens is a benefit fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia.

3-6A Grand Night for SingingLocation: E.H. Young Theatre2277 Martha Berry Highway Time: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.Event Description: Berry College Theatre Company presents Rodgers & Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing. Come join us at the E.H. Young Theatre and hear all the show songs you know and love.

12Riverwood Retirement Life Community Annual Car ShowLocation: 511 West 10th StreetTime: 9:00 a.m. Event Description: A car show to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association (Team Riverwood), there will be beautiful cars, live music, food and fun for the whole family!

12-13Wings Over North Georgia AirshowLocation: 304 Russell Field Road NETime: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Event Description: Outstanding performers, competitors and special guests from across our great nation will come to participate in the second annual 2013 Wings Over North Georgia Airshow & Smoke-n-Thunder BBQ Classic.

Community Events October

Dear Reader,

Exciting things are happening in Rome and Floyd County!2013 has been a great year and we are delighted to share our community with you. The Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce takes great pride in providing this publication to introduce you to our membership, manufacturers, small businesses and community.

This issue features FAQ’s on SPLOST and spotlights different SPLOST projects. This edition also features a Chamber recap and New Members and Renewals. Don’t forget to take a look at the Community Calendar and experience the vibrancy of Rome and Floyd County for yourself. As the 2013 Chairman of the Board of Directors, I would like

to extend an invitation for you to visit the Chamber of Commerce located at 1 Riverside Parkway and meet the Chamber staff. You will find an incredible group that is truly committed to the future of Rome and Floyd County.Sincerely,

Doc KiblerState Mutual Insurance Company2013 Chairman of the Board, Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce

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3Rome Athletic Club Ribbon CuttingLocation: 2 Center St NW10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

9Cornerstone Insurance Solutions Ribbon CuttingLocation: 105 Redmond Rd NW11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

24Affordable Care Act SeminarLocation: Georgia Highlands College (Lakeview Auditorium)3175 Cedartown Hwy SE 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Chamber Events

October 2013 5

Dual Accreditation

www.acsi.orgwww.sacs.org

Train a child in the way he should go.Proverbs 22:6

2960 New Calhoun Hwy NE • Rome, GA www.unitychristianschool.org • (706) 292-0700

IMPACTthe world

Unity Christian School• 3 year olds through 12th grades

• College Preparatory

• Biblical Worldview

• Fine Arts & Athletic Programs

Chamber Events

Healthcare Companies in the World, Fortune MagazineFive Years in a Row • 2009 – 2013

At Kindred, we understand that when people are discharged from a traditional hospital, they often need continued care to recover completely. That’s where we come in.

Our nationwide network of transitional care hospitals is designed for medically complex patients who require continued care and extended recovery time.

We specialize in:• ventilator weaning and management• complex wound care• short-term rehabilitation• dialysis• IV antibiotic therapy

Doctors, case managers, social workers and family members don’t stop caring simply because their loved one or patient has changed location. Neither do we.

Kindred Hospital Rome304 Turner McCall BlvdRome, Georgia 30165

706.378.6800 • 888.487.9519 faxGA TDD/TTY# 800.255.0135

www.kindredrome.com

Where You RecoveR Affects hoW You RecoveR

© 2013 Kindred Healthcare Operating, Inc. CSR 168252-01, EOE

October 2013 6

SPLOST Rome-Floyd Citizens Advisory Committee Chair and General Manager of Profile Extrusion, David Newby, breaks down what the SPLOST is, how it affects you

and what happens if you vote YES or NO.FAQ’s

Q - Define SPLOST.

A - SPLOST is an acronym for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. A SPLOST is a special tax on a local level that has to be approved by the voters. The projects selected have to deal with capital type projects and the funds can’t be used to pay for wages. The SPLOST could be considered one of the “fairest” taxes. Sometimes you will have officials who make the decision to tax and then decide how to spend the funds, with the SPLOST the people essentially decide if they want to invest and what they want to be done.

Q - What are some past SPLOST projects?

A - The Etowah River Bridge, The Forum, the Judicial Center, Walker Mountain Landfill, the Floyd County Jail, Rome-Floyd Law Enforcement Center and Parking Deck, State Mutual Stadium, Water Treatment Plant, Floyd County Health Department, South Rome Boys & Girls Club, Rome-Floyd Recreation Headquarters & Gymnastics Center, Town Green, ECO Center, Armuchee Connector and Barron Stadium to name a few. It’s easy to forget how many great projects were created through SPLOST.

Q - How is the SPLOST money collected?

A - SPLOST funds are collected through the sales tax. Whenever a local or visitor purchases something, if a SPLOST is active, one percent of that sales tax goes toward funding the SPLOST projects. The last SPLOST (that was approved 5 years ago) ended in June and was dropped from the sales tax. Voting yes for this SPLOST would return us to 7% on April 1st, 2014 and continue for five years.

Q - What is the Citizens Advisory Committee’s role in regards to the SPLOST?

A - The Citizens Advisory Committee takes all the projects that the community brings forth (there were 40+ projects this time) and determines what should be recommended to the commissioners to be put on the tax referendum. The committee spends several weeks listening to the different presentations, asking questions, visiting locations that might involve the projects and then deciding as a group what should be recommended. These are not politicians, they are community members from different areas, with different ages and different likes/dislikes. This diverse group of 12, whittled the cost from $180 million to under $65 million and worked to choose the projects the community most needs.

Q - What happens if the community votes no?

A - If the community votes no, many of these projects will never be completed. Some of them could potentially be reintroduced during a future SPLOST. Other projects HAVE to be completed, whether they would be completed through a possible property tax or some other method is undecided.

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October 2013 7

A.) Unity Point, created in conjunction with the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, has since seen much erosion due to the rising and falling waters.B.) The sewers will receive much needed updates to help with corrosion and leaking.C.) Burnett Ferry Road will receive widened sidewalks that will help get pedestrians off of the road.D.) Chulio Hills will get a bus entrance that will make it much safer for kids getting on and off the bus every day.

Q - Can you clarify how we get to 5%/6%/7% sales tax?

A - Our general taxes amount to the 5% you pay on each purchase. If our county had no active SPLOST or ESPLOST we would have 5% sales tax. With SPLOST (1%) and ESPLOST (1%) active our county would have 7% sales tax. In June the SPLOST ended, dropping us from 7% to 6% sales tax. Voting yes on the upcoming SPLOST and ESPLOST would return us to 7% sales tax. Voting no would drop it to 5%, but it would also mean sacrificing the great projects on our lists.

Q - Define ESPLOST.

A - Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. It is a one percent sales tax on retail goods. Revenues from this tax must be used for specific capital improvement projects at local schools. Approximately 90% of the district’s operating budget pays salaries of teachers and staff. The remaining portion covers daily operating expenses such as utilities, textbooks and supplies. The school district receives very little funding from the state that could be used for school building construction, maintenance or technology. Voting yes for ESPLOST means projects like the new Coosa High School and select special projects in the city and county school districts can be completed.

Q - If I vote for ESPLOST and not SPLOST will ESPLOST projects be built faster?

A - No, ESPLOST and SPLOST are paid for through different pennies. Saying no to one won’t speed up the projects on the other list.

Q - Voting yes on either will cost me too much money!

A - If you make $30,000 and were able to spend every penny, the SPLOST would cost you under $400 a year! It’s also important to know that between 30 and 40% of the SPLOST is funded through visitors and people passing through our county. In essence, visitors are giving us a 40% discount on these projects. Every time you make a purchase in a neighboring county you help pay for their SPLOST projects. We think it is truly the most fair way to fund these wonderful projects.

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$1.8 Million

$1.0 Million

$2.721 Million

$800,000

A

B

C

D

October 2013 8

Animal Control Center& Dog Park .............................................................................................................................

Citizens for Progress Chair Ali Freeman on the Animal Control Center/Dog Park and why

voters should careThe importance of the center...

“The Floyd County Animal Control Department is responsible for all animal control operations, including field operations, shelter management and care, and the animal adoption/rescue program for Floyd County Animal Control. They provide quality customer service in all phases of animal control operations and quality care for all animals in Floyd County. The facility is currently just over 7,000 square feet. This center is dealing with hundreds of dogs/cats on a monthly basis. Last year the shelter was receiving between 30-40 cats on a daily basis. We have a larger animal population in this county than some people may know and we’ve got to be able to control it. Some of the animals can be sent to rescue groups, but the current facility just can’t meet the needs of our animal population.”

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What is included with this upgrade?....................................................“A new facility that has been proposed will have about 80 cages for large animals and 140 for smaller animals. The facility would need materials that are easily cleaned and sloping floors with drainage into a central piping system that can be cleaned. It would have a true quarantine area as well as a stronger, more efficient ventilation system. Along with the facility, money would be allotted to a dog park. At this time it hasn’t been decided whether the park would be located next to or away from the shelter, but it would be exclusively used by dog owners and not for our shelter animals.”

Why should people vote yes?....................................................

$5.7 Million

“If you’ve been in our shelters you are well aware of the noise and smell the current facility can’t control. There are people cleaning all day, but without a better ventilation system the smell will remain. With the new shelter we could not only increase our holding capacities and holding conditions but a better looking/smelling facility would certainly help increase adoption rates, too.”

If the SPLOST fails.......................................................“Unfortunately the SPLOST is the only way for this facility to be built. If it fails, maybe the project will return for the next SPLOST, but it can’t be built any other way.”

October 2013 9

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The importance of the Recycling Center...

“The Rome-Floyd Recycling Center was a project included on the 1988 SPLOST. With the passing of the SPLOST, the center opened its doors in 1992 with the goal to help community members keep their recyclables out of landfills, rivers and streams. I don’t think anyone knew the popularity the center would have, but it’s seen a growth in recyclable material received each year.”

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What upgrades would the center receive?....................................................

“We currently can’t keep up with the amount of materials we have. We are running at 125 percent and we are just covered up. It’s causing us to have to sell our materials comingled (different recyclable materials that haven’t been sorted yet) which is causing us to lose more money every time we sell a load of material. We would like to purchase another baler that will help us increase productivity by at least 50%. We need to be able to down a baler long enough to maintenance it but right now we have to keep it running from the minute we get here until the minute we leave. A second sort line would also allow us to keep up with our materials and possibly buy materials from other facilities that can’t process them. We want to increase the size of our break room, make it user friendly with counter tops, benches and pipe in air conditioning and heat. We would also get a state-of-the-art surveillance system.”

Why should people vote yes?“If the SPLOST fails we will continue to have to juggle with what we have and sell comingled materials. I think our track record shows that we have earned these upgrades. The materials we’ve kept out of our landfill have allowed our landfill to last for another year. Originally we were processing 4-500 extra tons every couple of months, but now there’s only so much material you can bring up the conveyor belt. The trees that don’t need to be cut, the ore that doesn’t need to be mined, the glass that doesn’t need to be processed all add up and we want to continue to do our part in keeping this green movement going.”

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$1.379 Million

Rome/Floyd Recycling Center General Manager Mark Skeggs on the Recycling

Center and much needed upgradesRome-Floyd Recycling

Center Upgrades

October 2013 10

Expanded TrailConnectivity

Julie Smith, co-owner of Cycle Therapy and member of Trails for Recreation and Economic Development on the

planned trail expansion

How was the cost configured?............................................................“The cost is based on construction prices, land acquisition, rest areas, signage, and cost of materials like asphalt. The goal is to expand/build two trails. The Redmond Trail Project will reach from Tolbert Park to Technology Parkway. It will be a great corridor for people in West Rome to ride into town. The other project is the Mt. Berry Trail which would extend the Oostanaula Trail west, essentially going up to the Armuchee Connector. It would give Berry a chance to tap into the trails and Berry students would have access to downtown without getting in their cars.”$1.8 Million

Industrial Land for Job Creation

What does the $8 Million go toward?“The money goes towards the purchase of the industrial land as well as necessary infrastructure (roads, water systems, gas lines, sewer lines, electricity, etc.).”

............................................................$8 Million..........................................................................................................

Why do we need more land?“The largest tract currently owned by the community is 100 acres. There are times when a big manufacturer/company will come to the community looking for a large tract of land, and if we don’t have one large enough they move on to the next county. The 2009 SPLOST passed, allowing the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority to purchase a 375 acre tract. A portion of that property is now home to the Lowe’s Regional Distribution Center. It’s important to note that many of our competing counties have large tracts of industrial land. Companies will go to the counties that have the land, it’s as simple as that sometimes.”

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2013 Chamber Chairman Doc Kibler on the importance of more industrial land

How does land get us more jobs?............................................................“The purchase and development of industrial land allows us to recruit business and industry that have specific requests for tract size, availability to transportation, rail and utilities. Without having “shovel-ready” sites available with the tract size and amenities requested, we are removed from consideration by site selection consultants. The ability to attract business and industry to these sites allows for immediate jobs in site preparation & surveying, utilities, grading, construction, freight and landscaping. Additionally, the jobs needed for these operations are filled with local and regional employees thereby generating a multiplier effect that supports other businesses (stores, restaurants, gas stations, healthcare, etc…).”

Buying or Selling?Call me today!706-409-1793

Cindy Green Fricks

cindy@callromehome.com

October 2013 11

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300 East 6th Avenue • Rome, GA 30161 • 706-235-5570www.riversideoralfacialsurgery.com

www.callromehome.com

October 2013 12

The Forum Upgrades

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Brent Poplin, general manager for the Forum on its role in the community and its much

needed upgrades

The importance of the Forum...“The Forum’s mission from day one has been to stimulate the local economy and advance the quality of life in Rome by the nature of events that we have. We host everything under the sun from conventions to concerts. Our services have reached local and national levels with participants coming from as far as England. The significance of that is these people are staying in our hotels, dining at our local restaurants and shopping in our stores. We also host the graduation ceremonies for high schools in the area. Last year alone we hosted over 566 events which brought in about 125,000 people. This had an economic impact of over $6.5 million. We’ve asked for a third of that in this upcoming SPLOST. We handle a pretty big operation here and though the Forum could have been considered state of the art when it was built, now it truly needs upgrades.”

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What is included in this upgrade?....................................................“The Forum itself was a 1988 SPLOST project and the doors opened in 1994. The Forum has been in Rome for 20 years now and though we’ve been able to upgrade some things like installing wifi, some of the major things just can’t be completed with our budget. The Forum needs a new roof, there’s only so much patching that can be done before its just got to be replaced. We also want the latest in visual equipment, we want every room to have a standalone AV system and stronger wifi. Our front lobby needs renovating, automatic doors for disability accommodation, walls need to be reworked and we need to invest in water saving/energy efficient utilities. All of these upgrades are to benefit our clients and reduce our cost to operate.”

Why should SPLOST fund this?....................................................“Some of these upgrades we’ve tried including in our budget for the past five years and they are always slashed out. The SPLOST is our best hope to have these upgrades provided for a facility that is being used by Romans and people from all over the world. I also hope people remember that the SPLOST is not just about the Forum, there are roads, shelters, and services that all need help. The SPLOST truly is the fairest way to improve our community.”

$1.4 Million

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B o o t h s a r e o n s a l e n o w !$305 regular booth$330 corner booth

Contact Lowell Pratt to reserve your booth today! lpratt@romega.com or 706-291-7663

www.romega.com/expowww.facebook.com/businessexporome

October 2013 14

Tennis Center of GA at Berry College

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Dr. Stephen Briggs, President of Berry College on how a tennis center has the potential to benefit

an entire community

The reason for a tennis center...

“The idea for a tennis center had been “hit” around the community for quite some time. At one point when the road from the new Armuchee Connector was finalized it was suggested that the location and available land could host a tennis center. After dozens of renderings/iterations the United States Tennis Association got involved and is lending support. There have been people who say “Why do we need more tennis courts?”, and the answer is that we believe the tourism potential it would add for Rome is great. Increased tourism will bring new dollars to Rome-Floyd County and those dollars generate jobs and economic stimulus for the community. Having a large facility for these tournaments will get people thinking about Rome and add to the quality of life here.”

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$11.4 Million

How was the cost configured?...................................................“The money will be spent on the creation of roadways, flattening land, building 74 tennis courts, a clubhouse facility, pavilions with rest rooms and storage, meeting and event space, locker rooms, etc.”

Why make this a SPLOST project?...................................................“This is something that benefits the community, so we hope the community will invest in it. The tennis center’s goal is to make enough money to cover the cost of operations, thus it would be tough to get investors involved in a project where the main goal is community development and growth. That’s one thing we hope the community sees, it’s all the things people do while they are here, staying in the hotels, eating in the restaurants and purchasing things in the shops that will grow our economy and see the most benefit from this center being built.”

Above: A rendering of the Tennis Courts that could be built if SPLOST is passed.

What if the community votes no?...................................................“I think we could lose a tremendous opportunity for economic development and to grow our job base. We may even begin to lose what we have now because if we don’t continue to invest and upgrade our facilities, people will go to the places that do continue to invest.”

Editor’s Note: Berry College is offering all land for the tennis center gratis.

October 2013 15

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Richard B. RussellAirport Runway Extension

..........................................................................................................................Why does the runway need

an extension?....................................................“Our current runway is 6,000 feet long. That size works fine for our current operations, but through research and observation we know that 7,000 feet is truly the sweet spot number for these operations. The extra 1,000 feet would increase safety as well as allow an aircraft to take more fuel because they have longer runway lengths to take off on.”

What would this add to the community?...................................................

$5.761 Million

Mike Mathews, manager of the Richard B. Russell Airport on the runway extension and the benefit

of 1,000 extra feet

What is the goal of the airport?“The goal of the airport is to bring revenue to the community through fuel sales, transport sales and hangar rentals. Indirectly there are multiple companies (corporate and individuals) who use the airport. Ultimately it’s a revenue generator for Rome-Floyd County. Last year we had a lot of cargo transported but mostly what comes out of here is corporate and general aviation.”

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What does the SPLOST pay for?....................................................“The SPLOST would pay for 1,000 additional feet of runway. It would also cover the cost of environmental mitigation, hazard checks, the cost to bring in dirt and asphalt, a taxiway, lights and signs and relocating our instrument landing system. Unfortunately you can’t just lay down a strip of asphalt and be done.”

“This airport is currently making money for the community and we want to continue that trend and grow in revenue. We’ve cut our budget every year and we have nothing left to cut. Having this on the SPLOST is its only hope of seeing completion. We also want people to know that with this extension we won’t be bringing in louder/heavier aircrafts, we want to continue to be good neighbors.”

Fannin Hall Rehabilitation

Built in 1848, Cave Spring’s Fannin Hall was part of the former campus of the Georgia School for the Deaf until 1998 when a new facility was constructed. The city offices of Cave Spring moved

into the building in 1998.

What does the $2.591 million go toward?

The $2.591 million will go toward rehabilitating the structure, which

contains hazardous materials that were once routinely used in

construction, removal of asbestos pipe insulation and floor tiles.

The money would also go toward fixing leaks along the outer walls,

a sprinkler system, installing insulation, restoring the original chapel, restoring the dining area

and commercial kitchen and conforming the building to the

standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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$2.591 Million

October 2013 16

2014 Heart of the Community Awards of Honor

Please check which award you are nominating for:Board of Governors Award _____Awards of Honor _____Young Heart Award _____Employer Community Service Award _____

Nominees for Board of Governor’s Award, Awards of Honor, and Young Heart Award:

Nominee’s Name: ______________________________________Nominee’s Phone Day: __________________________________ Home: ________________________________ Cell: __________________________________Nominee’s Home Address: ______________________________________ ______________________________________Nominee’s E-mail Address: ______________________________________ Employer: ______________________________________Occupation/Title: ______________________________________Business Address: ______________________________________ ______________________________________Business Phone: ______________________________________

Nominee’s for the NEW business category: Business Name: ______________________________________Business Phone: ______________________________________Business Address: ______________________________________ ______________________________________Manager, Director or CEO: ______________________________________Email: ______________________________________

Your name: ______________________________________Your phone: Day: __________________________________ Home: ________________________________ Cell: __________________________________Your Email: ______________________________________

Deadline Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Mail form with written description to: The Heart of the Community Foundation, Inc.P.O. Box 5064Rome, Georgia 30162-5064

Written Description RequiredShould be limited to no more than three double spaced pages and attached to this form. 1. Describe the nominees commitment to this community through service oriented activities.2. Describe the scope of the nominee’s service, length of service and number of people affected. 3. Provide information on individual nominee’s personal life, family, education and interests4. Employer Information should include nature of the business, years of operation, and philosophy of community service.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

EMPLOYER AWARDS

NOMINATOR

SUBMIT

AWARD

SPONSORED BY

Sponsored by the Heart of the Community Foundation, the Heart of the Community Awards of Honor are designed to honor “heroes of the community” who through their volunteer and community service are The Heart of the Community. Volunteers make the difference between a good place to live and a GREAT place to live! Recipients will be honored at the 28th Annual Heart of the Community Awards of Honor at The Forum on Saturday, February 13, 2014. The Heart of the Community Foundation will recognize four awards this year:

Board of Governor’s AwardFor a person who has given a lifetime of service to this community. This individual could have been a previous Award Honor recipient) Previous recipients can be found at: www.TheHeartOfTheCommunity.org

Awards of HonorPersons (any age) who have given volunteer service to this community through humanitarian efforts with various agencies, education programs, youth programs, arts, religion, health, or other volunteer service.

Young Heart AwardNominees who are 35 or younger who have volunteered and given back to the community.

Employer Community Service AwardEmployers who have exhibited a community service spirit in the support given to their employee’s participation in community service projects.

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October 2013 18

Coosa High Schooland County School Upgrades

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Chris Carey, President of Logical Systems and Co-Chair of the Education SPLOST committee,

on how passing the ESPLOST will result in a new Coosa High School and needed upgrades

Why Coosa?“A group of parents and community leaders serving on Local School Governance Teams for schools in the system met on two occasions in the spring to consider school projects that the group wanted to see in its five-year plan. Two representatives from each school came together as a group to look at the facility needs of our school system for the next five years and to consider the best method to fund those school improvements. The group discussed the state process for determining their rankings of school needs in our system, what the local schools view as their top priorities and the different options available to fund school improvements. The top priority for our school system was recommended to be the construction of a new Coosa High School on the current site. The estimated cost of the new Coosa High facility is $32 million. The committee felt that high school facilities are a key element in attraction of new business and industry and therefore a new facility for Coosa should be the marquee project for the next five years. The group concluded that a new high school is important for the Coosa community and also vital for the economic development of our entire community.”

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What will $46.5 million pay for?....................................................“Around $32 million will go to building the new Coosa High School. Security upgrades will be achieved through this ESPLOST as well. Air conditioning of school gyms will be just above $4.1 million, sytem-wide technology will run just above $2 million and significant upgrades at Pepperell Middle School will run above $1.4 million.”

Why do we need an ESPLOST to fund these projects?....................................................

“After considering the options for funding these important projects for our schools and our community, the committee voted unanimously to encourage the board to seek a renewal of the education ESPLOST this November. The members felt this was far and away the most efficient and fair way for these needed projects to be completed.”

$46.5 MillionAbove: A rendering of the Coosa High School that

could be built if ESPLOST is passed.

October 2013 19

ARCHITECTURE | INTERIOR DESIGN

401 BROAD STREET, SUITE 100, ROME, GEORGIA | create@ceviandesign.com | 706.383.1043

October 2013 20

Ribbon Cuttings //.................................................................................................................

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Mr. Eddie

Hasko cuts the ribbon for Bella Roma’s new patio. Bella Roma is located at 770 Braves Blvd NE.

U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey stopped by the Chamber to answer questions

for the first of our “Meet the Candidate” series.M

s. Heather Henderson, Starr-

Mathews Insurance Agency, Ms. Michelle Cochran, Hardy Realty, Mr. Mark Cochran and Ms. Jessica Bittle, Cevian Design, pose for a picture at YP Rome hosted by Sweet Dreams Ultrasound Studio.

Melissa Eldridge hands out a door prize to Valeri Littlejohn, Papa John’s Pizza,

at Business After Hours hosted by Melissa Eldridge State Farm Insurance Agency.

Mr. Steve McGraw,

College and Career Academy, flies a drone during the egg drop competition as part of Geek Week Rome, a week long celebration of geekiness.

Congratulations Big Time Products for breaking the Guinness World Record for “World’s Largest Glove”.

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Chamber Happenings

October 2013 21

CruiseOneMs. Alison Carroll

2270 Turkey Mountain Rd NERome, GA 30161(404) 660-4596

www.acarroll.cruiseone.com

Hospitality House for Women, Inc.Ms. Amy Weaver

PO Box 5163Rome, GA 30162(706) 235-4608

www.hospitality-house.org

New Members - Welcome!

Day Three MediaMr. Scotti Madison1590 N Roberts Rd

Kennesaw, GA 30144(770) 425-5353

daythreemedia.com

Employer Support of Guard & Reserve

Mr. Randy HardinRome, GA 30161(678) 569-5740www.esgr.mil

Fairview/ES Brown Heritage CorpMs. Joyce Perdue-Smith

2617 Lakeview DrRome, GA 30165(706) 232-0975

www.fairviewbrown.org

HPWP Consulting, LLCMr. Ed Robinson

111 Brow RdRome, GA 30165(770) 558-7460

www.hpwpconsulting.com

Innovative Counseling SolutionsDr. Jerry Jennings

308 Shorter AvenueRome, GA 30165(706) 295-0440

Jefferson’s RestaurantMs. Noreen Hullander

340 Broad StreetRome, GA 30161(706) 378-0222

Northwest Georgia WeddingsRev. Phillip Fischer

2627 Lakeview DriveRome, GA 30165(706) 292-0449

www.nwgeorgiaweddings.com

sweetFrog Premium Frozen YogurtMr. Stuart Hornsby

477 Turner McCall Blvd NERome, GA 30165(706) 413-2477

https://www.facebook.com/sweetFrogRomeGA

ThyssenKrupp ElevatorMr. Gary Hulgan

6138 Preservation Dr STE 800TN 37416

(423) 499-2784www.thyssenkrupp.com

Trask Management Group Mr. Jason Trask

3351 Martha Berry Hwy NWRome, GA 30165(877) 418-7275

www.traskmanagement.com

October 2013 22

Advertiser’s Index

page 19Cevian Design Lab

401 Broad St STE 100www.cochrancollaborative.com

706-512-6312Berry College

Campbell School of Business

MBA Program2277 Martha Berry Highway

www.berry.edu/mba706-238-5896

page 17Redmond Regional

Medical Center - Heart of the Community

501 Redmond Roadwww.redmondregional.com

706-802-3924

page 2Harbin Clinic

1825 Martha Berry Highwaywww.harbinclinic.com

706-295-5331

page 5Unity Christian School2960 New Calhoun Highwaywww.unitychristianschool.org

706-292-0700Kindred Hospital

304 Turner McCall Blvd SWwww.kindredhealthcare.com

706-378-6800

Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson &

Davis615 W 1st St.

www.brinson-askew.com706-235-8551

Greene’s Jewelers328 Broad Street

www.greenesjewelers.com706-291-7236

page 11Cindy Green,

Toles Temple & Wright611 Turner McCall Blvd.

www.callromehome.com706-409-1793

Riverside Oral and Facial Surgery P.C.2001 JL Todd Dr

www.riversideoralfacialsurgery.com706 235-5570

First Choice Restoration10B Commerce CT SE

770 262-6172

RenewalsAmanda Corbin Agency - Allstate InsuranceBasic Ready MixBenton-Georgia, Inc.Blue Fin Sushi and Grill RestaurantCertified Collision SpecialistsCoosa Medical GroupDaVita DialysisDuffy’s DeliEverett ConstructionFactory Automation SystemsGeorgia School for the DeafHawthorn Suites, Ltd.High Voltage PrintsHoliday Inn Express Hotel & SuitesHometown HeadlinesJ Supply CompanyJowers-Sklar InsuranceLynn’s UniformsMatt Medley State Farm

Northern Georgia LogisticsOH! BABY Life CoachingOutback SteakhouseOwens Hardware & Sporting Goods Co., Inc.Pineapple PlaceR.O.M.ERome City Schools Board of EducationRome Symphony Orchestra, Inc.Rome-Floyd County Commission Children & YouthSledgeProSouthern Engineering & Surveying, Inc.Southern Home Care ServicesTanner Electrical Contractors, Inc.Trinity United Methodist ChurchUnited WayUnity Christian SchoolWilliam S. Davies Shelter, Inc.WinShape RetreatWSRM (LIFE-FM)

page 21River City Bank228 N 2nd Ave SW

www.rivercitybankonline.com706-236-2123

page 23Southeastern Mills333 Old Lindale Road

www.semills.com706-291-6528

back coverFord, Gittings

& KaneJewelers

312 Broad Streetwww.fgkjewelers.com

706-291-8811page 16

The City Market137 E 1st St

706 238-9122

August 2013 23

Northern Georgia LogisticsOH! BABY Life CoachingOutback SteakhouseOwens Hardware & Sporting Goods Co., Inc.Pineapple PlaceR.O.M.ERome City Schools Board of EducationRome Symphony Orchestra, Inc.Rome-Floyd County Commission Children & YouthSledgeProSouthern Engineering & Surveying, Inc.Southern Home Care ServicesTanner Electrical Contractors, Inc.Trinity United Methodist ChurchUnited WayUnity Christian SchoolWilliam S. Davies Shelter, Inc.WinShape RetreatWSRM (LIFE-FM)

312 Broad Street, Historic Downtown Romewww.fgkjewelers.com 706.291.8811