Tuesday, Marl. 21, 2023–12:49 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

A deal has been reached for the sale of 12.6 acres of city-owned property at the former General Electric site in West Rome.

At their last meeting in February, the Rome City Commission approved the transfer of the land to the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority for an economic development project.

On Tuesday the development authority also approved that intergovernmental agreement, along with a sale and purchase agreement with Canton-based 715 Univeter Road, LLC.

The company is purchasing the 12.6 acres, located on the Redmond Circle side of the property, for $50,000 an acre for the purpose of building some commercial and warehouse space.

“In this transaction, we are simply the vehicle,” said Missy Kendrick, President and CEO of the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority. “All of the sales proceeds will go back to the City of Rome.”

The land was donated to the city by GE in 2015, as Rome City Manager Sammy Rich explained during the city commission’s Feb. 27 meeting.

“Everybody who lives in Rome knows that GE and we were given the 123 acres that we refer to as outside the fence,” he said. “Going back about three years, we put a for sale sign up on the northwest corner and have looked to move that property into a productive state. Basically, get it back onto the tax rolls.

The agreements approved by the development authority Tuesday will be finalized after attorney review.