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Coweta Cattlemen ask county to co-fund study to advance proposed agribusiness complex
Summary
The Coweta County Cattlemen's Association presented a plan for a multiuse Agribusiness Complex at the fairgrounds and asked the county to partner on the project and help fund an economic and needs analysis (staff estimated at about $100,000) so the proposal can be included in the 2026 state budget cycle.
Penny Buie, president of the County Cattlemen's Association, told the Coweta County Board of Commissioners the group wants to build a multiuse Georgia Coweta County Agribusiness Complex at the fairgrounds to support rodeos, agricultural education, livestock facilities and a potential large-animal clinic. "I am the current president of County Cattlemen's Association," Buie said, outlining scholarships and community programs the association funds and noting the group's long history in the county.
Jeff Links, speaking for the association, said the next step is a business plan, renderings and an economic impact and needs analysis. "The economic impact analysis ... is about $100,000," Links said, adding that the county's position—"do they have skin in the game?"—would affect whether the delegation includes the project in its 2026 budget request. Links said the association's legislative contacts asked for materials by early September to meet that timeline.
County administrator Michael Fouts told commissioners SPLOST is usually dedicated to capital projects and the association's request looks more like an operating/partnership expense. Fouts said about $8,000,000 had been earmarked in a recent SPLOST package for fairgrounds expansion, but he cautioned that the Cattlemen's broader vision would require additional coordination with tourism and Explore Coweta and would likely rely on a mix of county support, external grants and private funding.
Commissioners asked whether the association could split the analysis into a needs assessment and a separate economic-impact study, and whether neighboring entities (Explore Coweta and nearby jurisdictions) could join as partners. Links said the studies could be split and that other partners were possible, and he urged the county to consider partial funding to keep the proposal on the legislative timeline.
The board approved a motion to add the Cattlemen's presentation to the agenda earlier in the meeting; no formal county commitment was made and staff said they would follow up on partner discussions and potential funding sources, including hotel-motel taxes and SPLOST alignment.
Next steps: the association seeks county feedback and a decision about financial participation so it can complete renderings, a business plan and impact analysis in time for an early-September legislative submission window.
