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Vice Chair Brian Watkins: $2 million awarded to upgrade 70‑acre airport site; county pursues certification for 280‑acre chip mill property
Summary
Vice Chair Brian Watkins said the Dodge County–Eastman Development Authority won a $2 million state grant to upgrade a 70‑acre graded site at the county airport and is pursuing graded-site certification for a separate 280‑acre chip mill property with double rail spurs to attract industry.
Vice Chair Brian Watkins said the Dodge County–Eastman Development Authority (DCEDA) secured a $2 million grant to upgrade a 70‑acre graded site at the county airport, a step county officials say will make the property marketable to industrial users.
Watkins said the award will fund site improvements necessary for graded‑site certification and that the DCEDA is also pursuing certification for a separate 280‑acre chip mill site that includes double rail spurs. He described graded‑site status as a key credential for attracting manufacturers and distribution firms that require ready‑to‑build parcels and rail access.
Senator Larry Walker placed the grant in context, saying it was part of a rural site development initiative led by Governor Kemp and that the DCEDA received the maximum award available under that program.
County officials said they view the combination of a certified airport site and the larger chip mill property with rail access as complementary assets for regional economic development, helping Dodge County compete for industrial investment. No timetable for certification or a specific prospect was disclosed during the work session.
The DCEDA update was presented at the board's Oct. 15 work session at the Pearl Bates Courthouse Annex.
