THERE’S A "TURF WAR" GOING ON… THE STATE OF GEORGIA WANTS TO RE-ORGANIZE ITS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.  IN OUR AREA, THAT CALLS FOR MERGING THE COOSA VALLEY RDC IN ROME, WITH THE NORTH GEORGIA RDC IN DALTON.  WALKER COUNTY AND 9 OTHERS ARE SERVED BY COOSA VALLEY… WHITFIELD AND 4 OTHERS ARE SERVED BY NORTH GEORGIA.  PROBLEM IS, THE NORTH GEORGIA RDC DOESN’T LIKE THE MERGER IDEA. THE GOVERNOR, THROUGH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, HAS MADE IT PLAIN THAT FUNDING WILL BE CUT TO ANY RDC THAT DOESN’T COOPERATE WITH THE MERGER PLAN. THE RDC’S WRITE GRANTS AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN THEIR AREAS.  A MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED FOR JULY 16th IN CALHOUN SEEKING TO BRING THE TWO BOARDS TOGETHER TO LOOK AT MERGER PLANS. THE NEW MERGED BODY WOULD BE KNOWN AS THE NORTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL COMMISSION.

WQCH