City group will decide on projects

ANIC studies where to focus development efforts as it receives installment of millions from state

Web posted June 29, 2000

 Have a thought? Go to the @ugusta Forums.

By Brandon Haddock
Staff Writer

State Sen. Charles Walker has brought home the first $7.5 million in state money for the Augusta Neighborhood Improvement Corp. Now, the board must decide how to spend it.

The nonprofit corporation, charged with improving housing and economic conditions in local neighborhoods, will have to wait two to three months for a study about where to focus its first efforts, officials said Wednesday.

``There are plans,'' Mr. Walker, D-Augusta, said at a news conference at the offices of his companies, The Walker Group. ``But to give you any of the plans with a degree of specificity would be premature.''

In the past, numerous projects have been mentioned as possible beneficiaries of the corporation.

The corporation might help develop a biomedical research center. It also might fund studies to determine whether other projects are practical, such as a gymnasium and health center at Paine College, a proposed Phinizy Swamp State Park and an Augusta aquarium.

But the corporation's chairman, Bernie Silverstein, promised residents that rebuilding the Laney-Walker Historic District would be the top priority. The blighted area was the first promised help after Mayor Bob Young formed the corporation.

``Laney-Walker is first, and second and third, but we will be covering all of Richmond County, and we will be doing economic development,'' Mr. Silverstein said.

The corporation is slated to receive $10 million in state funds by year's end, Mr. Walker said. The city eventually will receive $30 million over three state fiscal years.

Officials acknowledged that more would be required to cure the city's ills. But the money is a good start that can be leveraged to bring in more funds, they said.

``You're talking about $30 million as opposed to zero million,'' Mr. Walker said. ``Let's not look at it as a glass half-empty.''

The board also used Wednesday's news conference to introduce the corporation's new executive director, Robert Cooks.

Mr. Cooks, previously fund manager for Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, replaces interim director Charles DeVaney.

Reach Brandon Haddock at (706) 823-3409 or bhaddock@augustachronicle.com.