Friends of Agriculture still working toward facility build

Federal funds being sought, but local contributions will make big difference toward future construction

The Friends of Agriculture have for nearly a decade been hard at work to gain support from every level of government, from local commissioners all the way up to Congressional and Senate leaders in the Federal government.

A dream that has gone from mere concept to design stage still needs one thing to get the job done: funding.

The hopes are to get to break ground on the future home of the Agriculture Education and Natural Resource Center sometime in 2025, but that will depend largely upon whether funding help will come in to provide the work on the multi-use facility proposed as far back as the mid-2010s on land donated by Glenn and Laura Robinson to a nonprofit organization for the purpose of building the facility.

Back in 2022, the group got the special land use permit they sought from the County to move the project one step forward toward completion.

The goal is to build a facility that can be utilized in a variety of ways in a centralized location in the middle of the county. Only five acres of the 22 acres donated by the Robinsons for the project are needed, and the rest will remain as they are since they can be utilized for agriculture-based purposes, such as grazing land for animals, as an example.

It’d include a cannery operation for local small growers to save their produce, a kitchen that can provide opportunities for serving small classes up to large banquet-style events, an arena area for hosting events like cattle shows or riding competitions, and a large indoor conference-style space that can accommodate small group meetings up to local proms if needed.

In 2018, the Robinsons presented a feasibility study to the County Commission that estimated that the several million dollars of investment made could pay dividends well into the future for not just promoting agriculture, but through other services provided by the facility.

They sought help to build the 60,000 square foot facility via SPLOST funding, but were turned down for consideration at the time for help with the proposed Sardis Road center.

Now they’re turning toward local donations to help spur the project’s construction and potential help from the Federal level to get the project going again.

Back in June, Friends of Agriculture announced they selected Bell & Associates as the architecture firm to design the facility’s final form, and now are reaching out to U.S. Senators in Georgia and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s office for potential help as well.

In a recent update from the group, they noted their hopes of receiving Congressionally Directed Funding to help provide the needed dollars and cents to make the construction project a reality moving forward. Those have a limited window before the end of the fiscal year to be considered and get the federal support they need, and the Friends of Agriculture are hoping that community support will increase awareness toward the need for the project.

“If Friends of Agriculture is chosen, they would trigger start of construction.   Letters of Support, provided by community leaders, were a major part of the application.  EVERYONE is encouraged to send support letters and emails to our Senators and Representative to improve the chance that the funds are approved,” the organization provided in a recent update. “Additionally, Friends of Agriculture continues to welcome donations. All funds are applied to the project with paying the architects.”

Those interested in more information about Friends of Agriculture can reach out to them here .

The post Friends of Agriculture still working toward facility build appeared first on Polk Today .