The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will host a Ribbon Cut for the first and largest Columbia County Transportation Investment Act, also known as the T-SPLOST project, on Tuesday, April 17 at 1:00 p.m., in Martinez at Kelly Park.
 
The ceremony will feature remarks from Don Grantham, Georgia Department of Transportation Board Member, Chairman Ron Cross of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, and Tammy Shepherd, President/CEO, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.
 
The completion of the Riverwatch Parkway project, estimated at $65 million with half in federal funds, represents the first of the eight Columbia County TIA projects approved by the region’s voters in July 2012.
 
The Columbia County Chamber took a bold stand in 2012 to advocate for the passage of TIA. Over four months were spent making presentations to civic clubs, builders and realtor associations, citizens, and the media.  The Chamber understood that, at the current growth rate and the projected growth, the corridor projects were desperately needed.
 
In addition, the Chamber also understood that critical infrastructure was needed to spur economic development and continued growth for our area. The estimated revenue for Columbia County alone was $165 million for the eight projects, plus an additional 25 percent in discretionary funds for other transportation improvements. The Region 7 budget was estimated at approximately $600 million for Region 7 projects.
 
The Chamber led the charge on the following principles:

- Based upon the previous 10 years (2000-2010), Columbia County grew by over 35,000 residents. If we stayed on that same projection, which we currently have, our roads would not support this growth. Roads would have to be built and the funding could come from property tax instead of sales tax. This would burden only home owners and business owners, basically property owners. A sales tax was the fairest way to tax everyone who purchased goods in our region.

- All revenue collected had to stay for identified local projects and a citizen’s advisory council would serve as oversight group to insure our region got what they were paying for.

- The tax increase is only for 10 years. We will reap the reward of our investment by the time we save from being delayed in traffic.

- The completion of Riverwatch Parkway from Baston Road to Washington Road will benefit the 70 percent of the professional workforce that leaves Columbia County to go to work and also will increase commerce for the entire region. We have been waiting on this project for over 20 years!