RANEW'S PLANS TO INVEST UP TO $15 MILLION IN UPSON CO

THURSDAY DURING A CALLED MEETING---BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE THE UPSON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION FOLLOWED A STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND RECOMMENDED REZONING 44 ACRES AT 36 EAST AND DELRAY ROAD FOR THE RANEW'S COMPANY OF MILNER.

ATTORNEY DAVID DUNAWAY TOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION --THE COMPANY PLANS TO INVEST $13 TO $15 MILLION AND BUILD A 100,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING AND INITIALLY EMPLOY 32 IN A SINGLE SHIFT-- TO PAINT JOHN DEERE TRACTOR FRAMES.

RANEW'S WILL USE A HIGH TECH ECO-PAINT LINE AND COMPANY COMPTROLLER ADRIAN CHAPMAN TOLD ZOOM NEWS THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN BUSINESS BY JANUARY.

THE ZONING RECOMMENDATION IS FROM A-R ZONING TO M-2 GENERAL MANUFACTURING AND PLANNING DIRECTOR DOUG CURRIER SAID HE RECOMMENDED THE REZONING BECAUSE THERE IS MANUFACTURING ZONING IN THE AREA AND THAT SECTION OF THE COUNTY NEAR THE AIRPORT IS TARGETED FOR INDUSTRY.

THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE WATER AND THE CITY OF THOMASTON SEWAGE SERVICE WITH PRE-TREATMENT FROM RANEW'S.

THE REZONING REQUEST IS BEING FAST-TRACKER DUE TO THE URGENCY REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY AND IT WILL BE ON NEXT TUESDAY'S AGENDA OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR FINAL ACTION.