7 months ago
Warner Robins City Council wants to make the Georgia-Robins Aerospace Maintenance Partnership, or G-RAMP, a regional project.
They're doing that by asking 14 other Central Georgia government bodies to help pay for its development.
At his last meeting as Mayor of Warner Robins, John Havrilla moved a step closer to the goal he set when he took office three months ago.
Havrilla said, "What I really wanted to do is refocus, you know on all the projects we had going, and I think we moved a lot of those a little bit further down the road."
That included G-RAMP, the industrial development slated to be built behind Robins Air Force Base for the purpose of creating an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 jobs. It will also help secure the future of the base.
Monday night, council committed $68,051 for an environmental impact study needed to start the project.
Redevelopment Director for the City of Warner Robins said, "It shows were committed to this project. It's in our backyard and were committed to it. If were not committed, we can't ask anyone else to commit."
Lee said the city asked 14 other Central Georgia entities to pay a share of the $200,000 impact study. They based the fees on the number people in each county or city employed by Robins Air Force Base.
The 21st Century Partnership, the City of Centerville, Crawford, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski and Wilkinson counties already committed money.
Baldwin, Putnam and Twiggs Counties expressed interest, but didn't promise money right away. Bibb and Houston Counties, plus the City of Perry asked for more information.
Gary Lee said, "What myself, the City of Warner Robins and Regional Commission is going to do is an additional presentation to them to answer all the questions they need to have to make their decision."
The City of Warner Robins will not sign a contract for the environmental impact study until the uncommitted government bodies make a decision about their share of the payment. Council members said they would like to have an answer from each governing body by the end of January.
Gary Lee did not have a total price figure for the G-RAMP project. He said the impact study would likely take a year to complete, giving the city time to formulate a financial plan for the project.
