More people leaving Bartow for work
New Census tract incentives could help grow more jobs.
Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development Director Melinda Lemmon has enjoyed tremendous success in luring new industry to the community over the past decade, but was at a loss Thursday to explain why more people are leaving the county every day for work than those who are driving in for a job.
“This is a nut I’m still trying to crack,” Lemmon told Adairsville business leaders at a Chambersponsored breakfast Thursday.
Lemmon said commuter data shows between 27,000 and 28,000 Bartow residents leave the community for a job, but only 18,000 are coming into Bartow for work.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development has identified four Census tracts in Bartow County for additional incentives when it comes to creating new jobs. Job tax credits in those four tracts would be doubled from $1,750 to $3,500.
One of the four Census tracts, 9602, includes 68.2 square miles and virtually all of Adairsville and the northwest corner of Bartow County.
“Progress follows infrastructure and good schools,” Lemmon said. While never mentioning Interstate 75 specifically, Lemmon said state and local leaders were working hard to enhance the transportation network. She specifically cited the widening of Ga. 140 and the selection of a final route for the Rome-Cartersville Economic Development Corridor.
Lemmon said transportation planners have been talking about highspeed
rail between Atlanta and Chattanooga for close to 30 years.
“I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime,” Lemmon said. She did say that if and when that kind of a rail line evolves, that there would be a stop in Cartersville.
Bartow County is also planning a round of new aerial photography for the community’s GIS system to help developers identify parcels that might fit their specific needs. The last aerial images available on line were taken in 2015 and there have been a lot of changes over the past three years.