White County Development Authority awards contract for economic development plan

CLEVELAND – The Development Authority of White County has agreed to award a contract to develop a Strategic Economic Development Plan to Thomas and Hutton and their partners Three Points Planning and LeCraw Engineering.

The development authority has for some time been working to come up with a blueprint for economic growth in the county and Thomas and Hutton have been asked to help.

As part of their work, they will provide recommendations for future placement of infrastructure, and the identification of target industries that could fit with and enhance White County’s already strong tourism and agricultural areas. The plan will also make recommendations for marketing, incentives, land use, housing, workforce development, and other critical elements in future growth.

A news release from the Development Authority said the plan is being funded by a grant the authority received from the Appalachian Regional Commission with a local match from the Development Authority of White County and donations from local businesses and the cities of Cleveland and Helen.

The development authority did an extensive process, since June when they received approval of the ARC grand, before selecting Thomas and Hutton to do the work that would provide the best well-rounded plan.

Thomas and Hutton is one of the most well respected and established consulting and engineering firms in the Southeast with 390 employees throughout nine regions in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

Three Points Planning has been in operation since 2016 providing its national and international expertise and a history of research and implementation in public and private sectors.

LeCraw Engineering Inc. (LEI) was established in Gwinnett County, Georgia in 2010 and is a consulting engineering firm offering professional services in civil engineering, land planning, land surveying, entitlements assistance, and landscape architecture for both public and private sector clients