JDA obtains a $175,000 grant

The Joint Development Authority of Fannin, Towns, and Union Counties has received notice from OneGeorgia Authority of a $175,000 grant to assist with the construction of a visitor's center to serve the Byron Herbert Reece Farm and Heritage Center project in Union County.

An announcement of this award was received by Lamar Paris, Union County Commissioner and Chair of the Joint Development Authority, in a November 1st letter from Nancy Cobb, Executive Director of OneGeorgia Authority.

This award, coupled with the earlier Transportation Enhancement grant of $671,000, will enable the Reece Society Farm Development Committee to proceed with plans to convert the Reece house into the venue's Welcome and Visitors Center. The plans for this project have already been provided by Gainesville architect Garland Reynolds.

Earlier this year the Reece Society received a second award of $50,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission. This money is specified for the second phase of the barns restoration project, which will involve the establishment of appropriate agricultural exhibits in the recently restored barn buildings.

The Byron Herbert Reece Farm & Heritage Center is now

under construction on the remaining 9.3 acres of the Reece family property that is located in the Choestoe community, one mile north of Vogel State Park on U.S. Highway 129.