In 1985, Town Center at Cobb Mall opened its doors to a rural-bedroom community bringing diverse trade and job opportunities. Kennesaw State University (KSU) was a state college with an enrollment of 6,800. Cobb County Airport was McCollum Field serving only leisure aviators.

Recognizing the need for planned land use and infrastructure to support the area's burgeoning growth, a group of leaders created the Town Center Area Community Improvement District (TCACID) in 1997. With input from local businesses, property owners, residents and KSU, a master plan for the area was created. TCACID's property value increased 239%, from $610 thousand to $1.5 million from 1997 to 2011. CID revenue has averaged $2.9 million for the past several years.

Since 1997, the TCACID has been successful in investing $27 million to advance transportation and infrastructure improvements. Through matching local, state and federal funds, $106 million in transportation and infrastructure improvements have been completed or, are underway. Matching dollars are dedicated funds that are project specific and can only be applied to the requested project.

In less than three decades, KSU's 2011 enrollment reached 24,000 making it the third largest enrollment in the University system. According to a study by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at UGA, KSU has a $507.8 million economic impact in the local community generating 8,870 full and part-time positions both on and off the campus.

Cobb County Airport-McCollum Field is now a general aviation reliever airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airport is home to 18 business tenants and two full-service FBOs. Although the airport only has two Cobb County employees, it generates 842 jobs with an annual payroll of $25 million rendering an economic impact of $112 million in the local and regional economies.

On July 18th, after a 10:00 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, the long awaited Big Shanty Extension will open, providing needed relief to Chastain Road and Barrett Parkway. Local, state and federal funders partnered with the TCACID to fund the $26 million project.

Although the Big Shanty Extension will bring relief to Barrett Parkway and Chastain Road, a planned connector roadway over I-75 between Frey Road and Busbee Drive just north of the Chastain Road Interchange, will significantly reduce congestion at Chastain Road and I-75.

The TCACID invested $1.2 million in the design and engineering of the Skip Spann Connector. Construction is estimated to be $19 million. The project is included in the top Tier 1 projects listed in the July 31st Regional Transportation Referendum. Passage of the referendum would mean construction could begin in 2013-14.

In addition to the $19 million for the Skip Spann Connector, the Referendum includes over $3 million in aviation improvements at McCollum Airport for a new runway approach lighting system and control tower. Funds are also included in the referendum, identified as 15% discretionary funds for local projects, to design a South Barrett Reliever that will relieve congestion on Barrett Parkway at I-75 and I-575.

GA DOT will soon begin improvements on the southbound I-575 ramp at Barrett with dedicated lanes for traffic going to Mall Boulevard and traffic traveling west on Barrett Parkway. The engineering and right-of-way was initiated and funded by the TCACID at a cost of $366 thousand. Construction will be funded by GDOT for a total project amount of $1.7 million.

The last phase of the six-mile Noonday Creek Trail from Kennesaw Mountain to Bells Ferry Road will kick off with a Ground Breaking at 10 a.m. on May 24th. The TCACID initiated the engineering of the entire trail and construction for Phase 2 at a cost of $3.1 million. $8.2 million for the remaining construction is to be paid for by local, state and federal funding. Once completed, pedestrians and bikers will be able to take the trail from Kennesaw Mountain through the Town Center area to Bells Ferry Road without getting on a major road.

The challenge of providing infrastructure to a growing economy that was once a bedroom community is a "wanted challenge" and will be met by the continued collaboration of public-private partnerships in the Town Center area.

Visit TCACID projects and transportation issues on our web at In the News.