(rshsdepot) Thomson, GA

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

From The McDuffie Mirror.
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Historic Thomson Depot to receive $400,000 state grant for renovations 

By Billy W. Hobbs
Staff Writer  
An early Christmas present is on its way to Thomson.  
It comes in the form of a $400,000 TE grant from the Georgia Department of  
Transportation for renovations of the historic Thomson Depot. 
The renovation of the depot, which was built back in 1860, is a part of a  
three-phase downtown revitalization program launched by Thomson city officials  
earlier this year. The city already had received TE grant funding for two  
previous projects. 
One of the first projects involved in the program was the creation of new  
parking lots in the rear of downtown businesses. That particular project  
includes new curbs and sidewalks, as well as new street lights. 
"This is great news," said Thomson City Administrator Don Powers after  
learning that officials of the Georgia DOT had approved the city's third request  
for TE funding for renovations of the Thomson Depot. "We had been hopeful, but  
cautiously optimistic about whether or not we would receive the funding." 
Mr. Powers called it just another piece of the puzzle for a complete cycle of 
 downtown revitalization. 
"This will allow us to upgrade and modernize our depot from 20th century to  
21st century," Mr. Powers added. 
For the past several years, city officials have noticed that the building,  
located off Railroad Street near busy train tracks in the heart of Thomson, had 
 been in dire need of renovations. The renovation funds will be used for work 
on  the inside and outside of the building. 
The Thomson Depot currently houses the offices of the Thomson-McDuffie County 
 Chamber of Commerce, Thomson-McDuffie County Visitors and Tourism and  
Thomson-McDuffie County Economic Development Authority. The building also is  used 
as a meeting place for several civic groups and serves as a community  center. 
"I'm delighted to announce these grants," said Bill Kuhlke Jr., of Augusta,  
who serves as a board member of the Georgia Department of Transportation. "We  
received a great many excellent applications from communities and 
organizations  in the 10th District. Unfortunately, we could not fund them all in this 
grant  phase.These which are being funded showed great local government 
commitment to  improving their community's quality of life and their local elected 
leaders and  state legislators are to be commended." 
City officials received support from state Senator William "Bill" Jackson  
(R-Appling) and state Rep. Sistie Hudson,  (D-Sparta).



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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1640
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org