Chris Cannon posted on July 27, 2011 17:45
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
GRCVB Contact:
Chris Cannon, Director of Communication
706.295.5576
chris@romegeorgia.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Task force debuts tennis center website
ROME, GA. – Following Governor and Mrs. Nathan Deal's visit to Rome last weekend, the Tennis Center of Georgia Task Force has released a new website for support of the center located at www.TennisCenterOfGeorgia.org.
The website features the site plan and details, an fly-through video and photos of the proposed tennis center.
The website will supplement the proposal and presentation already made to Governor Deal last week.
The governor was presented a proposal for partial state economic development bond funding at a brunch featuring famed tennis professional John Isner and United States Tennis Association (USTA) Executive Director Gordon Smith.
The Task Force is seeking $7.5 million dollars in state issued bonds to build the $18 million dollar facility. The group is working to secure the balance so that construction of the project can begin debt free.
The proposed facility will be the largest in the world with 82 total courts including 6 covered and 6 stadium style courts. Twenty-five of the courts will be dedicated to the new USTA Quickstart program, which uses smaller courts and equipment to train children in the sport of tennis.
The site also includes a 10,500 support facility, 5 rest room pavilions and a bridge viewing pavilion.
The 30-acre site is being donated by Berry College. It is located between the Armuchee Connector and Mount Berry Square Mall. An access road from the tennis center will be constructed to the mall parking lot.
The initial economic impact study in December of 2009 indicates that 3 to 5 years after opening, the center could host up to 35 multi-day tennis events per year and generate over $28 million in economic impact.
"This project is unique and economic development state bond-worthy because it creates immediate shovel-ready jobs and will also sustain long-term impact throughout the state," said John Bennett, City of Rome manager.
The Task Force also introduced a Facebook Fan Page for the tennis center where the public can follow updates concerning the development. The page is located at www.Facebook.com/TennisCenterOfGeorgia.
The current partners in the project are the Berry College, City of Rome, Floyd County, the Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, Coosa Valley Tennis Association and USTA.
The Greater Rome Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB) is the official destination and sports marketing organization of Rome and Floyd County, Georgia. The GRCVB’s mission is to strengthen the economic fabric of the community through tourism development by attracting leisure travelers, conventions, meetings, sports and events.