BYRON HERBERT REECE SOCIETY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNION COUNTY RECEIVES MAJOR GRANT FOR REECE PROJECT
State Transportation Board member Bill Kuhlke, Jr. and Georgia DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl recently announced the recipients of the Transportation Enhancement (TE) program funds for FY06 and FY07 for the 9th Congressional District.
The TE program is federally-funded and was originally established in 1991 by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). The program was continued by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in 1998. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) passed in the fall of 2005 and provided the program with further federal funding. The Georgia DOT’s Office of Planning manages the TE program in Georgia.
There are 12 eligible activities that can be funded by the TE program which include multi-use facilities such as walking and biking trails and paths; streetscaping and landscaping projects in cities and towns; historic preservation of transportation-related facilities like railroad depots; and scenic preservation of views and scenic byways.
Union County’s application in behalf of the Byron Herbert Reece Welcome Center was one of 10 applicants in the District to receive funding. The amount awarded to Union County is $671,072. This money requires a 20% local match. It will be used to complete the Welcome/Visitors Center at the Reece Interpretive Center in Choestoe, located a mile north of Vogel State Park on U.S. 129 on the property where Byron Reece lived with his family. Other uses are construction of the parking area, walking trail, covered open pavilion, plaza gathering area, period landscaping and infrastructure, including rest room facilities for car travelers, hikers, and bicyclists.
Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris was ecstatic upon learning of the award. “This news is too good to believe,” he said. “A dream we have all had for construction and restoration at the Reece farm place has been just that—a dream. To think we will now have the funds to actually start making all this happen is fantastic. This grant, along with the ARC grant and private donor funds, should get us over the hump. However, we must remember that we still have a significant amount of private funds to raise for matching purposes. Our successes in the public funding arena should make it obvious that this project is destined to become a reality. We want to thank the GDOT Board and especially our GDOT Board member Bill Kuhlke, Jr. for recognizing the regional importance of this project to the State of Georgia and the mountain region, as well as Union County. What a great day!!”
“We have a treasure in the home place of Byron Herbert Reece made possible by the donation of the property by the Chattahoochee Oconee Forest Interpretive Association,” said Fleming Weaver of Gainesville, chair of the Reece Society’s Farm Development Committee. “But it is going to take financial resources from many sources to make the Historic Interpretive Center happen. This major grant support from the Georgia DOT has given us an excellent opportunity to make significant progress and to set the example for financial investment in the development of the Reece farm venue, a major asset to the State of Georgia.”
John Kay, chair of the Byron Herbert Reece Society, commented that “the Reece Society is thrilled to learn of this major gift, which will help us more quickly to advance our goal of establishing the Reece Interpretive Center on the site where Hub Reece lived, farmed, and penned his literary works. We are deeply grateful to Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris for his willingness to specify the Interpretive Center project as the recipient of this grant funding. We also acknowledge with thanks the vital role of Joy Still and Reid Dyer of Hayes, James & Associates, Inc., whose grant-writing skills were indispensable to the application’s success.”
Rep. Charles Jenkins and Sen. Chip Pearson were strong supporters of the Union County application. Said Jenkins, “I congratulate those who support the Byron Herbert Reece Historical Interpretive Center. It was exciting when I received the call from Mr. Bill Kuhlke, Transportation Board member, 9th Congressional District, announcing the tremendous grant that was approved for development of the Byron Herbert Reece Interpretive Center. I especially thank Mr. Kuhlke for his meaningful work in getting the grant approved.” Sen. Pearson remarked, “I am thrilled to announce that Union County will be receiving this grant to help honor and preserve the cultural legacy of the famous Appalachian poet, Byron Herbert Reece. This money will be used to develop the Byron Herbert Reece Welcome Center that will educate future generations about Reece’s love of nature, farming in North Georgia and the famous poetry that these mountains inspired.”
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