Troup County Sets Development patterns for New American Towns

Economic growth is a regional phenomenom and managing healthy development patterns in the midst of economic prosperity has been a dismal failure in many regions across the country. Evidence of this is seen everywhere in the form of continuous sprawl requiring us all to drive incessantly to work, school, shop, and recreation. And we all know by now that sprawl development patterns have caused us all to erode our atmosphere with tons of hydrocarbons and accelerate our global warming crises.


Troup County has embraced a regional planning approach that confines new development to areas that are serviced by existing infrastructure already provided by towns and cities. Concentrating growth in discreet towns and villages separated by green belts of farms and undeveloped land corridors will break the dysfunction of typical suburban sprawl and allow us to enjoy the emerging "New American Town."

I believe this is critical for the Towns in Troup County in attracting talent to Kia's new auto corridor and its emerging workplace. "Quality of Place" is a core value of the talent pool and a valuable recruitment tool for the employers migrating to the area. Today, Quality of Place owns a seat at the economic development table.

The City of LaGrange has the "bones" to lead the charge as Troup County's New American Town. It is already a "Micropolis Town" distinct from suburban Atlanta with an identity and energy of its own. Casting its unique personality, and vision of the future loud and clear to new businesses and residents will positon it "first to market" and capitalize on the lions share of the region's new found wealth.