There is a simple fact that no one can deny when looking at the tourism landscape of Habersham County. There simply are not enough quality lodging options.
Everyone working in economic development in this county has been pointed toward getting a new hotel here for years, and we are finally on the cusp of that becoming a reality.
There is competition for financiers and developers in regards to where they will place their hotels. We have to use all the resources at our disposal to attract the folks who want to build in our community.
The group developing the new hotel came to our community and worked on an apartment renovation project previously. They liked what they saw here, they liked the people they were working with, and they decided to work with us again.
This new Marriott-branded hotel will transform our hospitality outlook in Habersham County. It will include a restaurant and convention room, and that will make it extremely attractive to businesses, traveling sports teams and families of our many graduates.
To bring this wonderful new resource to our county, our governmental bodies offered tax incentives over the next decade, which somehow seem to be the source of controversy about this project.
Let’s be 100 percent clear – taxpayers will not be out any money. We say again, you will not be paying money to developers.
On the contrary, they are investing $9 million in our community. We are allowing them to pay the current tax value of the land for five years to give them a chance to have the capital to make this major improvement to our business infrastructure.
We also are allowing some of the hotel-motel tax to market the facility and get the word out more about Habersham County.
The groups building this hotel have to meet certain progress and quality requirements to make this arrangement come to fruition, and if they fail, they will pay the very same back taxes that concern those who are against the deal.
This is a long-term project with a long-term vision. If we want the owners of empty land to keep paying the same tax on a pile of dirt that is destined to become nothing, then by all means, let’s turn this hotel deal down. But that is absurd.
This deal is a win-win for Habersham County and its future.The hotel is an asset that will help elevate the county and our ability to increase our tax base without further burdening our property owners.
There is no downside, and the successful completion of this project by the end of 2023 would be a major win for everyone involved.
Onward and upward.