From Georgia State Senator Chip Pearson, chairman of Georgia's Economic Development Committee, commenting on Friday about Georgia's legislative session, which recently ended:
"With the creation of the “Georgia Tourism Development Act” under HB 1251, we can truly attract large developments to Georgia by granting a sales tax refund to companies who establish new tourism attractions here. To be eligible for the tax refund, projects must exceed $100 million and have a positive economic impact on the state."
From a Georgia newspaper:
"Plans for a $1 billion, million-square-foot indoor ski resort in Bartow County, Georgia (near Atlanta), are progressing and apparently hinge on one decision -- if Governor Sonny Perdue signs the Tourism Development Act passed Thursday by the Georgia General Assembly, the facility, billed as the world's largest of its kind, could go up on more than 750 acres of land near Red Top Mountain State Park.
The development -- to be divided into the Alpine and Village levels -- would include five ski runs, the world's only indoor snow mobile track at a mile long, two NHL hockey rinks, a 2,000-seat outdoor waterfront amphitheater, three four-star hotels, a conference center, 30 restaurants, 400,000 square feet of retail space and multiple residential components.
Rep. Paul Battles, a cosponsor of the bill, said it would provide incentives to developers via sales tax rebates of a quarter of a percent for the next 10 years. Bartow County would receive $25 to $30 million in road improvements, including a proposed new four-lane bridge over Lake Allatoona."
HT: Evan Julber, who asks in an email: "What's next, $1 billion government-subsidized indoor beach complexes in cold states like Idaho, Montana and Minnesota, complete with palm trees, surfing areas, tidal pools, scuba diving areas, etc.?"
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