The long awaited, major retail expansion in Blue Ridge to be anchored by a new grocery store gets closer to reality every day.
“We feel like we’re getting very close to the finish line. The overall impact to the community is going to be positive,” Fannin County Economic Development Director Erick Youngberg said.
He made the comment last week before Will Cobb of Wilco Development talked about how the Gateway project has progressed for a Fannin County Development Authority promotional video.
The project will sit on 34 acres of land across Blue Ridge Drive (State Route 5) from Walmart.
The first steps started in 2023 after Cobb said he saw “a gap in the market for multiple uses.” That resulted in “a lot of market studies,” that showed people driving 20 to 40 miles to go eat or find the services they needed. The Gateway project will mean the city and county will retain a lot of tax dollars they are now losing, Cobb said.
Additionally, Cobb expects about 500 people to be employed over the course of the building project.
Youngberg said previously the goal is to hire as many local workers as possible.
Construction has already included substantial grading. Within the last several days, water and sewer pipe, and some accompanying supplies, have been delivered to the site to prepare for the next phase, which is being completed by the developer.
As to what businesses will locate in the Gateway project, Youngberg explained those are announced by the individual retailers as they move forward with their locations. A Spring 2027 target date is set for the project to open.
Cobb noted that businesses that locate in these projects commonly look at long term commitments. Some leases can go as long as 50 years, he said.
Cobb praised Youngberg’s efforts to see the project come to reality. “He’s been a great partner,” Cobb said.