Business View Civil and Municipal | January 2021

83 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL JANUARY 2021 UNION C I TY , GEORGI A for the community, to facilitate engagement and connection,” says Fillingame. “That is what we are all about, community connection. How we can best engage our communities so that we can have a strong fabric of connection.” In addition to these projects, there is a longer-range plan which includes ongoing work on a trail system which will connect all areas of the city, while at the same time creating more of a presence in the downtown corridor. As Union City grows, there is a continuous effort to ensure infrastructure is sustainable, including the city’s transportation system. To manage congestion and protect air quality, the city is encouraging active transportation, creating a network of continuous bike and sidewalk routes. “The ultimate goal, even though the traffic will increase as the population increases, is to make sure we keep our infrastructure maintained, and at the same time protect the environment, “says Ferguson. An additional $23 million in city funding is available through TSPLOST– a special purpose, local option sales tax, which funds critical transportation projects like roads and bridges and active transportation. “That has been a great resource for us, and it helps our business community because when you make those types of investments in your community, it helps economic development in tandem,” Ferguson notes. As the population continues to increase, the city is working with developers to ensure housing inventory is also growing. Several new residential subdivisions including Stonewall Station, Chatteron Springs, and Bentley Ridge developments are underway in Union City. Fillingame recounts, “Our strategy is to develop both high quality as well as a wide range of housing options. We want to attract future residents while simultaneously meeting the needs of our current population. Building permits are increasing at a fast pace and so too is our ability to create new opportunities for residents to call Union City “home”.”