Economic diversification drives this infrastructure initiative.“We see that as an opportunity for economic expansion at the airport,” Cole says.The southeastern zone’s development offers particular advantages, as Cole notes: “It takes it out of the SIDA area for TSA purposes and gives them room to expand operations out there, whether it’s maintenance facilities or whatever the case may be.” By preparing these sites now, Roswell positions itself to capitalize on future aviation industry growth. Aligning with this diversification push is a significant manufacturing facility adjacent to the airport that promises to boost the regional economy while addressing housing needs. “The city has come to an agreement to sell the land that the bus plant is on adjacent to the airport to a modular home manufacturer,” Cole explains. The property, formerly home to TMC NOVA Bus, will now host BiltWise, bringing an estimated 330 jobs to the area. The timing aligns with increasing market demand for affordable housing alternatives.“There’s at least a decade of expansion going on in that particular sector as a lot of these modular home manufacturers try to move from the east towards the west,” Cole observes. BiltWise’s strategic location in Roswell extends their market reach considerably. “They’ve got a 500-mile radius that they can deliver in, and so we’re very excited,” he adds. FLOOD DISASTER AND RECOVERY Roswell faced unprecedented challenges when catastrophic flooding struck the community. “This was a 500-year flood event,” Cole recounts.“According to the official records at the airport, there was almost seven inches of rain within six hours that night.”The intensity of rainfall overwhelmed local infrastructure and created immediate life-threatening situations throughout the city. Emergency responders mounted heroic efforts amid rapidly deteriorating conditions.“It was a battle that night with our first responders, our fire and rescue police, sheriff’s office, et cetera,” Cole explains. “We saved approximately 350 lives that night, whether we were pulling them out of the river, pulling them off of rooftops, pulling them off of the hood of vehicles floating down the street.” These rescue operations 176 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 03
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