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Troup County was recently able to make up a $1.8 million funding gap to complete the first phase of the Griggs Recreation Center enhancement project. However, obtaining the additional funding needed for additional phases of the project, including the highly-requested outdoor swimming pool, is still a matter of debate.

Troup County Community Development Director Jay Anderson said the county and the involved construction services and architects have fine-tuned the final design and material details of the project to come up with a finalized budget.

The county has a guaranteed price of $5,849,873 for the finalized design and specs of the project’s first phase, which is $1.8 million over the $4 million originally allocated for the project.

The increase for the project’s cost is due to recent inflation, labor shortages and overall price increase on building materials, Anderson said.

Mosley said some of the money needed to complete phase one was granted by the city of LaGrange and the Callaway Foundation, who are partnering with the county on the project.

“Both have allocated an additional $400,000 apiece for the project,” Mosley said.

“With that amount, we were able to meet our funding [goal].”

Mosley added that an undisclosed individual from the area also submitted a grant to the project. This amount specifically will be used for the center’s planned wellness center.

In the past year, the county applied for $8 million in funding for the Griggs Center project through the governor’s office but was denied, Mosley said.

The second phase, he added, could be included in SPLOST VI funding if the county is unable to receive state funding.

In November 2021, the Troup County Board of Commissioners approved Torrance Construction Company as the construction manager at risk for Phase I of the project. Since that approval, Torrance Construction Company has been providing pre-construction services and working collaboratively with Troup County and the county’s architect, Smith Design Group, Inc.

Following the Troup County Board of Commissioner’s approval of the set $5.8 million guaranteed maximum price contract with Torrance Construction Tuesday night, the county will now be able to begin construction of the project in the coming weeks.

The full scope of the first phase includes instilling improvements to the Griggs Center, including remolding the existing smaller practice gymnasium into office space, a computer lab, a wellness center, study rooms and a concessions area.

The plans additionally include the construction of a new lobby area, full-size gymnasium and highly-anticipated off-street parking.

Originally, Phase II and III of the project was expected to cost $3.25 million and $1.25 million, respectively. Plans for the outdoor pool are included in Phase II.

“It will certainly be the most state-of-the-art facility we have in Troup County at this time,” Mosley commented. “I think we’re going to walk away from this with a facility Troup County can be proud of.”

Renditions of the project’s design elements and phase plans are currently available for viewing at the Griggs Center.