The Piedmont City Council, on Tuesday, considered redevelopment plans for the former Piedmont Hospital building on Calhoun Street.
Piedmont Commercial Authority Board Chairman Lane Weatherbee presented a plan to transform the space into a potential small business incubator.
A business incubator is an economic development tool that is being used by an increasing number of cities, including Anniston, to help startup companies get off the ground by providing services and office space under a short term lease.
“The building would give future small businesses a chance to get started at an affordable renting price, while temporarily being able to share amenities such as WiFi, fax machines, and more,” Weatherbee told the council, adding, “If approved, the future space could bring businesses from Cleburne, Etowah, and Cherokee County to us.”
Weatherbee said that the city should be able to attain non-matching grants to fund the repair and remodeling work that is needed, along with grants to help staff the center once completed.
Several council members expressed their reservations to the plan, noting that the building would need extensive work.
After remaining vacant for several years, the hospital last sold in June of 2017 for just $30,000 to an Oxford doctor, who according the Weatherbee has since requested that the city buy it back.
According to Weatherbee, if the hospital building doesn’t work out, the city could instead look to the former Southside Elementary School building on Dailey Street as a potential small business incubator site.
“The city must find out more about the costs involved and the tools we would need to move forward before taking any action,” Mayor Bill Baker said.
No vote was taken on the matter at Tuesday’s meeting.
In other business, bills for payment were approved in the amount of $599,369.36.
Eddie Blackwelder and Susan Glover were reappointed to the city’s library board.
Aggie Harber was reappointed to the Piedmont Health Care Board.
The next regular Piedmont City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11th, following the work session, which is set for 5:30pm.