By Matthew Burgoyne
Staff Writer

    The Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton Counties was approved for a $1 million grant from the One Georgia Foundation. The JDA applied for the grant the middle of last year and just received approval this past month. On March 7, members of the JDA went to a ceremony to be presented with the grant.  The purpose of the grant was discussed at the JDA’s last meeting on March 25. 
    The grant will be used to complete the parkway serving Stanton Springs, a 1,620-acre self-contained community straddling I-20. “The parkway will give Technology Park/Atlanta and the JDA a chance to show the property to prospective buyers,” said Alan Verner of the JDA.  The parkway is a four lane, one mile entrance into Stanton Springs and is a crucial part to its success. The grant money received from the One Georgia Foundation will help Stanton Springs develop much faster.  At their last meeting, the JDA also addressed the proposition made by Loganville Christian Academy at the February meeting. Loganville Christian Academy’s Chief Financial Officer, Doug Monda, asked the JDA to support a bond giving the school money to expand its campus.
    The school asked the JDA, because its only other option was a firm in Colorado. Because of time constraints and the JDA’s mission, the school decided to work with the firm in Colorado. 
    The JDA also discussed an ongoing issue in Stanton Springs – trespassing. Trespassers have been plaguing the new area since construction began and the JDA is looking to stop the problem. “The site can be dangerous and we do not want any accidents to happen,” said Reese Waite, Vice President of TPA Realty Services.