Groundwork begins on Country Inn & Suites

Submitted by Canton1 on
By Donnita Fisher Managing Editor
Local companies invited to bid on conference center project
The last working day in January, representatives for Country Inn & Suites met with city officials and a building permit was issued to begin work on the conference center being constructed on six acres adjacent to Splash Kingdom Water Park on I-20.

The permit was for phased foundation and site work.

Actual work on the property was set to begin this week, said Chad Encheff, one of the owners and general contractor of the project and president and CEO of the C&E Group.

With the first plans approved and “the weather cooperating and we can start clearing the site,” Encheff said.

“The rain has been a large hold up from a construction point on the hotel thus far, but engineering has taken longer than expected as well,” said Splash Kingdom owner Johnny Blevins who is also a partner in the project.

With work beginning, local contractors have an opportunity to bid on the project.

“We would really like local contractors to bid on the project so as much money as possible can be spent here at home,” Blevins said. “I am not sure why there has not been a bigger local response to the bid process, but time is running out so they should hurry in order to be included.”

During the January visit, Encheff and Blevins toured First Monday grounds and talked to some vendors about artwork and furnishings for the facility.

“We really would like to see local involvement on this,” Encheff said.

The original response from local contractors has been light, according to Julie Seymore, executive director of the Canton Economic Development Corporation.  "We are excited to see this important development get underway and encourage local contractors and suppliers to be a part of the project,” she said.

Blueprints and bid documents are available via the website www.tysonandbilly.com.

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