Industrial activity is ramping up in the Rockmart area with movement on existing industry expansion and ongoing discussions about land purchases.

The Rockmart Development Authority (RDA) and Polk County Development Authority (PCDA) officials met Friday morning with representatives from Nordic, an existing business located at 1802 Rome Highway.

RDA Board Chair Bob Culver and PCDA Board Chair Roger Waldrop welcomed the following Nordic officials: Regional Director Gary Austin, Operations Manager Chris Austin, Chief Operating Officer Gary Holt, and Director of Business Strategy Ross Maple.

They presented plans for a proposed expansion, which would include a loading dock in the back of their existing facility. This plan is due to increased product activity, according to officials.

Nordic is seeking financial assistance for site and roadwork from the Rockmart and Polk County Development authorities.

Waldrop pointed out the local industry provides jobs and has been a good corporate citizen.

No decision has been made but both RDA and PCDA indicated they would consider the proposal.

Prior to the arrival of the Nordic group, RDA board members approved action taken at an earlier meeting.

During that session, the board discussed two issues:

The potential purchase or making an offer to buy 45.671 acres of foreclosed property. Included would be 38.251 acres known as Stone Creek Development and 7.42 acres identified as Sycamore Grove.

After lengthy discussion, a motion to make an offer to purchase was made by Charles Pinkard and Ron Brackett, RDA board members. Upon vote, the motion was unanimously approved.

Rockmart City Manager Jeff Ellis was authorized to negotiate with the financial institution holding the property with an offer of $8,000 to $9,500 per acre.

Thereafter, the City Manager requested and received RDA board approval to have a topo survey of a 22-acre tract within the Rockmart Highway 101 Industrial Park.

This is for the purposes of pricing out the construction of a pad for a future speculative building or direct purchase of the site from an interested party.