Less than four months ago, local officials approved a deal to provide $11.5 million for the Piedmont Triad Research Park. State legislators now want to chip in some more public money….
Four members of the N.C. House – all from districts in Forsyth County – sponsored a bill last week that would give $4 million in state money to the research park.
But when questioned about the bill, none of the four sponsors could say how the money would be used or why it is needed.
Rep. Larry Womble, one of the sponsors of the bill, doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the area:
“That area has laid so depressed for so long a time,” said Womble, referring to the area in downtown Winston-Salem where the research park is. “It was an ugly eyesore. It wasn’t generating any kind of taxes to speak of. It was not being used to its fullest potential.”
And this is an area which is supoosed to stimulate incredible job growth, right? With this in mind, not to mention the stadium deal, one has to wonder just how much public money is needed to boost Winston-Salem’s downtown. There doesn’t appear to be enough.
