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County applies for grant to improve 400
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County Commissioner Gary Pichon has much to say about improvements he'd like to see made along Ga. 400.

In addition to planting shrubs and greenery in an attempt to lure developers looking to relocate business, he'd also like to see the area named to reflect the community.

"It's our main street, but it's not Main Street, and it would be nice to be able to tell people who ask for directions a name instead of ‘out at 400, near the outlets,'" he said.

Pichon said implementing the "Main Street Project" has been a top priority of his for several years.

The commission voted unanimously Feb. 20 to apply for a transportation grant that would be used to spruce up a section of greenspace near Carlisle Road.

The transportation enhancement grant funds projects up to $50,000 and requires no matching money from the county. The county would be responsible for the upkeep.

"What we need is to pick up the trash, keep it clean, keep it mowed with good grass coverage and then some low line shrubbery that's easy to take care of, that's native, that makes the place look tended," he said.

"What I'm hoping is we can take this grant, develop a plantings plan, go to the state and then begin to execute a planting and maintenance plan for our main street."

The push to name the area would be an extension of the project, and Pichon is interested in hearing suggestions from the public.

"[Ga.] 400 is a pretty big piece of commercialization and it needs an identity," he said. "It needs a name. What's its name?"