The Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has expressed unanimous support for an upcoming vote on a regional sales tax to fund transportation projects.

The vote on the T-SPLOST is set for July 31, when local party primaries will also take place.

Money from the tax would fund the widening of Ga. 140 from Ga. 53 in Floyd County to I-75 in Bartow County, widening of Ga. 101 from East 12th Street in Rome to U.S. 278 in Rockmart and construction of the U.S. 411 connector to I-75.

According to the Chamber:

All of the money collected for Northwest Georgia must be spent in Northwest Georgia with 75 percent of the money going toward the designated projects and 25 percent going to local municipalities for use within the community.

The T-SPLOST will provide nearly $1.5 billion in transportation-related revenue for Northwest Georgia.

“The T-SPLOST will create jobs for Rome, Floyd County and Northwest Georgia, and it will provide much needed transportation routes for our citizens and existing industry,” said Chip Hood, chairman of the Chamber Transportation Committee.

“Not having a direct connection to Interstate 75 has cost this community countless jobs over the last four decades,” said Angie Lewis, chairwoman of the Chamber board. “If we do not support this tax, we can add another ten more years to the wait for more jobs and greater economic growth.”