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The future Troup County Agricultural Center is a step closure to setting life-long roots in the grounds of Troup County.

Leaders of the county toured the nearly-complete facility Thursday, viewing future office spaces and outside areas that will be utilized for future projects. The new facility, located on 2168 Pegasus Parkway, will be shared by the University of Georgia Extension Service and Two Rivers RC&D.

For many years, the local UGA Extension/4H office has moved around to different locations, explained, Laura Mirarchi, 4-H Youth Administration. Currently, the office is stationed next to the Troup County Jail and has been there roughly five years.

Last year, the county purchased approximately 48 acres on Industrial Drive and began to construct a permanent space for the facility.

“This will be their final move,” said County Manager Eric Mosley.

The vision for this facility, which was funded by SPLOST 5 for just under $1 million, is to develop an agricultural center that will include office spaces for both organizations, a greenhouse to be used by the master gardeners’ group, a 3,600 square foot outdoor pavilion that the public can access and a community garden.

“It will be a centralized location for [agricultural] related operations for the county,” Mirarchi said.

The new space will be a comfortable space for Mirarchi to hold 4-H related activities, she said, as well as other community organizations such as the Troup County Association of Bee Keepers and Master Gardeners to hold thier meetings at as well.

“We certainly want this to be a space where children [and] families feel comfortable coming to,” Mosley said.

Environmental aspects of the building include a downspout gutter using a 1,500-gallon water system that will water all the bushes around the building.

Mosley described the building as “one of the healthiest buildings” in Troup County.

“We have two units in the building that have HALO UV systems, so all the air that is forced into those machines is cleaned,” he said, adding that the walls and floor were specifically designed to be more easily cleaned.  Lining the walls will be agricultural memorabilia of Troup County and a quilt made by the Pleasant Grove Quilters.

The building is set to open on Sept. 8 for UGA Extension/4H office and Two Rivers RC&D.  The county is planning an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 6, which will include an Ag Day featuring farm animals and equiptment.