PROGRESS
Central State is experiencing a rejuvenation. The Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority (CSH LRA) has been working since 2012 to revitalize the sprawling Central State campus. With multiple projects either completed or in progress, Central State is primed to become a major factor in the Milledgeville and Middle Georgia community once again. The once vibrant buildings are slowly being restored and repurposed to serve the Milledgeville area, and, for the first time in a long time, the future of Central State appears bright.
Georgia's Agribusiness Development Center
The world’s second largest kitchen makes its home on the campus of Central State. Parham Kitchen, a 100,000 square facility with an additional 40,000 square feet in storage, cooler and freezer space is being repurposed to become Georgia’s Agribusiness Development Center (GADC). According to the Central State Redevelopment Authority, GADC will include space for a private food service entity to operate, an agribusiness incubator, and a distribution and warehousing co-operative. All this to capitalize on Georgia’s $77 billion annual agribusiness industry while revitalizing the massive kitchen.
Bostick Nursing Center
Earlier this year, the Bostick Nursing Center became operational on the Central State campus.. According to the Central State Redevelopment Authority, the center is a 280-bed intermingled skilled nursing and intermediate care facility will serve special populations that currently have extremely limited access to skilled nursing and intermediate care services. The special population at Bostick is primarily medically fragile parolees without access to skilled nursing and medical care outside the prison system.
Celebration Day
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy
In mid-October, the third National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy in the state of Georgia opened on the Central State Campus. The Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority describes the program as an evidence-based program designed to provide opportunities to adolescents who have dropped out of school but demonstrate a desire to improve their potential for successful and productive lives. The academy is located in the refurbished Boland Building, and is set to house the 200-plus cadets who have already signed up for the Youth ChalleNGe academy.
Green Initiative
The Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority has formed a Green Initiative Committee that will fully investigate possibilities for establishing various forms of material recycling on the Central State campus. According to the CSH LRA, the possible recycling possibilities include:
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Community Solar Panel Farm
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Solar Thermal Application
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Waste to Energy Plant
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Biomass Fuels
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Material Recycling Transfer Station
Former State Representative Rusty Kidd gives his perspective on the redevelopment of Central State Hospital