Work toward pursuing state money for a new literacy center in Oakwood could begin in earnest early next year.

“There’s nothing concrete going on right now. We continue to talk about (the project) and plan for it, and we expect to start the grant-writing process in January,” said Linda Barrow, vice president for academic affairs at Lanier Technical College.

The college was moving forward on the project earlier this year, going as far as to have Oakwood pursue a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant, the maximum amount allowed, on its behalf.

But then officials realized they might end up needing more money to complete the center, which would provide GED instruction and teach literacy and English to non-native speakers.

“The property we were looking at had some issues,” including wetlands and grading challenges,” Barrow said.

“When we looked at the cost of dealing with the property itself and preparing the property for building, there was no way in the world to do all that kind of stuff and build a building for $500,000.”

Officials said earlier this year that site preparation costs alone would be $500,000.

Plans had called for the center to be built off Thurmon Tanner Parkway, a four-lane road under construction between

Plainview and Mundy Mill roads. The new road is expected to be completed by Dec. 31.

Oakwood had set aside $10,000 toward the project. The Gainesville-Hall County Alliance for Literacy and Lanier

Technical College Foundation also had pledged $10,000.

“We’ve been staying in touch with the folks we want to partner with, and they continue to be supportive,” Barrow said.

“Once we get real serious about (pursuing the grant) after the first of the year, it will move along fairly quickly.”

Grant applications are due in April. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs oversees the grants, which are designed to benefit mainly low- to moderate-income residents.

“We may decide we need a different piece of property,” Barrow said. Oakwood City Manager Stan Brown “and I have been talking about options around Oakwood.”

“There is a lot of need in Oakwood,” said Brenda Thomas, Lanier Tech’s associate vice president for adult education.

Last year, the Hall County Adult Learning Center at 4 1/2 B Stallworth St. in Gainesville provided services for some 2,000 students.

“We are flat out of space in the Stallworth Street location,” Barrow said. “We have got to do something. ... Quiet frankly, and I just hate this, but we’re turning some students away.”

Thomas said the Hall County school system has expanded the parking lot at Stallworth Street by 15 to 20 spaces and “that has been a good thing.

“We have problems with seat space and parking,” she said. “We are trying to do the best we can with the cramped conditions we have.”

The community’s literacy needs should help boost chances to get the grant.

Plus, the state “really looks for those partnerships, financial and in-kind, as (a positive),” Thomas said. “We still have all that. Nothing went away.”