By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

COOLEEMEE – The study hasn’t even gotten off the ground, but Julia Howard is ready to buy a condo in the old mill building here.
Speaking at an announcement of some $270,000 committed to design what could happen in the former Erwin Mills structure, the state representative said she loves Cooleemee. “I spent some of the best years of my life at the Cooleemee Pool … which we will get re-opened. I am so proud of you all and what you have accomplished.
“As long as I represent you in Raleigh, I will be here to help. This is going to be a great place to live and work since its surrounded by the nature park,” she said.
Howard and Sen. Andrew Brock announced the state was committed to providing a $35,000 matching grant to one from the National Endowment for the Arts, added to a $200,000 grant from the EPA.
The money will be used to evaluate the physical and environmental conditions of the property, as well as gain community input on what it wants.
Howard said that while it is a …