Monroe County courthouse in Forsyth. Archival context photograph from the Development Authority of Monroe County media archive; the planned agricultural center is not pictured.
Monroe County commissioners voted unanimously on August 4, 2026, to approve spending $4,826,158 in previously allocated Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds for a new Agricultural & Natural Resources Center. The county announced the decision on August 7.
The facility is planned for an undeveloped portion of the Monroe County Recreation Department property, near the newer entrance and exit off Fairview Church Road. The county says Forsyth-based Proform Construction was selected for a design-build contract in December 2025.
At the August meeting, commissioners reviewed preliminary exterior and interior concepts and the final cost estimate before approving the expenditure, 5–0. The county said the center had been discussed for more than a decade.
The approval is an investment milestone for local agriculture and community facilities. Details about the building’s opening and programming should follow the county’s future announcements.