HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, said that the Commonwealth Financing Authority Friday approved a $200,000 loan that will enable two local businessmen to purchase and upgrade the Grandview Golf Course near Grampian.
The authority approved the loan to James C. Fleming Jr. and John R. Fleming, partners in Fleming Holdings LP. According to loan information, the limited partnership will buy the Ferguson Township business and rename it the Eagles Ridge Restaurant & Golf Course.
Plans call for $575,000 in improvements, including upgrading the clubhouse and the 100-acre, 18-hole golf course and instituting a new marketing plan. The remaining 126 acres also may be developed. Full-time jobs at the company will increase to 22 from the current 14.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority, established by the Rendell administration as an independent agency to administer Pennsylvania’s economic-stimulus packages, approved the 12-year, Small Business First/Tourism loan. The application was submitted through the North Central Regional Planning & Development Commission and the interest rate was set at 5 percent on the secured loan.
The golf course was considered an award-winning course when it was built in 1978 on a reclaimed strip mine, according to the a golf course Web site.