Covington's business climate is active and several companies are moving forward on plans to locate in the city, including a new Mexican eatery and Kauffman Tires.

Bullritos is a Tex-Mex chain that focuses on burritos and margaritas. According to bullritos.com, the Covington location at 10327 Industrial Blvd., in the Verizon shopping center would be the first one outside Texas.

Development continues on the Ga. Highway 142 North corridor by Walmart. McDonald's has submitted site and architectural plans for a one-acre parcel at the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and Ga. Highway 142 next to the closed gas station, Gaither said.

Kauffman Tire has also had its first review of plans for a new store next to the Wendy's on U.S. 278.

RaceWay submitted plans for the demolition of the retail store section of its gas station on U.S. 278, which was gutted in a May 2010 fire. The company plans to rebuild the store and previously submitted a plan for a 2,800 square-foot retail brick building, which also included the addition of another gas pump.

United Bank is also preparing to move into the 16,684 square-foot, former McIntosh Commercial Bank building on U.S. 278, which it purchased from the FDIC around the beginning of the year. The company has moved its Newton Plaza location to the new building.

And although residential growth is obviously slow, Gaither said that the Wildwood neighborhood on the Covington ByPass Road is one of the few new developments actually to be selling homes.

Update on new Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart is moving forward with plans to locate a store at the intersection of Salem and Brown Bridge roads in the county.
County Arborist Debbie Bell said the company is finalizing its land disturbance plans and could start construction later this spring. Wal-Mart has not returned e-mails seeking comment.