Extra Special People, Inc. (ESP), was overwhelmed with the unanimous support of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners who approved the File SUP24-01-04 special use permit for an Extra Special People campus located at 1818 Kingston Highway, Rome, GA. This marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey for the organization and the local community.
ESP Rome began with Gaines and Amy Dempsey and their hearts for their daughter Cade, and her friends to experience what over 900 individuals with disabilities in Northeast Georgia experience everyday: the magic of Extra Special People. What began with their employment program, Java Joy, has grown to after-school programming at Rome First United Methodist Church, and one then two weeks of summer camp at Georgia Highlands College. As programs have grown, so has the need for permanent space. ESP camp was bursting at the scenes with a waitlist.
It wasn’t until Cordell, a Rome ESP participant and Joyrista, shared his dream, that the organization got to work. Cordell visited the Berry campus for the first time for a Java Joy event and upon arriving and seeing the beautiful castle-like buildings and students his age enjoying life among them, he said, “ESP needs our own castle!” Not long after that, ESP went under contract with 1818 Kingston Rd. in Rome Georgia to begin building the dream.
ESP Rome has a long journey ahead of them and will need the community to join the journey. The site in Athens pictured hosts 20,000 sq. ft of program space, a ballfield and a universally accessible playground open to the public where all kids can play together. The organization has a dream that the same type of vision can become reality in Rome.
“As we embark on this dream, we invite you to join us every step of the way. Today’s approval is just the first milestone in a series of exciting steps along the way. Our vision for the property at 1818 Kingston Highway is not only ambitious but also deeply aligned with the needs and aspirations of our community in Rome, GA,” says Laura Hope Whitaker, CEO of ESP.
“We are committed to keeping our community informed and involved. We are so thankful for the unanimous support we have seen thus far. It proves that a dream like this is needed in Rome, Ga. Together, we can make a significant impact to make our beloved community even better.” Hollye Smith, ESP Rome Chairwoman.
To ensure you don’t miss out on any updates or milestones, the organization has a dedicated newsletter at as the go-to source for all the latest news, progress reports, and opportunities to get involved with ESP Rome’s journey.