By CASSANDRA MICKENS / Associate Editor

CHELSEA — A public hearing to discuss directing $200,000 in public funds to the Applebee’s restaurant under construction on U.S. 280 is set for April 15 at Chelsea City Hall.

Mayor Earl Niven announced the public hearing during the Chelsea City Council’s regular meeting March 18. Niven went on to reference a state law that allows private enterprise to receive public funding for economic development that spurs growth in the area.

“This will allow help to get a major business open here in Chelsea that will further other businesses here in Chelsea,” Niven said.

Birmingham-based Quality Restaurant Concepts LLC, which operates Applebee’s franchises in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, plans to open the Chelsea restaurant on U.S. 280 across from Walmart this year.

Niven cited state constitutional amendment 772, which allows county and municipal governments to direct public funds to private enterprise.  The amendment reads that governing bodies can “lend its credit to or grant public funds and things of value in aid of or to any individual, firm, corporation, or other business entity, public or private, for the purpose of promoting the economic and industrial development of the county or the municipality.”

The public hearing will be held as part of the Chelsea City Council’s next regular meeting April 15 at 6 p.m.