By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce announced The Orange Grove project.

The project is designed to help bring all the communities in Orange County together while instilling community pride.

“We want to focus on community beautification and pride,” Chamber Treasurer Chris Kovatch said during a press conference on Tuesday morning. “We want to do something countywide.”

Kovatch and Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce Ida Schossow said the chamber has been discussing the project for approximately four years.

“If you have traveled to Lake Charles you may have seen the alligators or in Jacksonville, the tomatoes,” Kovatch said. “The chamber will offer oranges.”

Not just any oranges either, 650-pound concrete oranges with a 30-inch diameter. 

“The sculpture is starting work on ours so it will be three weeks before we have a visual,” Kovatch said. “We are taking preorders now.”

After the original is made and approved, a mold will be made for those ordered. The one mold will be able to produce one orange a day. Preorders are to determine how many will be needed. The first shipment is anticipated to be in December of this year.

“Also, a tabletop version will be made available as well,” Kovatch added.

The concrete oranges, arriving in concrete color, will be encouraged to be decorated and painted within chamber guidelines.

“Brad Childs will do the deliveries for us and be the official paint supplier,” Kovatch said.

The project, while encouraging unification within the county, also encourages to shop Orange County first.

The cost of an orange is $250 for chamber members and $500 for nonmembers.

“The cost for members is the cost of the orange and delivery,” Schossow said. “We are passing along the cost.”

Nonmembers will also receive a one-year membership with the chamber allowing the business to discover first hand the benefits of chamber membership.

Schossow added the chamber looked at many options before selecting an orange. 

“We are very excited about this project and the impact it can have on our county,” Kovatch said.

To place an order, contact the chamber for an order form (you can download it here). Concrete pads are also available for a small fee.