On January 4, 2011, the Town of Lawrenceville received a 2010 Community Development Block Grant under the Local Innovation fund for the purchase and rehabilitation of the Southern States Building located adjacent to the Tobacco Heritage Trail (THT).Southern States building purchased for renovation

The purpose of the Local Innovation fund is to create innovative employment opportunities within the Town of Lawrenceville through development of the Southern States Building into a THT trailhead. The Town executed a contract with the Department of Housing and Community Development in November 2011 in the amount of $200,000. All project activities must be completed by October 2013.