Officials: Recruitment takes preparation

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
When word broke this week that Volkswagen had chosen Chattanooga, Tenn., over a north Alabama location for a major manufacturing plant, many people were stunned.
Recent reports out of Germany and this state had led many to believe the plant would be built near Athens in Limestone County.
But officials always knew there was a possibility the plant would not end up in Alabama. That is always the case with industrial development.
There is so much uncertainty and unknown, it sometimes becomes a risky business.
That's the reason Franklin County officials are trying to develop facilities and have plans in place so they are ready when the next opportunity comes around.
"Everybody talks about, 'why haven't we got more jobs," said Mitch Mays, executive director of the Franklin County Development Authority.
"You can't just say 'here's some land, come build here."
Franklin County does have land set aside for industrial parks across the county, including Vina, Phil Campbell and two in Russellville.
The Russellville Industrial Park is separate from what will soon be the Mike Green Industrial Park.
The county purchased 190 acres of land on Alabama 243 in 2006. The site is being developed for larger industries looking for a place to move.
Mays said the size of industries that could locate in the new park will be what separates it from the city park.
"The Russellville park is a great park, but it just wasn't developed for someone who needs 100 acres," he said.
Clint Dotson, a member of the Franklin County Industrial Development Board, said the group has been working with local municipalities to boost the county's recruiting efforts. That's why, he said, the board purchased the property for the new industrial park.
State. Sen. Roger Bedford secured funding for part of the project and the board recently made its first sell on a portion of the land.
The Alabama Department of Transportation has purchased 18 acres of land across 243 from the park's entrance to build a satellite office to station equipment and materials.
Mays said that was an isolated piece of land that would have been difficult to market to industries, but is a good fit for what ALDOT needs.
"Another good thing about it is that they will do about $300,000 worth of work out there putting in turn lanes for our park," he said. "It will benefit the county and city industrial parks."
Industrial leaders have been stressing the need for ready to move in buildings.
"We want to have things in place so we can get industries here," Dotson said. "It's not something that just happens overnight."
Mays said there are six components most major industries look for.
"They look at power, water, gas, sewer, road access and high speed Internet access," he said.
"They look for a place they can move into."
Dotson said there has to be a vision for the future and not just looking for what happens the next day.
"My goal of all of this is to have jobs here so our kids don't have to move away," he said. "But, it takes time and that's what we are working to secure."