Officials celebrate completion of spec building
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Wanted: one tenant for 55,000 square feet facility with 30 feet high ceilings, plenty of lighting and lots of room to grow.
Those words could be used in a classified advertisement for Russellville's newest building.
Officials gathered Tuesday to celebrate the completion of the city's industrial spec building located in the industrial park off Walnut Gate Road.
"This has been a long time coming," said Mitch Mays, executive director of the Franklin County Development Authority.
Mays worked for four years to gain support and funding for a spec building. He said that 80 percent of all industries looking to re-locate or expand want to find a building that is already in place.
"A car salesman can't sell cars of there is none on the lot," he said. "We can't sell an industry on a location if we don't have a building to show them."
The city of Russellville and five local banks, CB&S Bank, Valley State Bank, Bank Independent, First Metro Bank and Community Spirit Bank, partnered together to provide funding for the building.
"I want you to know that you are doing the right thing," said David Hutcheson, of the Alabama Development Office.
"When the economy comes back you are going to be ready to market yourselves to companies. By having this facility, a company could come right in and get to work."
Several state and local agencies will now begin marketing the building to companies who may be looking for a new site.
State Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow said creating and keeping jobs should be the top priority for public officials.
"Consumers can't spend if they don't have jobs," he said. "I will do everything I can to help get an occupant in here. I believe the future is bright for Franklin County."
State Sen. Roger Bedford compared the building to others across the state.
"This is a state-of-the-art facility and with all the things going on around us, Franklin County and Russellville should be the hub of economic growth," Bedford said.
"This is a great day for Russellville and a milestone for our future
