a special report on corridor x / interstate 22

�www.interstate22alliance.com

Interstate 22 Alliance Gateway to

A Special Report From The World Economic Development Al l iance

Six County Regional Development Alliance - Interstate 22 Access - Birmingham to Memphis, 26 Available Industrial Buildings, 25 Available Industrial Sites,

15 Available Industrial Parks, Competitive Site Location Incentives

� www.interstate22alliance.com

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1. Jasper Industrial Park – 406 Acres2. Tom Bevill Industrial Park – 64 Acres3. Winston County Industrial Park – 818 Acres*4. Black Creek Mega Site – 1,800 Acres5. Brilliant Industrial Park – 122 Acres6. North Winfield Industrial Park – 240 Acres7. Winfield Industrial Site – 40 Acres8. Winfield Interstate Site – 100 Acres*9. Guin I-22 Commercial Property – 212 Acres10. Guin Interstate Site – 369 Acres11. Fulton Bridge Industrial Park – 300 Acres12. Bedford Industrial Park – 72 Acres 13. Marion County Airport Site 2 – 400 Acres14. Weston-Hamilton Site – 400 Acres15. MG Industrial Park – 190 Acres*16. City of Fayette Industrial Park – 100 Acres17. Lamar County Industrial Park – 318 Acres18. Russellville Industrial Park 2 – 165 Acres19. Phil Campbell Industrial Park – 83 Acres20. Vina Industrial Park – 400 Acres21. Haleyville Industrial Site – 51 Acres22. Hyche Addison Industrial Site – 25 Acres*AdvantageSite Certified

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I-22 AllIAnce employment DIstrIbutIonLabor Force Estimates Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate Under-

employedRate Available Labor

Effective Workforce Recruiting Area

657,515 585,220 72,259 11.0% n/a n/a n/a

I-22 Alliance 75,355 65,347 10,008 13.3% 13,820 18.2% 15,982

Fayette County 6,826 5,897 929 13.6% 1,695 24.1% 2,113

Franklin County 13,017 11,395 1,622 12.5% 2,120 16.1% 2,793

Lamar County 5,602 4,723 879 15.7% 993 17.9% 1,366

Marion County 12,285 10,394 1,891 15.4% 2,951 24.2% 3,680

Walker County 28,428 25,222 3,206 11.3% 4,933 17.2% 6,254

Winston County 9,197 7,716 1,481 16.1% 1,128 12.0% 1,676

Alabama 2,128,251 1,903,257 224,994 10.6% n/a n/a n/a

United States 156,255,000 141,055,000 15,201,000 9.7% n/a n/a n/a

Source: Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama and Alabama Department of Industrial Relations in Cooperation with the US Department of Labor and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

Note: Rounding errors may be present. Employment rates based on July 2009 data.Underemployment data based on May 2008 labor force data and 2008 underemployment rates.

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The Interstate 22 Alliance is a collaborative effort between the Community Development Foundation of Marion County, The Franklin County Development Authority, The Walker County Economic & Industrial Development Authority, The West Alabama Economic Development Authority and The Winston County Development Authority.

I-22 Alliance Employment Distribution33%

62%

5%

Public Administration

Service Providing

Goods Producing

Population 1990 2000 2007 2010

Census Census Estimate Projection

Fayette County 17,962 18,495 17,648 18,795

Franklin County 27,814 31,223 30,439 32,028

Lamar County 15,715 15,904 14,447 14,795

Marion County 29,830 31,214 29,580 32,283

Winston County 22,053 24,843 24,240 25,459

Walker County 67,670 70,713 68,616 72,891

I-22 Alliance 181,044 192,392 184,970 196,251

Alabama 4,040,587 4,447,100 4,627,851 4,838,812

United States 248,709,873 281,421,966 301,621,157 310,232,863

Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations and U.S. Census Bureau



The crossroads have always been an iconic image of the South. They comprise that fork in the road where you choose East or West, where decisions are made, and where mobility is incar-nate.

The crossroads may be an old metaphor, but these days, in Ala-bama, they are very real: The I-22 Corridor, a massive, brand-new interstate highway, is almost complete, and with it comes a new business lifeline for the Northwest section of one of the great Southern states, Alabama. With its new highway, a huge swath of businesses now have an easier way to transport goods—East, West, and beyond.

“I see the I-22 Corridor opening up a section of northwest Ala-bama that’s never had major highway infrastructure before,” says Grady Batchelor, President of the Industrial Development Author-ity of Winston County, Alabama, Inc.

Batchelor is definitely on to something. By the time the final two miles of the highway are completed in 2010, the Corridor will link Memphis, TN, with Birmingham, AL, a distance of 213 miles, run-ning through Walker, Franklin, Winston, Lamar, Marion and Fay-ette Counties. The Corridor parallels the current road, US High-way 78.

The Corridor is no typical East-West highway. It is geared specifi-cally to suit the logistics and transportation needs of many differ-ent types of industries.

“The I-22 Corridor will open the Northwest Alabama Counties to the nation’s transportation system. These counties for too long, have been isolated from the transportation system and the Northwest Alabama area is a jewel waiting to be discovered! We have a workforce available in the region that can support any type or size industry, with a work ethic that will surpass any. Buildings are available and the Industrial Parks have space ready to custom build if preferred. The cost of living and operating in Northwest Alabama is considerably lower than other regions in the United States. The I-22 region, and the citizens in our alli-ance area, pledge to support new industry as we continue to support existing industry. The existing industry would certainly testify to our support. We look forward to locating and sup-porting any new industry to our region,” says Lamar County’s, Probate Judge Johnny Rogers.

Merchants, industrial manufacturers, and producers concerned with transporting their products as efficiently as possible won’t have to worry about such issues with I-22. While Highway 78 often drops down to a two-lane road, for instance, much of the Corridor is six lanes wide, dropping at its narrowest to four lanes.

But it’s not just the road itself that is so attractive to the area’s economic development; it’s also the other roads the Corridor leads to. By connecting Memphis and Birmingham, I-22 pro-vides a speedy connection to several major highways, making transport and logistics efficient, accessible, and easy. I-22’s Eastern terminus, Memphis, is where many North-bound routes like Interstate 55 lead to St. Louis, Indianapolis and, eventually, Chicago. Interstate 40, with its connections to Texas and Okla-homa to the West and Nashville to the East, also connects to the Corridor in Memphis. The Western terminus of Birmingham, meantime, leads to Interstate 20 (to Atlanta) and to Interstate 65 (also to Nashville).

These connections aren’t just lines on a map—they are trade routes that provide the basis of a smooth and effectual industrial operation. They are arteries that open up a better way for North-west Alabama industries to streamline logistics and distribution. “With economic industrial development, one of the key factors is always transportation and access to highway systems,” says David Knight, the Executive Director of the Walker County De-velopment Authority. “The development of Interstate 22 through

I went to the crossroad, mama, and I looked East and West Oh yeah I went to the crossroad, and I looked East & West

- “Crossroad Blues,” Robert Johnson

Where decisions are made & mobility is incarnate

By: Jonanna Widner

CROSSROADSCROSSROADS

“The development of Interstate 22 through Northwest Alabama signifi-cantly increases our marketability for the expansion of industrial and distri-bution related projects. This interstate

highway opens a new corridor for development and greatly improves

travel from Birmingham through Mis-sissippi and on to Memphis.”


“As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family and worlds largest platform trailer manufacturer, Fontaine Trailer Company is no stranger to the site selection pro-cess. Since our original location in Alabama, the deci-sion to locate not just one but three new facilities along the I-22 Corridor was made easy due to the support and commitment our projects received from the local com-munities. We are excited about the success we have experienced and look forward to many years of contin-ued growth in the region.”

John W. Craig,President Fontaine Trailer Company

“Several years ago Montgomery Distributing, Inc. chose to locate in northwest Alabama near the I-22 Corridor. It’s a perfect location for us. We can distribute our ship-ments to more locations within two days than any other shipping point in the nation, both small package and truck. The support we have received from the local com-munity has been outstanding and being near Interstate 22 has allowed us to have a larger footprint for our dis-tribution operations. We have already doubled the size of our facility and operations and have plans in the very near future to grow even larger. Northwest Alabama is the right place for Montgomery Distributing, Inc.”

Scott MontgomeryPresidentMontgomery Distributing, Inc.

“As a 3rd party logistics provider for companies and government entities across the country, having our headquarters facility located in the I-22 region has prov-en beneficial and we’re sure that benefit will continue more so in the future. We have always been able to identify and recruit individuals from the area who pos-sess the qualifications, work ethic and integrity to grow our company at a rapid pace. We are proud to be a part of the region and look forward to thriving with the com-munity in the years to come.” Jacob NormanGeneral ManagerC2 Freight Resources, Inc.

Northwest Alabama significantly increases our marketability for the ex-pansion of industrial and distribution related projects. This interstate high-way opens a new corridor for development and greatly improves travel from Birmingham through Mississippi and on to Memphis.”

Just what might those industries be? Many of the counties favorably im-pacted by the I-22 Corridor are home to metal manufacturing sites, food processing, manufactured home sites, mining, automotive companies and many other diverse industries.

Batchelor cites the story of Exxel Outdoors, Inc. as a case study for what the I-22 Corridor can do, not just for the region, but for the country. The company, which makes sleeping bags, was recently touted by MSNBC as a success story for actually bringing back jobs from China to its manufac-turing site in Haleyville, AL, where production costs are actually cheaper than overseas. By 2010, 90 percent of Exxel’s sleeping bags will be made there, and—thanks in part to the Corridor—they can be shipped anywhere in the United States within three days. By contrast, shipping them from China can take up to two months. “They were able to bring back jobs be-cause our workforce has been able to be more effective,” Batchelor says. “They actually account for 30 percent of sleeping bag market in the US.”

The Exxel story sums up the appeal of what Northwestern Alabama has to offer industry and business. The area has long boasted a low cost of living, ready-for-shovel facilities and industrial sites, low overhead, and a willing, able workforce. With I-22 as its new artery, the region is prepared to blossom, bolstering the established companies there with new ones ready to take advantage of the existing infrastructure in combination with the new logistics improvements the Corridor provides.

“We’re pretty diversified,” says Executive Director for Franklin County Economic Development Authority, Mitch Mays, “and we’re looking to at-tract new industry and build on what we already have. We’ve seen growth with all of our existing industries and that’s very important to us, but we would like some new companies in the area.”

New companies will find plenty to work with here. According to Scott Hunt, an attorney with Marion County, Northwestern Alabama is chock-full of incentives. “I believe Alabama is very competitive,” he says, “and offers unique packages to entice someone wanting to locate their busi-ness or industry here.”

“We have quality workers with a solid educational base,” he continues, “and we’re able to train our workers to compete with anyone. We have good labor relationships.”

Hunt also notes the “exceptional industrial parks ready to be developed. We’re ready to provide a company with a site location that’s beneficial to them, without a tremendous amount of site preparation.”

Of course, it’s I-22 that really puts the region over the edge. “It gives us an opportunity to work with companies that we’ve never had an opportunity to work with before,” Mays explains. “It’s bringing Atlanta to Birmingham to Memphis, and we see that as being a very important logistical advan-tage—they can reach 31 states in only one or two days, and there’s not many places in the country that can offer that.”



FAyette COunty

• 100 Acres• Water: 6 Inch• Sewer: 8 Inch

• Gas: 6 Inch• Power: Alabama Power

• $10,000.00 Per Acre• 20 Miles To I-22

• Shovel Ready Site• 318.4 Acres• Water: 6 Inch• Sewer: 8 Inch• Gas: 10 Inch High Pressure• Power: Tombigbee Electric Co-op• $5,000.00 Per Acre• 30 Miles To I-22• Sites Are Being Graded For Buildings Now In Industrial Park

• 190,000 SQ. FT. / 17,748 SQ. FT. Office• Dimensions 275’ X 700’• 24 FT. Eave Height 30 FT. Center• Bay Spacing Length 100 FT. Width 25 FT.• 18 Acres• Expandable To 300,000 SQ. FT.• 8 Inch Floors• 4 Dock Doors, 2 Drive In Doors• Zoning: Heavy Industrial• Price: $1,200,000.00• 28 Miles To I-22

LAMAR COunty

WinStOn COunty • Advantagesite Certified

• Covenants Apply• Medium Industrial• 818 Acres• Water: 8 Inch• Power: Alabama Power Company• 161 KVA Transmission Line• Onsite Sewer System• $10,000 Per Acre• 6 Miles To I-22

• 105,600 SQ. FT. Office Space: 5,600 SQ. FT.• Main Operations Floor: 400 FT. X 250 FT.• 17 Foot Eave Height; 21 Foot Center• 23 Acres• Expandable: Yes• Floor: 4 Inches• 1 Dock Door; 6 Drive In Doors• Zoning: Light Industrial• Price: $990,000• 15 Miles To I-22

Chromalox Building

Lamar County Industrial Park

Winston CountyIndustrial Park

Dodd Building

Bachelor Building • 278,000 SQ. FT. / 8,000 SQ. FT. Office Space• 24 Acres

• Ceiling Height 22 FT. / 24 FT. Center• 6 Inch Floor

• Bay Spacing Length 40 FT. Width 50 FT.• 2 20 Ton Cranes

• 14 Dock Doors • Zoning Heavy Industrial

• Price: $10,000,000.00• 20 Miles To I-22

Fayette Industrial Park


• 190,000 SQ. FT. / 17,748 SQ. FT. Office• Dimensions 275’ X 700’• 24 FT. Eave Height 30 FT. Center• Bay Spacing Length 100 FT. Width 25 FT.• 18 Acres• Expandable To 300,000 SQ. FT.• 8 Inch Floors• 4 Dock Doors, 2 Drive In Doors• Zoning: Heavy Industrial• Price: $1,200,000.00• 28 Miles To I-22

• Advantagesite Certified• Covenants Apply• Medium Industrial• 818 Acres• Water: 8 Inch• Power: Alabama Power Company• 161 KVA Transmission Line• Onsite Sewer System• $10,000 Per Acre• 6 Miles To I-22

• Advantage Site Certified• 100 Acres• Water: 8 Inch• Sewer: 8 Inch • Gas: 6 Inch High Pressure• 44 Kv Power Transmission Line• $10,000 Per Acre• On Interstate 22

MARiOn COunty

Fulton Bridge Industrial Park

• Covenants Apply• Industrial• 300 Acres• Water: 8 Inch• Sewer: 8 Inch• Natural Gas: Served By 10” Inch Main By Public Gas Corporation• Power: Alabama Power Company 47kv Power• $5,000 Per Acre• On I-22• 52,000 SQ. FT. Spec Building Onsite

Winfield Interstate Site

• 172 Acres• Advantagesite Certified• 3 Phase Electric Service• Gas – 6” Main, 300 PSI• Water – 12” Main• Sewer – 8” Main• 38 Miles To Interstate 22• $10,000 Per Acre• Located Adjacent To Russellville Municipal Airport• 20 Miles To Northwest Regional Airport

• 52,000 SQ. FT. Industrial Space• 3,700 SQ. FT. Office Space• Located In Russellville Industrial Park #1• 3 Phase Electric Service• Gas – 6” Main, 300 PSI• Water – 12” Main• Sewer – 8” Main• Price $1,488,000• Expandable to 105,000 SQ. FT.• 38 Miles To Interstate 22• 20 Miles To Northwest Regional Airport

MG Industrial Park

Russellville Spec Building #1

FRAnkLin COunty

WALkeR COunty

Bevill Industrial Park

• 500 Acre Industrial Park• 64 Acres Remaining• Shovel Ready Site• Water: 12 Inch Main• Sewer: 12 Inch Main• Gas: 8 Inch Main• Zoning: Industrial• $15,000 Per Acre• One Mile To I-22

Speculative Building #4

• 53,000 SQ. FT. 3,000 SQ. FT. Office• Dimensions: 160x313• 28 Foot Eave Height; 41 Foot Center• 14 Acres• Expandable To 100,000 SQ. FT.• 2 Dock Doors; 1 Drive In Door• Clear Span Construction• One Mile To I-22• Price: $1,300,000



inteRStAte 22 ALLiAnCe GAteWAy tONORTHWEST ALABAMA

Interstate 22 Alliance

P.O. Box 368, Haleyville, AL 35565

Phone 1-888-489-1101


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