The Monroeville Industrial Park's East Site has received an AdvantageSite Designation! This designation marks a major milestone for economic recruitment in Monroe County and the City of Monroeville.
Glen Haab, Executive Director of the Monroe/ Monroeville Economic Development Authority (MMCEDA) and Dr. John Johnson, principal advisor to the MMCEDA and former Executive Director, announced the designation Tuesday night at Monroeville City Hall.
"We're pleased to add the Monroeville Industrial Park East Site as our 20th AdvantageSite, and commend the local team for its hard work and dedication to the process," said Greg Knighton, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) Vice President and Director of Business Information. "This designation is an important tool for economic development. These sites are being actively marketed on the web-based Alabama Buildings and Sites database, which averages over 600 daily searches. The AdvantageSite designation demonstrates the significant due diligence and planning that has occurred at a site."
Wiley Blankenship, President/ CEO of Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Authority (CGEDA) said, "I would like to congratulate the City of Monroeville, Monroe County, the Monroe/ Monroeville Economic Development Authority, and the Monroeville Industrial Development Board for their hard work and dedication to become the Coastal Gateway Region's first designated AdvantageSite. I have worked with Mayor Mike Kennedy, Dr. John Johnson and Glen Haab in the past to encourage the AdvantageSite program and stress the importance of holding this designation. It is very obvious that Monroeville's local economic developers have been very instrumental in facilitating this important designation".
"The City of Monroeville is very excited to receive designation as southwest Alabama's first
AdvantageSite," said Mayor Mike Kennedy. "Dr. Johnson, Glen Haab, Julie Adams and the new EDA have done a wonderful job at a very fast pace." "DMD Engineers were a great support to our team," he added.
According to Thursday's Monroe Journal, Dr. Johnson said, "This designation is a milestone in economic development for our community. Mayor Kennedy, the city council and the city IDB have developed a major asset in the properties in the Monroeville Industrial Park. This is the crown. We are all grateful to the Eddins Estate for the collaboration in making this possible."
10 acres were purchased from the Estate adjacent to the Industrial Park previously this year.
According to Blankenship, "top priority is given to sites that hold the AdvantageSite Designation by developers and industries looking for site locations. These sites also aid in the attraction of prospects for other sites within the area. I hope folks in the region understand the importance and value this designation brings to the region".
Tammy Radmard, Senior Economic Development Analyst at the EDPA said "In addition to marketing designated sites on the Alabama buildings and sites database, the AdvantageSite program is being actively marketed to site selection consultants. We want them to know that Alabama's economic development community is working to designate an inventory of industrial sites with sufficient site documentation for accurate, timely project evaluation".
"There are other communities in the region who are considering or currently working towards an AdvantageSite Designation," said Blankenship. "I hope to see that every one of our cities obtain this goal as Monroeville has done. Monroeville - Congratulations on a job well done!"
About the Advantage Site Program:
According to the EDPA the voluntary industrial site preparedness program was created in order to make the state more competitive for companies considering a location in Alabama. The AdvantageSite program requires that community economic development organizations provide documentation specific to a proposed industrial site, including a set of standard data related to ownership/control, environmental and geotechnical conditions, and infrastructure status.
Sites must also meet size, zoning and accessibility requirements. For all qualifications required for an AdvantageSite visit http://www.edpa.org/bsc/advantagesitepublic.asp.
The AdvantageSite program is jointly sponsored by the Alabama Development Office, Alabama Gas Corporation, Alabama Power Company, EDPA, the North Alabama Industrial Development Association and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. Representatives from each of the entities actively participate in application reviews and on-site visits to prospective AdvantageSite designees.
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Greg Knighton. "Monroeville Industrial Park - East receives AdvantageSite designation" Press Release - Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, http://www.edpa.org/bsc/advantagesitepublic.asp.
Mike Qualls. "Monroeville Gets Edge in Development"." Monroe Journal [Monroeville] June 17th, 2010, Front Page & 12A.
