A primary goal in economic development is to improve a community's assets in order to attract interested investors. The City of Evergreen is on the right track to achieve this goal after the Evergreen City Council voted to pave the way for several developments.

 

The City Council recently approved a $3.9 million GO Bond for: purchase of 96.2 acres for the new industrial park at Fairview Commons, purchase of 30.6 acres for retail lots, expansion of infrastructure, engineering work, cash incentives for retail/family entertainment venues and purchase of the local facility and acreage.

 

Daryl Harper, economic developer, reported that the new Fairview Commons Industrial Park, located at the intersection of I-65 and Highway 84 in Evergreen, has also received approval to pursue an AdvantageSite designation.

 

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.

 

Fairview Commons has already landed its first tenant. FedEx will construct a 32,000 square foot warehouse on a 7.9-acre parcel of the Fairview property. Construction is set to begin in August 2012 and the facility will be open for business in early 2013 according to Harper. The warehouse and equipment represent up to a $5-5.5 million investment. The facility will employ around 27 workers once complete.