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The South's Best Automotive Assembly Plant
Sites
Alabama
Northeast Opelika Industrial Park
Offers Combination of Two Interstate Exchanges on I-85 and
Rail
A population of 440,000 within a 30-mile radius gives companies
at the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park the advantage of
a large labor pool. And boosting the quality of this work
force is the fact that this park is within five minutes of
one of the state's top community colleges and fifteen minutes
of Auburn University, home to 22,000 students (3,900 of which
are engineering).
Transportation access is another big advantage of this 1,300-acre,
one-owner property. It is adjacent to Interstate 85, rail
served by CSX and is within one hour and ten minutes of Atlanta's
Hartsfield International Airport.
Acres: 1,300
Location: Opelika, Alabama
Transportation Access: interstate, rail
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, fiber, natural gas
Benefits for Auto Assembly: large available work force, multi-modal
transportation access
Crossroads of America Industrial Park
Three Modes of Transportation Onsite
If you are searching for a site where you'll be surrounded
by an extensive supplier network, then take a closer look
at Crossroads of America Industrial Park. This one-owner,
greenfield, 1,500-acre site is only 60 miles from Mercedes,
138 miles from Hyundai, 145 miles from Nissan and 150 miles
from Honda.
Another major advantage is that this site offers three distinct
modes of transportation to receive parts and move finished
product. The site sits directly on I-20/59 and has BNSF rail
access onsite and Norfolk Southern's line less than five miles
away. Perhaps most unique, the site has direct onsite access
to the Tenn-Tom Waterway, which can save companies major time
and money in moving products to deepwater ports along the
Gulf of Mexico.
Acres: 1,500
Location: Greene County, Alabama
Transportation Access: interstate, rail, port
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electric, natural gas
Benefits for Auto Assembly: three modes of transportation
including port, great proximity to other auto manufacturers
to share suppliers, geo-technical and phase one environmental
studies already in place with no significant findings
Highway 20/I-65 North Site
One Mile from the State's Largest Community College
Within the Decatur MSA and adjacent to the Huntsville MSA,
one-half mile from Interstate 65, lies 941 acres ideal for
automotive assembly. In addition to its near-interstate location,
this site is also bordered by Alabama Highway 20 and is served
by dual rail service with Norfolk Southern onsite and CSX
in close proximity.
This site is also big on work force advantages. It is one
mile from Calhoun Community College, the state's largest two-year
institution and is within 25 miles of Athens State and the
University of Alabama in Huntsville. All modes of transportation
are present at or near the site, including a port facility
within 20 miles and Huntsville International Airport within
12 miles.
Acres: 941
Location: Decatur, Alabama
Transportation Access: interstate, rail, port nearby
Utilities in Place: electricity, sewer, water, natural gas
one mile from site
Benefits for Auto Assembly: just off interstate, within one
mile of the state's largest community college, all modes of
transportation at or near site
Atmore I-65 Business Park
Surrounded by a Ring of Tier One Suppliers
The largest industrial site on I-65 between Mobile and Birmingham
is Atmore I-65 Business Park, a total of 405 acres owned by
the City of Atmore. Among this sites unique characteristics,
Phase One environmental studies, geo-technical investigation,
Phase One Cultural Resources Reconnaissance, and an Archeological
Survey have all be conducted and a topographical map has been
completed. Furthermore, this site is located in a Foreign
Trade Zone, has a community college onsite, is less than 60
minutes from two major airports, 45 minutes from the Alabama
State Docks, and 60 minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches.
Making this site one of the South's best, it is positioned
only 100 miles from Hyundai's plant with many Tier One suppliers
even closer. Also, the Atmore area offers more than 1,000
trained workers ready for immediate employment. Additional
employee training is available through a no-cost state program
and local community colleges.
Acres: 405 total (320 in NE Quadrant, 85 in SE Quadrant)
Location: Atmore, Alabama
Transportation Access: interstate and four-lane highway
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: close to Hyundai plant to share
suppliers, large available work force in area, county has
more than 15 major trucking companies, located in a Foreign
Trade Zone for added incentives
Fackler Site
Within 40 Miles of Five Interstates
Alabama's Fackler Site offers automotive assembly plants
available labor, excellent schools, and excellent work force
training. With one major owner and one secondary owner, this
850-acre site is within 50 miles of Huntsville and its international
airport. It is also directly on U.S. Highway 72, a four-lane
roadway.
Acres: 850
Location: Jackson County, Alabama
Transportation Access: U.S. highway
Utilities in Place: water onsite, additional water, sewer
and gas planned
Benefits for Auto Assembly: close to five major interstates,
abundant and readily available labor pool
Arkansas
Railport Industrial Park
Only 10 Miles from Downtown Memphis
Looking for ways to lower logistics costs? Then check out
Railport Industrial Park in Marion Arkansas. This 2,200-acre
privately owned park has a 1,265-acre tract that is clearly
one of the South's best for auto assembly plants.
Since it is within the Metro Memphis Metropolitan Statistical
Area, this site is fortunate enough to draw its work force
from a population 1.2 million strong. The site is also blessed
with an exceptional location-two miles north of Interstate
40 and three miles west of Interstate 55 with great proximity
to the planned I-69. Further, it is a greenfield site only
used in the past for agriculture and has one owner for ease
of acquisition. A Phase One environmental assessment was completed
in 2002 with no wetlands identified.
This site's transportation infrastructure helps to make it
so outstanding. Two mainline Class 1 railroads are capable
of serving the site and three additional Class 1's are available
for switching to Eastern U.S. carriers just across the river
in Memphis. Union Pacific Railroad mainline and intermodal
terminal are adjacent to the northern boundary of the site.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline is five miles east of
the site. West Memphis Municipal Airport (with its 6,000-foot
runway) is two miles south of the site while Memphis International
Airport and the FedEx hub are approximately 18 miles from
away. The Port of West Memphis (deepwater channel port on
the Mississippi River) is eight miles south. The rail access
combined with interstate access gave this site the lowest
inbound and outbound logistics costs for two major auto assembly
projects sited in the past year.
The Railport Industrial Park site also benefits from excellent
proximity to the automotive corridor along Interstate 65,
which means an economic synergy with existing suppliers. In
addition, this location is within one-day truck service of
152 major metro markets in the U.S., allowing just-in-time
delivery systems to work smoothly.
In terms of work force and training, this site also ranks
among the South's best. The metro Memphis-area work force
numbers almost 600,000, with an additional 200,000 potential
workers within a one-hour drive time of the site. To train
this work force, Mid-South Community College is located only
three miles from the site. The school is a leader in Arkansas
for creating and teaching custom-designed training courses
for business and industry.
For more information on the Railport Industrial Park site,
contact Kay Brockwell, director of economic development for
the City of Marion at (870) 739-5414 or kayb@marionarkansas.com
Acres: 1,265 (additional 1,000 acres adjacent)
Location: Marion, Arkansas (metro Memphis)
Transportation Access: two-lane access road built to interstate
strength and state highway (both with interchanges on I-40
Utilities in Place: water with million-gallon storage tank,
sewer with pumping station, electricity
Benefits for Auto Assembly: multi-modal transportation infrastructure,
close proximity to auto suppliers and manufacturers along
I-65, draws from metro Memphis work force, strong education,
training and location incentives
Florida
Hammock Creek Site
Twelve Miles from Downtown Tallahassee, but in a RURAL Enterprise
Zone
The Hammock Creek Site offers major automotive advantages.
For starters, it has excellent proximity to multiple seaports
(it's 110 miles from the Port of Panama City and 160 miles
from the Port of Jacksonville) and is just two miles west
of Interstate 10 with interstate frontage on westbound lanes.
CSX Railroad is adjacent and serves as the site's western
boarder with approximately 2,000 feet of rail frontage.
The 1,659-acre, one-owner site draws a work force from Tallahassee,
which boasts a growing population of nearly 300,000. Although
the site is a mere 12 miles from downtown, it is located in
a Rural Enterprise Zone, which allows for maximum state incentives
for companies locating on the property.
Another advantage of this site is a carefully planned utility
infrastructure already in place. The site is served by existing
three-phase overhead electrical distribution line along the
nearby U.S. 90 corridor. Two natural gas lines are currently
on the site; one 36-inch and one 24-inch. Two water mains
also serve the site and a new one million gallon overhead
water storage tank is also under construction. Finally, a
new wastewater treatment facility is being constructed on
100 acres of property adjacent to the site, which will have
a maximum capacity of one million gallons.
Acres: 1,659
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Transportation Access: interstate, rail
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: proximity to Tallahassee, Rural
Enterprise Zone status, proximity to two ports, opportunity
for assembly operation to be the first OEM to locate in Florida
Cecil Commerce Center, Greenfield Mega
Site
A Shovel-ready Site, 100 Percent Pre-permitted with All Utilities
Available
Within the Jacksonville, Florida MSA and with 10,000 feet
directly on Interstate 10, automotive companies will find
a true gem. This 1,350 greenfield site site was previously
used as an agricultural buffer for a formal naval air station
and is owned in fee simple title by the City of Jacksonville.
Topography of this site is a major selling point with less
than one percent variation in grade across the entire site.
Work force is another huge plus for any company eyeing this
piece of southern real estate. It boasts access to a labor
force of more than a half million within a one-hour drive.
Transportation also cannot be overlooked as a main advantage
of Cecil Commerce Center. In addition to the interstate frontage,
rail is in the site's future with the planned reactivation
of an existing CSX rail bed, previously established to serve
the naval air station. This location also offers easy access
to sea and air transportation. It is 29 miles from Jacksonville's
Blount Island Terminals on St. Johns River and 16 miles from
Talleyrand Terminals of the Port of Jacksonville, a major
container port on the East Coast and the leading port in vehicle
import/export in the U.S. Within 25 miles is Jacksonville
International Airport and within five miles is Cecil Field
Airport, a major industrial and general aviation airport with
a 12,500-foot runway.
All utilities are present at this site in industrial capacity.
New electric substations are under construction with redundancy
along with a new water plant within the park. A new campus
of the local community college is also under construction
to provide employee training directly in the park.
For more information on Cecil Commerce Center, contact John
H. Haley, vice president, business recruitment of Cornerstone
Regional Development Partnership, Jacksonville Regional Chamber
of Commerce at (904) 366-6671 or john.haley@jacksonvillechamber.org
<mailto:john.haley@jacksonvillechamber.org>.
Acres: 1,350
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Transportation Access: interstate, rail planned
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: access to labor force of 520,000
within one hour's drive, site is 100 percent pre-permitted,
flat topography with less than one percent gradation change,
site preparation and grading currently under development
Kansas
Topeka-77th Street Site
An Easy-to-Assemble Site with Flat Topography
Topeka's 77th Street Site is within an hour's drive of Kansas
City, adjacent to Highway 75 and within four miles of Interstate
70. The area includes 900 acres of agriculturally zoned land
that has strong potential for automotive users.
Along with roadway accessibility, Burlington Northern Santa
Fe railroad runs parallel to the eastern edge of this site.
In addition, it is less than a quarter mile to Forbes Field,
Topeka's business and general aviation airport.
Proving that it welcomes automotive and other industrial
growth, the Topeka community recently approved a quarter-cent
sales tax, which will generate over $20 million for economic
development-related activities and enabling Topeka to be highly
aggressive in attracting new companies.
Acres: 900
Location: south of Topeka, Kansas
Transportation Access: four-lane U.S. highway, rail siding
in place
Utilities in Place: all utilities in place for 600-acre business
park (two miles north of the site) can be extended further
to south as needed
Benefits for Auto Assembly: flat topography, tremendous access
to highway system, city's aggressive business recruitment
steps
Tailgate Ranch Site
Only 30 Miles from Downtown Kansas City, Close to Suppliers
that Support Nearby GM and Ford Plants
Adjacent to Interstate 70 in Leavenworth County, Kansas is
Tailgate Ranch, one of the South's best destinations for auto
assembly. This 1,000-acre greenfield site has one owner and
all utilities available. A main east-west rail line out of
Kansas City is only three miles south of this site.
Along with interstate and rail, this site has great proximity
to other important resources for automotive success. It is
only 10 minutes from the University of Kansas in Lawrence
and 40 minutes to Kansas City International Airport. The Leavenworth
County site also has the advantage of being close to automotive
suppliers that support GM and Ford. And, the area's cost of
living, cost of housing and cost of business are less than
most of the Kansas City metro area.
Acres: 1,000
Location: Leavenworth County, Kansas
Transportation Access: adjacent to interstate
Benefits for Auto Assembly: in Kansas City metro, opportunity
to share supplier network of GM and Ford, lower costs than
most of metro area
Kentucky
Glendale Industrial Site
Near the Midpoint of "Auto Alley"
Boasting a central location in the eastern U.S., fifty miles
south of Louisville, Kentucky is Glendale Industrial Site.
This premier Hardin County location is near the center of
I-65's Auto Alley.
The property is a total of 1,551 acres and is bordered directly
by Interstate 65 and CSX Railroad. Currently all utilities
are near the site with plans in place to extend them to the
site.
Acres: 1,551
Location: Hardin County, Kentucky
Transportation Access: interstate and rail
Benefits for Auto Assembly: a central location in eastern
U.S., midpoint North to South along the I-65 Auto Alley
Kentucky TriModal Transpark
South Central Kentucky Regional Effort Pays Off in a Top Site
for Auto Assembly
Less than one mile from Interstate 65 in Bowling Green is
the Kentucky TriModal Transpark. Local government throughout
the region have endorsed the Transpark and have signed on
as financial partners, making it one of the South's strong
examples of regional support and cooperation.
For all industry, including auto assembly plants, the park
offers a total acreage of 1,254 with the largest possible
tract 641 acres in size. In addition to being in close proximity
to the I-65 via a U.S. highway, the Transpark also offers
rail with CSX passing directly through this site.
Acres: 1,254 total; 641 largest tract
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Transportation Access: interstate one mile via U.S. highway,
rail
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas
Benefits for Auto Assembly: proximity to Interstate 65, region-wide
support for site and companies locating there
North Carolina
Peppercorn Plantation
One of the Last Remaining Undeveloped Sites Located at the
Intersection of Two Major Interstate Highways
North Carolina's Peppercorn Plantation is located approximately
40 miles from Downtown Charlotte, adjacent to the city limits
of Statesville. This greenfield site with 700 acres is very
well positioned at the intersection of Interstate 77 and Interstate
40 and offers one mile of interstate frontage. Although it
now accesses the interstates via local access roads, a new
interchange is planned for the area, which could provide direct
access to the site.
A tremendous location to East Coast markets, Peppercorn Plantation
is one of the last few sites at the intersection of two key
interstates to be left undeveloped.
Acres: 700
Location: adjacent to Statesville, NC
Transportation Access: interstate less than two miles away
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas
Benefits for Auto Assembly: site fronts two major interstate
highways, a labor pool of more than 250,000 people within
a 25-mile radius
Alamance County Mega Site
Magnificent Exposure from Two Interstates
Benefiting from one of the best locations in the South is
North Carolina's Alamance County Mega Site. This property
is located at a full cloverleaf interchange and is fronted
by I-85 and I-40. In total, Interstates 40 and 85 front this
site for more than one mile.
This property is also located between the two major metropolitan
areas of Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill (the Research Triangle)
and Greensboro/Winston Salem/High Point (the Triad). Both
airports are within 45 minutes, with virtually the entire
distance by interstate. Only 35 miles from Greensboro and
48 miles from Raleigh, this greenfield property includes 1,400
acres that are ideal for automotive assembly.
The western boundary of this site has an overpass, which
can be improved to another interchange. In addition, preliminary
analysis has been completed for extending more than one-mile
extension of rail to serve the site.
Utilities are already located at this site including electricity,
municipal water and sewer, natural gas and telephone service.
These amenities can also be readily upgraded to accommodate
the needs of assembly operation.
With major exposure from the two interstates covering north/south
and east/west transport, Alamance County Mega Site is one
of North Carolina's premier offering. And perhaps one of the
biggest benefits to the OEM that chooses this great site,
North Carolina is ready to join the Southern Automotive Corridor
and state leaders eager to step forward to locate an assembly
plant.
For more information on Alamance County Mega Site, contact
Sonny Wilburn, president of Alamance County Area Chamber of
Commerce at (336) 228-1338 or sonnywilburn@alamancechamber.com.
Acres: 1,400
Location: Alamance County, North Carolina
Transportation Access: two interstates
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas
Benefits for Auto Assembly: located at a full cloverleaf interchange
and fronted by I-85 and I-40
Fayetteville I-95 Site
Near Two Military Bases that Provide an Abundant, Capable
Work Force
Infrastructure, people, and an outstanding site make Fayetteville,
North Carolina one of the South's smart picks for automotive
assembly. As its name suggests, this site not only borders
Interstate 95, but also has close proximity to the City of
Fayetteville, which includes a countywide population of 300,000.
The site is also only 26 miles South of Interstate 40, the
east-west connector, is 10 miles from Fayetteville Regional
Airport, 72 miles from Raleigh Durham International Airport,
and is within 90 miles of the Port of Wilmington. This level,
1,000-acre site is also near the second largest community
college in the statewide system.
As for utilities, the Fayetteville I-95 Site offers very
heavy water and sewer systems. The water system has a capacity
of 33 million gallons per day and the sewer 18 million gallons
per day. In addition, Fayetteville is home to both Fort Bragg
and Pope Air Force Base. As many as 13,000 active duty military
persons re-enter the civilian work force from these bases
each year. For companies that choose this location, this group
provides a tremendous opportunity to tap into a capable, highly
trained work force.
Acres: 1,000
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Transportation Access: interstate, rail 3,500 feet south of
site with commitment to extend
Utilities in Place: electricity, natural gas, water and sewer
can be readily expanded to site
Benefits for Auto Assembly: borders on I-95, close to MSA
of 300,000, near two military bases to provide work force
Oklahoma
Fair Oaks
A Ready-to-Go Site in a Central U.S. Location
Fair Oaks is within the city limits of Tulsa, Oklahoma (813,925
metro-area population) with minutes-away access to Creek Turnpike
and Interstate 44. The 600-acre site is underdeveloped, has
been previously used for agricultural purposes, and is held
by one owner.
Among its unique characteristics, Fair Oaks is easily accessed
through all modes of transportation. In addition to interstate
proximity, the site is within minutes of the Tulsa Port of
Cartoosa (with barge and rail service) and the Tulsa International
Airport. Also, Tulsa is an air attainment community with all
permitting handled through the Department of Environmental
Quality. Zoning and the location of the site are advantageous
to any type of industrial development as is the low tax jurisdiction.
All necessary infrastructure at this site, whether in place
or not, has been located and planned. Permitting, zoning,
and environmental issues are at a minimum. Auto assembly plants
that choose this site can also benefit from Tulsa's low business
costs and central U.S. location for easy distribution of products.
Acres: 600
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Transportation Access: nearby all modes of transportation
Utilities in Place: all has been zoned or planned
Benefits for Auto Assembly: within city limits of Tulsa; permitting,
zoning and environmental issues are minimal; central U.S.
location
MidAmerica Industrial Park
A Massive Site in a Great Setting
MidAmerica Industrial Park is located 40 miles from Tulsa,
Oklahoma, one of the top 60 metropolitan areas in the U.S.
The park is situated at the intersection of two major highways:
U.S. 69 and U.S. 412, which are respectively referred to as
the "NAFTA Transportation Corridor" and the "Wal-Mart
Expressway." In addition, the park is located just 21
miles south of Interstate 44.
MidAmerica spans over 9,000 acres, making it the largest
industrial park in Oklahoma and the largest rural industrial
park in the nation. The park has multiple greenfield sites
and can accommodate plant construction footprints that exceed
1,000 acres.
Transportation accessibility to this site is superb and MidAmerica
is becoming recognized as a regional logistics center. The
park is now served by over 70 trucking companies on a daily
basis and two trucking companies have terminals onsite. Plus,
the location of the park - equidistant from each coast - enables
park industries to reach over 60 percent of U.S. markets via
truck on a same-day basis. Union Pacific also serves MidAmerica
industries with lead rails that traverse the park.
Fifteen miles from the park, industries can use low-cost
barge transportation at a major port on an ice-free inland
waterway navigation system. Forty miles from the site, the
Tulsa International Airport has a variety of airfreight companies
and forwarders for expedited domestic and international shipments.
MidAmerica also boasts a spectrum of industry-attracting
amenities that provide a fully developed infrastructure for
growing companies. Park-owned water and wastewater treatment
facilities are onsite with rates that are far below national
averages. And, a park-owned Regional Business Airport (RBA)
is onsite with the ability to accommodate the needs of most
business aircraft. Two work force development institutions
have training facilities onsite; one nationally regarded center,
OSU-Okmulgee, specializes in skill development for high-productivity
advancing or leading edge technologies.
Three electric utilities have on-site power generation facilities
at MidAmerica and natural gas providers that offer highly
competitive rates also serve the park. Finally, MidAmerica's
telecommunications network is state-of-the-art with offerings
that range from a new high-speed DSL connectivity to SONET-ring
protected fiber-optic broadband networks and wireless service.
More than 70 firms now operate at MidAmerica including seven
"Fortune" and seven "Global 500" divisions.
These companies and others that will locate in the park can
draw prospective employees from a 30-mile radius with a potential
work force that surpasses over 280,000 people. Furthermore,
these companies can benefit from the park's designation as
a state enterprise zone and a Foreign Trade Zone, as well
as from fast-track permitting that cuts red tape and allows
construction to begin in days rather than months.
For more information on MidAmerica Industrial Park, contact
Marketing Director Don Berger at (918) 825-3500 or donb@maip.com.
Acres: 9,000
Location: Pryor Creek, Oklahoma
Transportation Accessibility: two U.S. highways, rail, barge
and airfreight options nearby
Utilities in Place: electricity, water, sewer, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: size-a mega site that accommodate
a large facility, many greenfield sites within the park that
can yield fast construction timetables, two employee training
centers onsite, 70 trucking lines providing service, central
U.S. location
South Carolina
PruTimber Site
All Utilities, Interstate Frontage, and Rail Service
What does the Masters Golf Tournament have in common with
automotive assembly success? They share the same world-class
address-the Aiken/Augusta market.
For automotive assembly plants, this community offers the
PruTimber Site, which is adjacent to the Sage Mill Industrial
Park. The site is located six miles away from Aiken, South
Carolina and only 11 miles away from Augusta, Georgia. The
Port of Charleston (the largest container port on the East
Coast) is a two-and-a-half hour drive as are Atlanta and Charlotte.
PruTimber offers more than 1,500 developable acres not counting
the acreage that can be used as buffer. It also claims direct
frontage on Interstate 20 along with rail service to the site.
All utilities including fiber optics are adjacent to the
site in Sage Mill Industrial Park. The bringing together of
all utilities plus interstate visibility and frontage makes
this site truly unique.
An OEM smart enough to locate at PruTimber will be able to
draw its work force from an area with a population of half
a million. And although the area does have a sizable population,
quality of life is not sacrificed. In fact, Aiken has been
named as an All-American City for the high lifestyle quality
offered there.
For more information about the PruTimber Site, contact Fred
Humes, director of Economic Development Partnership at (803)
648-3362 or edpsc@aol.com.
Acres: 1,500
Location: Aiken County, South Carolina
Transportation Access: interstate, rail
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas
Benefits for Auto Assembly: all utilities, interstate visibility
and frontage combined with rail, outstanding quality of life
in area
Berkeley Interstate Site
9,000 Feet of Visibility Along Interstate 26 with Virtually
All Major Permits in Hand to Construct an Auto Assembly Plant
What makes the Berkeley Interstate Site tops in the South
is that it is "beyond the point of surprise," as
quoted by a notable site-location consultant. As a two-time
finalist for major auto assembly projects, the level of investigation
has reached the point of having virtually all major permits
in hand to construct a major assembly plant.
This 903-acre site (expandable to 1,500 total acres) is 15
miles from the center of population in the Charleston, SC
region, which topped 549,000 residents at the time of the
2000 Census and continues to grow. While the site is considered
"greenfield," the property has been permitted to
handle development of over 4 million square feet of impervious
surfaces and buildings.
Transportation accessibility to the site includes easy access
to Interstate 26 (with two interchanges-both of which are
being upgraded and one of which is undergoing a complete "rebuild"),
access to Norfolk Southern rail, and access to the world via
the Port of Charleston, only 28 miles away.
Another advantage is the network of 115 first or second tier
automotive suppliers that already have a presence in the Palmetto
State. In fact, the Charleston region in particular is home
to a long list of automotive companies.
Acres: 903 (expandable to 1,500)
Location: Berkeley County, SC
Transportation Access: interstate, rail, port 28 miles away
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: depth of site diligence and engineering
that has already been done, over 9000 linear feet of visibility
along I-26, close access to the most efficient port in the
world (as determined by the steamship industry), strong presence
of auto suppliers already in the state, exceptional quality
of life in the Charleston area
Purysburg Industrial Site
Ten Miles from the Savannah Port
Located in Hardeeville, one of the South's best-kept secrets
Within 25 miles of Savannah, GA and Hilton Head, SC is one
of South Carolina's finest offerings for automotive assembly.
This 1,050-acre, one-owner property is located within one
mile of Interstate I-95, U.S. Highway 278 and U.S. 17, and
is within 5 miles of Interstate 16. In fact, I-95 cuts straight
through the middle of the site at exit 8 (Highway 278), which
is one of the busiest and offers direct access to the resort
communities of Hilton Head Island and Beaufort.
The Purysburg Site also has rail access provided by CSX railroad
and is within 10 miles of the Garden City terminal of the
Savannah Port. In addition, the site is only a one-and-a-half
hour drive from the Port of Charleston.
Among its other benefits for auto assembly, the site is located
in a "least developed" county, which affords the
opportunity for aggressive economic development incentives
from state and local government agencies as well as private
utility providers. Also, a full Phase One environmental assessment
has been completed for the site as well as surveying, wetland
deliniation, GIS mapping to include accuracy to within +/-
one foot, and complete infrared mapping to identify drainage
basins.
Meanwhile, Purysburg boasts several advantages in terms of
work force. First, the community of Hardeeville has more than
its share of factory workers for automotive assembly. Especially
in recent years, its upscale neighbors of Hilton Head and
Bluffton have become more expensive in terms of cost of living,
driving the "blue collars" into neighboring Hardeeville
and providing a wonderful work force within the town's boundaries.
A second advantage is that in 2004, the University of South
Carolina is scheduled to open a new four-year university only
five minutes from the Purysburg site. This institution will
offer several outwardly focused programs to assist nearby
business and industry.
Another important factor when weighing this site is outstanding
quality of life. Not only is it only 20 minutes from some
of the Atlantic's most breathtaking beaches, but it is also
located in the quaint community of Hardeeville, one of the
South's last true historic towns.
Hardeeville, though a distinctly rural community, is actively
undertaking the kind of vision and planning that will help
it determine its own destiny. It is seriously investing in
its own look and feel to make itself upscale and attractive-the
kind of place an executive would want to live. To accomplish
the desired results, it has hired Group 3 Architecture &
Design firm (one of the most renowned on the East Coast) and
Jim Tiller, famed for his role in the planning and development
of Downtown Charleston and Hilton Head.
A mega-site directly on Interstate 95. Easy access to two
of the leading ports. Aggressive location incentives. A ready-to-go
work force. All in one of the most charming towns the region.
Add it all up and it's easy to see why the Purysburg Site
in Hardeeville, South Carolina is one of the South's sure
bets for auto assembly.
Acres: 1,050
Location: Hardeeville, South Carolina
Transportation Access: interstate and U.S. highway one mile
away, rail
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, fiber optics,
natural gas planned
Benefits for Auto Assembly: proximity to Savannah Port, full
environmental studies complete, three universities and two
community colleges located within 25 miles
Tennessee
Clarksville-Montgomery County Corporate
Business Park Phase II
A Flexible Site in a Diverse, Non-union Community with a Host
of International Companies
Adjacent to the Clarksville, TN city limits and within Montgomery
County is an outstanding 1,018-acre, greenfield site owned
by the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development
Board. This development-ready site is centrally located near
the Tennessee/Kentucky border where it is within driving distance
of 66 percent of the nation's major cities.
Portions of this site have interstate frontage on Interstate
24 with the southern boarder at an exchange. The site is also
rail servable. Planned amenities include a four-lane thoroughfare
through the park, municipal sewer, water, gas and fiber optics.
What makes this a top auto assembly location? Clarksville
is a diverse, non-union community with a host of international
companies. Employers that have already chosen the area have
discovered a well-trained, highly skilled, disciplined work
force, largely as a result of the 101st Airborne Division
at Fort Campbell. Approximately 250-300 Fort Campbell troops
exit service monthly, providing a constant, readily available
labor pool. Of these men and women, research indicates that
nearly 70 percent of them prefer to stay in Clarksville.
The design of Clarksville-Montgomery County Corporate Business
Park Phase II is flexible with 879 contiguous acres. Two additional
greenfield sites of more than 1,000 acres are also nearby
to accommodate large projects. For a major project, Lockwood
Greene Consulting designed this park with a 500-acre "mega
site" that has interstate visibility.
For more information, contact Mike Evans, executive director,
Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board
(931) 551-4313 or cmcidb@clarksville.tn.us <mailto:cmcidb@clarksville.tn.us>.
Acres: 1,018
Location: Clarksville/Montgomery County, Tennessee
Transportation Access: interstate, rail serveable
Benefits for Auto Assembly: a skilled and readily available
labor pool, location in a non-union community that is home
to many international companies, positioned directly on Interstate
24
Enterprise South Industrial Park
Convenient to Three Major Interstates, Two Major Rail Lines,
and a River Port
Near Chattanooga, Tennessee, 12 miles northeast of downtown,
is Enterprise South Industrial Park. Surrounded by 3,000 automotive
suppliers, this Volunteer State location gives automotive
assemblers the proximity they need to reduce transportation
expenses.
With 1,200 acres of greenfield property, Enterprise South
is one mile southeast of I-75 and seven miles southwest of
I-24. U.S. 64/11 is also easily accessible, one mile to the
south. In addition, it is convenient to two major rail lines
with Norfolk Southern onsite and CSX Transportation system
nearby and accessible. Meanwhile, Chattanooga's Lovell Field
Airport is less than seven miles from the site. And for barge
transportation, a number of public-and private-use port facilities
are located along the Tennessee River, offering access to
16,000 miles of navigable waterways.
On top of that, the Chattanooga region has a proven reputation
for automotive excellence. There, motor vehicle and equipment
companies employ over 900,000 machine operators and fabricators
as well as half-a-million production workers.
Acres: 1,200
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Transportation Access: interstate, rail, river port nearby
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: surrounded by 3,000 auto suppliers
in area, convenient to three major interstates, two major
rail lines and 16,000 miles of navigable waterways
Texas
Sharyland Plantation
Ideal for Serving the Texas & Mexico Markets
Sharyland Plantation sits between the cities of McAllen and
Mission, Texas and just north of Reynosa, Mexico where it
offers direct access to the booming manufacturing industry
in border markets. The area has a combined population of 1.35
million and McAllen, Texas is the fourth fastest growing market
in the nation. Owned by the Hunt family, the master-planned
Sharyland community is designed to become an all-inclusive
working, living, learning and playing environment designed
to exceed the highest global standards.
This property is located on Highway 281, a divided interstate-quality
highway that has been designated as the central route of I-69
to Mexico. Of the 6,000 acres at Sharyland Plantation, approximately
450 acres currently comprise the Class A Park, with another
2,300 adjacent acres available. The first phase of construction
began in 1997 and today Sharyland Business Park has over 2.2
million square feet of industrial space and is home to many
of the world's top companies including Panasonic, Emerson
Electric, Black & Decker, and many others.
For auto assemblers, Sharyland Plantation offers major transportation
benefits. The site is located next to the new Anzalduas International
Bridge, which connects directly to the "auto pista"
(interstate system) of Mexico. The site is currently served
by two U.S. rail carriers and has direct rail services to
a deepwater seaport 60 miles away. It is also located only
2.5 miles from the rail system of Mexico and is served by
two international airports offering both passenger and freight
service.
Adjacent to Sharyland is its Mexican neighbor, Grupo Rio
San Juan in Reynosa, directly across the Rio Grande River.
Grupo Rio San Juan's business park includes over six million
square feet of existing space less than 10 miles away, much
of which is already in use by many Tier Two auto suppliers.
The strategic alliance of two development companies has created
a unified business park on both sides of the border, which
together total 22,000 acres.
Among its other unique features, the site is in an attainment
area and meets all air quality requirements. Also, Sharyland
Plantation offers a central location to the Texas/Mexico markets
with Texas being the largest pickup and one of the largest
SUV markets in the United States and Mexico being a very large
market for trucks and SUV's. This site provides an excellent
central location to service both markets from one assembly
plant. The seaport proximity allows ease of shipping to emerging
markets of Central and South America as well.
Other advantages are the availability of steel and other
base commodity manufacturing within 120 miles of the site,
a plentiful supply of low-cost labor (median age 26), an unemployment
rate of 14.8 percent, multiple technical and university education
facilities providing R&D, and technical and engineering
training support located in close proximity. Further, an extremely
attractive incentive package has been pre-approved for an
automotive assembly plant on this site.
For more information, contact Diane Jones of Hunt Development
at (214) 978-8018 or djones@sharyland.com <mailto:djones@sharyland.com>.
You can also contact Nancy Boultinghouse of McAllen Economic
Development Corporation at (956) 682-2895 or nancyb@medc.org.
Acres: 6,000 total-425 in industrial park with 2,300 additional
acres available
Location: between the cities of McAllen and Mission, Texas-just
north of Reynosa, Mexico
Transportation Access: U.S. highway, next to Anzalduas International
Bridge connecting to the interstate system of Mexico, rail
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: central location to Texas/Mexico
markets, seaport proximity to serve Central and South America,
plentiful supply of low-cost labor, one mile away from Sharyland
Plantation's residential communities with 15 neighborhoods,
high-quality infrastructure in place
Virginia
Meadowville Technology Park
A Large, Ready-for-construction Site in the Center of One
of the South's Strongest Markets
Meadowville Technology Park is located in the center of Richmond,
Virginia. This 1,500-acre property is immediately adjacent
to I-295 and is a greenfield site. While it has multiple owners,
the county has the exclusive buy/sell rights for the majority
of the site.
This southern site is served by a major road network. Along
with I-295, it is only four miles from I-95 and less than
15 miles from I-64. A CSX rail line is also within one mile
with the ability to spur into the site. With full infrastructure
in place and environmental studies completed, this site is
truly ready-to-go, making it one of the South's smart picks
for automotive projects on the fast track.
Acres: 1,500
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Transportation Access: interstate, rail nearby
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas,
fiber optics
Benefits for Auto Assembly: ready to go with environmental
studies completed, full infrastructure in place
Henry County/I-73 Auto Site
Offers a Skilled Work Force Readily Available
What makes Henry County/I-73 Auto Site one of the best in
the South? First, it offers a central geographic location
that provides access to auto suppliers and OEMs. Second, it
is close to an exceptional airport (Piedmont Triad International
Airport-30 minutes away), which offers eight major carriers
and 77 daily non-stop service flights to major cities.
This 1,400-acre, one-owner site is within 30-40 minutes of
Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, NC and within 65
minutes of Roanoke, VA. It borders the four-lane Highway 220
with 7,500 feet of frontage, is at the intersection where
I-73 will adjoin Highway 220 as it goes into North Carolina
from Virginia. I-40 and I-85 are within 30 minutes while I-77
and I-81 are within 60 minutes. And, Norfolk Southern rail
runs adjacent to the property for 7,500 feet.
But perhaps the biggest advantage for the company that selects
this site is the work force. With 13.6 percent unemployment
due to the losses in the textile and furniture industries,
skilled work force availability is a key selling point for
this area. Historically a manufacturing community (60 percent
manufacturing), the work force is used to shift work and to
making a quality product.
There is also a significant trucking available because of
the distribution activity in the area. Add to that low operating
costs an aggressive, business-oriented local government, and
you have a very creative site location package with all the
ingredients for success.
Acres: 1,400 one owner, also have 2,900-acre plan with multiple
owners
Location: Henry County, Virginia
Transportation Access: interstate, rail
Utilities in Place: all infrastructure included in the site
plan
Benefits for Auto Assembly: skilled work force availability,
a significant trucking industry available, low operating costs,
aggressive and business-oriented local government
Danville/Pittsylvania Regional Industrial
Park
800 Contiguous Acres in a Virginia Enterprise Zone
One of Virginia's best potentials for auto assembly is located
in the City of Danville. This site, which sits directly on
the four-lane U.S. Highway 58, is only two miles from the
future I-785 and 29 miles from I-40. It has rail access through
Norfolk Southern Railway Company onsite and is less than half
a mile from Danville Regional Airport. Owned by the City of
Danville and Pittsylvania County, a Phase One environmental
audit has already been completed on this property.
Acres: 800
Location: Danville, Virginia
Transportation Access: U.S. highway, rail
Utilities in Place: electricity, water
Benefits for Auto Assembly: U.S. highway and rail access,
Phase One environmental audit complete
Wythe County Progress Park
Transportation Infrastructure and Potential for High-capacity
Utilities, with a Beautiful View of the Mountains in all Directions
Wythe County's Progress Park is strategically located at
the intersection of I-77, I-81 and future I-74. Four million
people are within 100 miles of Progress Park with Roanoke,
VA to the northeast, the North Carolina Triad to the southeast,
Charlotte, North Carolina to the south, the Tri-Cities of
Tennessee (Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City) to the southwest,
and Charleston, West Virginia to the north. The greenfield
property consists of 1,210 acres with additional large single-owner
tracts adjacent.
One of the most unique features of this site is that future
plans allow for the development of an inland port intermodal
facility (customs served with Foreign Trade Zone status) within
the park with a direct rail connection to the Hampton Roads
Ports. The park is already served by a mainline of the Norfolk
Southern Railway. And, it is located near the new "smart
road" research facility at Virginia Tech University.
Utilities have been a high priority in the planning and development
of Progress Park. It is currently served by a 16-inch waterline
from the Town of Wytheville and a low-volume force main wastewater
line to the regional wastewater treatment facility. A 135kV
power line and fiber-optic service are adjacent to the park
as is an additional 24-inch interstate natural gas pipeline
currently under construction.
If the potential for high-capacity utilities and excellent
transportation infrastructure don't convince you that this
is one of the top auto assembly destinations in the South,
then surely the beautiful view of the mountains will. For
more information on Wythe County Progress Park, contact Alan
Hawthorne, executive director of Joint IDA of Wythe County
at (276) 223-3370 or directorjida@wytheville.org.
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