Part II

The South's Best Automotive Assembly Plant Sites

In the spring edition, we brought you what we believed are the 12 best auto assembly plant sites in the South. Let's review those sites.

No. 1: Railport Industrial Park - Marion, Ark.

No. 2: Como Site - Como, Miss.

No. 3: Alamance County Megasite - Near Burlington, N.C. (options not renewed on site this summer)

No. 4: PruTimber Site - Near Aiken, S.C.

No. 5: Fayetteville I-95 Site - Near Fayetteville, N.C.

No. 6: Cecil Commerce Center's Greenfield Megasite - Jacksonville, Fla.

No. 7: Berkeley Interstate Site - Near Charleston, S.C.

No. 8: Sharyland Plantation - Near McAllen and Mission, Tex.

No. 9: Purysburg Industrial Site - Hardeeville, S.C.

No. 10: Clarksville/Montgomery County Corporate Business Park Phase II - Near Clarksville, Tenn.

No. 11: MidAmerica Industrial Park - Pryor, Okla.

No. 12: Henry County I-73 Auto Site - Near Martinsville, Va.

Here now, ranked in no particular order, we offer you 17 more great assembly plant locations.

Alabama

Northeast Opelika Industrial Park

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

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

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

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

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

Florida

Hammock Creek Site

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

Kansas

Topeka-77th Street Site

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

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

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

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

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

Oklahoma

Fair Oaks

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

South Carolina

Orangeburg Jumbo Site

Located in a triangle formed by the northside intersection of Interstate 26 and Interstate 95 is a new site perfect for automakers called the Jumbo Site. This site totals about 1,500 acres of which at least 1,000 are developable. The proximity to the port of Charleston and the fact that it fronts two Interstates make the Jumbo site an ideal supersite. Much of the site is serviced by utilities.

Acres: 1,500
Location: Orangeburg County, S.C.
Transportation Access: at the intersection of two interstates
Utilities in Place: water, sewer, electricity, natural gas
Benefits for Auto Assembly: site fronts two major Interstates, located near one of the largest container ports on the East Coast

Tennessee

Enterprise South Industrial Park

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

Virginia

Meadowville Technology Park

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

Danville/Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Park

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

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.

Acres: 1,210
Location: Wythe County, Virginia
Transportation Access: at the intersection of I-77 and I-81 and future I-74
Utilities in Place: electricity, gas, water
Benefits for Auto Assembly: multiple Interstate access, rail, near major research university, low rural labor costs