Winston County delegation with Senator Bedford and Redstone Arsenal command personnel.

Chad Fell
Senior Reporter

RUSSELLVILLE – Local and area officials are preparing for the 30,000 additional jobs expected to enter north Alabama with an average $81,000 annual salary by uniting to present their industries and businesses opportunities to partner with the nation’s military headquarters–the Redstone Arsenal in Madison County.

Major General Jim Myles, commanding general at Aviation and Missile Command, was special speaker to over 200 mayors, council and municipal government leaders at the A.W. Todd Center Thursday, Aug. 13, informing them there is a bright light in these dark economic times by encouraging industries and businesses to seize an economic development opportunity made possible by the Base ReAlignment and Closure Act.

“This is the largest economic impact to ever hit the state of Alabama,” Myles pointed out. “Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

BRAC, as it is termed by military officials, occurred two years ago, when the U.S. Army decided to consolidate some of their installations into different areas to save costs. By taking several operations and combining them into different areas other than the nation’s capital Washington, D.C., economic opportunities are about to skyrocket in such areas as north Alabama– home to the Redstone Arsenal.

Russellville mayor Troy Oliver addressed the large crowd, indicating state senator Roger Bedford asked him to visit the Redstone to see their new equipment. During the visit, he learned about BRAC and its impact on north Alabama, realigning the most U.S. Army units since World War II.

Senator Bedford, whohosted the meeting, noted Myles was one of the keys to link local and area businesses and industries to key positions partnering with Redstone by meeting with and talking to community leaders. “These are the people who make this happen,” said Bedford. “I wanted them to come and meet you–who make things happen in (north) Alabama.

“I am proud of the work force we have here,” Bedford said. “The more communications we have, the more opportunities we’ll have out there. We want you to be a part of this recruitment effort. When it comes to jobs, there are no county lines. We’re Alabamians working together for the future of our citizens.”

A member of the U.S. Army 35 years, Myles stood before the vast crowd saying the nation had the world’s best soldiers willing to give their life in service to others. Myles said he wanted to inform how important jobs and services are at Redstone to U.S. soldiers around the world, especially those currently serving in Afghanistan. “We want you to be doing business here at Redstone Arsenal,” Myles said.

If an artillery piece is damaged or if an aircraft is down in need of repairs or a particular part, the Redstone Arsenal is the contact center. At one time, when 14 of the 623 aircraft in the ongoing conflict in Iraq are down and in need of parts, with 19 parts holding those aircraft down, workers at the Redstone in the Tennessee Valley region of north Alabama come to the rescue making key decisions to supply and get the necessary parts to where needed.

“Who are these soldiers?–great Americans trying to do the Lord’s work,” said Myles, noting the soldiers risk their own lives in dangerous situations defending those coming into the U.S. who are opposed to the nation’s way of life.

“It’s an away game—about taking it to them in their back yard,” said Myles, noting the soldiers’ mission is to track down those who seek harm to the U.S. and keep them from their mission. “We are trying to keep them from plotting the next 9-11,” he said.

The importance of the Redstone was further stressed in the headquarter’s creation of missiles to combat those designed to be, for instance, in target to the U.S. Those important designs are being developed, Myles emphasized, by people who live in the Tennessee Valley.

He showed in a photo presentation the seat of a helicopter on a mission overseas which was struck by ammunition. Although the strike was under the pilot’s seat, the seat itself, designed at the Redstone, was built tough enough to not allow the ammunition to reach the pilot’s leg. When this incident occurred, the Redstone was contacted so another seat could be sent for a replacement.

“That goes on every day, twenty-four, seven at the Redstone,” said Myles. “You don’t see it, but that’s what goes on each day.”

Figurewise, BRAC means a tremendous economic impact to north Alabama, bringing not only 30,000 jobs, but providing a $2.3 billion annual economic impact on salaries, $234 million in work force tax contributions, $1.06 billion infrastructure investment and $3.15 billion work force salary total.

Myles explained that 4,600 jobs are coming to Redstone for every department of Army civilian job, matched by a contractor. “We did over $20 billion in contracts this past year to support our soldiers in combat,” he said, noting that $5.8 billion stayed in Alabama. “It’s not about taking care of our district. It’s about doing what is right for your country.”

He then stressed the area work force was key in making contributions to take advantage of these upcoming opportunities. “I want to make sure the people of northwest Alabama understand how important they are to the Redstone Arsenal and the defense of our country,” Myles said.

In fact, Winston County is already in the game plan for Redstone, with a Winston County company having partnered with an out-of-state company to make parts for Redstone, according to Grady Batchelor, president of the Industrial Development Authority of Winston County, Alabama.

Batchelor also said at the economic development meeting that a foreign company is eyeing the Winston County mega industrial park site to partner with local companies to do business in support of Redstone. “What they are doing at the BRAC, it opens up opportunities for support organizations…in counties closer to the Huntsville area. That then provides opportunities for organizations that will in turn support them.

“We have dealt with automotive, and we are familiar with first and second tier organizations. Well, this (BRAC) opens up a lot of opportunities for those second tier organizations in areas like Winston County, Marion County, Franklin County.

“Likewise,” Batchelor continued, “it also means jobs for those that have training and education that are willing to commute, and we actually do have people living around Smith Lake that are commuting on a daily basis that are taking some of these jobs being offered by BRAC.”

Haleyville mayor Ken Sunseri wants local industries to become involved in the BRAC opportunity.

He said local industries should have a direct benefit from the increase in jobs, which would mean additional housing in the affected areas. “It is definitely an economic opportunity for us for Haleyville and Winston County,” the mayor stressed.

Double Springs mayor Elmo Robinson, who also attended the meeting, said the economic impact in Winston County could be tremendous. “I think we can get some new industry and expand on some of what we’ve got,” he said.

“Right now, we are sitting in the right position, because we are sitting there with that industrial park and we’ve got plenty of land…We have everything they’ll ask for as far as infrastructure, so we are sitting there ready for them. We just have to get people interested in bidding on some of these contracts they are going to have coming up through the BRAC.”

Businesses/industries can visit federal contracting actions posted at FBO.GOV and search by various agencies. Another site to research for extensive information is http://www.garrison.redstone.army.mil/.

Employment opportunities with the federal government can be found at USAJOBS.GOV, where interested businesses/industries can search by job type, find out how to apply for positions and even an on-line resume system to get started.

Reprinted with permission from Northwest Alabamian.

LYNN – Winston County’s mega industrial park site received a major boost this past week to go with the already ongoing development of two lots, when U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt announced $95,000 to be used specifically for road infrastructure at the park site.

“We had put a request in for infrastructure, road and sewer and water,” noted county commission chairman Roger Hayes. He said county officials presented the request to federal officials in Washington, D.C. at least two years ago, with the application made in the spring 2008.

The application was requested from the Industrial Development Authority of Winston County working with the county commission and Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments. On Thursday, March 12, local officials received notice by Aderholt that $95,000 had been secured through Transportation, Housing and UrbanDevelopment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill in the fiscal year 2009 appropriations.

The $95,000 were actually included in the Omnibus Appropriations legislation passing Congress Tuesday, March 10 and will be used specifically for roadway improvements for the foundation base and pavement for the mega industrial park site, according to Aderholt

“This is a big win for our community,” Aderholt said. “Economic development is so important for our area to make sure we have good and stable jobs. Ensuring infrastructure for this industrial park will bring more business to Winston County.”

The funding will flow from HUD to the county on to the Cooperative Improvement District, which is comprised of a mayor or representative of each of Winston County’s five municipalities including Haleyville, Double Springs, Addison, Arley and Lynn and county commission.

“Right now, to our understanding, there is no match to this,” said Grady Batchelor, president of the Industrial Development Authority of Winston County Alabama. Officials will be checking in the coming weeks to see if the funding requires a local match, Batchelor said.

Also, officials will be checking into specific HUD requirements to see specifically how the HUD appropriation can be used at the park site. “We may be able to use part of the money or all of the money to help pay for road infrastructure work that has already been done,” Batchelor said, “which would allow us to divert or use our funds for more development on the park.

“If it is required to be strictly for infrastructure and we cannot use it on the existing roadwork that has been completed, then we will do additional roadwork according to the master plan that’s been laid out for the Cooperative District.”

It is hopeful the $95,000 funding can be used to further the development of CR 9 and to extend the road infrastructure into the actual park, Batchelor said.

Officials expect to receive HUD guidelines about exactly how the funding can be applied within the next 30 to 60 days. Hopefully, plans will be implemented on how to use the $95,000 toward infrastructure by around May to June, Batchelor indicated.

“Any funding we receive for specific items such as the road infrastructure, it allows us to be able to use our Cooperative District bond funds to be able to further development in the areas basically not earmarked,” Batchelor said. “In this particular case, infrastructure plays a significant role in being able to get prospects in and out of the site, to be able to see the sites and also when someone locates here, to be able to get in and out of the facility.”

Batchelor noted the infrastructure money is the number one item other than the site itself that is considered by prospects.

“I would like to thank Congressman Aderholt for his efforts on securing this money,” added Hayes. “Every bit you get, it just makes our industrial park grow that much more, and it makes it that much more attractive to industry coming in here.

“I know the economy has slowed down right now, but this way it will give us a chance to catch up…now we are beginning to get work and show good signs. This is a good effort to show the people of the county we are working on it.”

A separate roadway project funded a turning lane on County Road 9 leading a mile to the park site from Highway 13. That project, including two feet of widening on each side, adding a turning lane and resurfacing, was funded through $125,000 secured by state senator Roger Bedford through Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

The remaining costs leading up to the $250,000 total were funded through the Cooperative District’s bond issue, according to Batchelor. This funding was earmarked solely for entrance infrastructure.

The $95,000 secured by Aderholt is for infrastructure in general, meaning it can used for the actual park itself. Batchelor said there was probably about $3 million worth of road work to be done in the park. “A little every once in a while adds up to a lot in the long run,” noted commissioner Randy Tucker, whose district is affected by the industrial park. “We are just having to take small steps to get to where we want to be. Every time we get more funds it is just helping us get closer and closer to our goal to a world class industrial park here.”

Funding boosts the mega industrial park has received include $125,000 secured by Bedford through ADECA, $95,000 secured by Aderholt through HUD and $60,000 generated through timber cutting and sales to clear the property for development.

Each municipality plus county commission voted in 2007 during a landmark meeting to approve a $30,000 annual payment toward the park, with the commission to do in-kind work including grading and dirt moving to offset construction costs. “We wanted to make sure all have an equal vote on the Cooperative District,” Batchelor said. “Each member contributes the same payment. At that time, this was the amount we agreed on being $30,000 for each municipality and commission.”

The $30,000 annual payments will go toward the $2.2 million bond issue which will be spread over a 20 year period, financed through Traders and Farmers Bank, including costs of access roads to and from the park site, water, sewer, infrastructure. The bond issue primarily covers the overall development of the industrial park.

Batchelor explained slightly more was borrowed over the bond issue costs in order to pay insurance and engineering fees.

Currently, grading work is being done on developing lots 10 and 11, which are most visible from Highway 13 and will be a major attraction for prospects to visit the site. In time, property around a pond will be developed to further showcase the beauty of the landscape in the area. The lots will be suitable for a spec building sizeable for about a seven acre lot, officials said.

When revenue exceeds bond payment, excess revenue will be evenly distributed between the five municipalitie and county commission. As industrial park revenue increases, revenue supplied toward the park by the municipalities and commission will be reduced.

Hourly wages paid to workers at the industrial park will go toward an employment assessment fee of about one percent to offset bond issue costs, which was approved by the District at a recent meeting. A franchise fee can also be applied on utilities generated at the park. “The District cannot access taxes but can access fees,” Batchelor noted. Reprinted with permission of the Northwest Alabamian. Original publication date was March 21, 2009.

Related news: Congressman Aderholt Announces Federal Funds for Winston County Industrial Park Transportation Improvements