Search this Web Site

info@baldwineda.com
(251) 947-2445
(800) 947-2445
Fax: (251) 947-4229

MALBIS Local officials are hoping a new industrial park here will attract corporate headquarters, light manufacturing sites and technology firms that will bring high paying jobs to the Eastern shore without harming the environment.

City officials and business leaders on Friday broke ground at the Daphne Technology and Commerce Center, a 225 acre tract north of Interstate 10 and just east of the Eastern Shore Centre. It's in unincorporated Malbis, but right next to both Daphne and Spanish Fort.

Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance Chairman Lance LaCour said companies. have already begun to show interest in the site.

"It will be unimaginable how much this will add to our economy," said Sonny Nichols, a developer who purchased the land with his wife, Claudene, in July from International Paper for about $1.25 million, according to county deed records.

Nichols worked with Daphne's Industrial Development Board to set up the project, said Daphne City Clerk David Cohen.

The land was formerly a pine tree plantation owned by International Paper. When the company closed several mills in Mobile, representatives approached Daphne with a proposal to use the land to make up for the lost jobs, Cohen said.

The city's Industrial Development Board has been working since 2000 on this project, Cohen said. Daphne's City Council was not interested in the city purchasing the park, so it brought in Nichols to from a public private partnership, Cohen said.

Daphne has a two year option to purchase 80 acres on the south end of the park for $25,000 an acre, Cohen said.

That's well below the

market value of nearby land, which Cohen said was between $50,000 and $80,000 an acre. Cohen said securing land at that cost for companies should provide incentive to bring businesses and jobs to the area.

The park probably won't attract a large company, like Boeing or Honda, but it could provide a home for suppliers to such businesses, Cohen said.

Several local and state officials at the groundbreaking ceremony said they expect big things from the park. State Sen. Bradley Byrne, R Montrose, said that while tourism is an important industry to Baldwin County, manufacturing is still the county's biggest employer. "Our economy here in Baldwin County is going to be built on things like this," said Byrne.

Daphne Utilities will provide water and sewer service to the park, and will compete with Mobile Gas for natural gas sales, according to the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. Riviera Utilities will provide electricity, and Daphne police and fire departments will serve the area, according to the alliance.

The site is not in Daphne's city limits, but once companies move in they can opt to annex into the city, Cohen said.

The parcel is shaped like the state of Utah and bordered to the north by Old Highway 31, and to the south by I 10. The proposed entrance to the park is off Old Highway 31, and Cohen said he would like to see another road that would connect the park to the Eastern Shore Centre.

Nichols plans to build a large lake in the middle of the development, and will keep several trees in the area. He said any company that moves in will have to keep a well landscaped lot.

Cohen said the lot sizes will vary from about 3 to 17 acres, larger than what's currently available in the area.

"Large tracts are a niche that needs to be filled," he said.