FOR DISTRIBUTION

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

FOR DISTRIBUTION & WAREHOUSING

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Incentives	Workforce	Transportation
Quality of Life		Demographics

The $300 million expansion of the Port of Mobile will result in it becoming the 6th busiest port in

the United States. Neighboring Baldwin County with thousands of acres of available land,

two major interstates and rail, is expected to become home to several large distribution centers.

Ace Hardware located their regional distribution center to Loxley to take advantage of these resources.

Euromex, located in Loxley, currently provides warehousing for Dade Paper Company, Michelin, Dal-Tile,

Noble Logistics, Alabama Ventian Blinds and Palmetto Creek Furniture.

Baldwin County offers a unique set of assets. Chief among these are:

	Alabama is a Right-to-Work state.
	Available buildings and sites.
	Growing regional population, 75% increase since 1990.
	Diverse and robust transportation system consisting of interstate and other highways, rail, commercial airports and maritime facilities handling bulk and containerized cargo.
	Competitive wages, on average are over 21% less than other areas.
	Superb quality of life.

Available Buildings:

	Loxley currently has approximately 2 million sq. ft. of warehousing and distribution centers.
	Euromex has 100,000 sq. ft. of warehousing available.

Source: Euromex, Loxley, Alabama

Incentives:

Infrastructure Development Grants for renovating a building or for site preparation.

Property Tax Abatement up to 10 years on land, building, machinery and equipment.

Sales and Use Tax Abatement on construction materials and equipment placed in service.

Tax Increment Bond Financing.

Special Improvement Bond Financing.

Low interest and zero interest loans.

Other federal, state, and local incentives:

	Industrial development training, which Includes program development, use of advertising, mobile training unit, pre-employment training, on-the-job training, and wage reimbursement.
	State Capital Income Tax Credits of 5% of capital investment for 20 years to offset state income tax liability.
	Foreign Trade Zone in several locations throughout the county.
	Federal Hub Zone in Bay Minette.
	Waiver of the cost of certain local fees.
	Employee intangible incentives for relocating employees that include discounted banking, moving, printing, and hotel services for house hunting.

Workforce:

Availability:

25% of workforce is "underemployed" in the Mobile MSA.

Percentage of industrial unionized workers: less than 5.1%.

Training:

	Career Center On-the-Job Training provides businesses a reimbursement of up to $10.00 per hour and six months of training.*
	AIDT Training – Rated #1 in the Nation-The State of Alabama offers an excellent workforce training program for existing industry and new recruits.

*Available to Qualifying Companies

Wage Costs

Occupation	Average Local Wage	Average National Wage
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer	$16.29	$18.06
Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services	$12.15	$13.86
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	$9.00	$11.46
Packers and Packagers, Hand	$7.36	$9.77
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2007

Demographics:

Baldwin County population growth

1990	2007	Percentage Growth
98,280	171,769	74.8%

Transportation:

Highway: Interstates 65 & 10.

Truck: 1,067 carriers are licensed to serve the Mobile MSA.

Seven terminals are located in Baldwin County.

Fifty terminals are located in Mobile MSA and eight offer container service.

Rail: Class I service provided by CSX Rail in Bay Minette.

Commercial Air:

	Between two regional airports: Mobile Regional Airport and Pensacola Regional Airport.
	Service: ASA, American, Continental and Continental Express, Delta, Northwest Airlink, Skywest, United Express, US Airways and US Airways Express.

Cargo: UPS and FedEx maintain terminals in Mobile and Pensacola.

General Aviation:

Four municipal airports offering lighted approach.

	All four with instrument approach:
	Jack Edwards Airport, Gulf Shores: Full Cat 1 ILS

Public Bus: Baldwin Rural Area Transportation (BRATS) Network.

Parcel: UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL, Airborne Express ( UPS maintains a terminal in Robertsdale).

Ports: Alabama State Docks, Mobile; Port of Pensacola, Pensacola.

Waterways: Intracoastal Waterway, Tensaw River, Mobile River, Mobile Ship Channel.

Assistance in Acquiring Related Local Businesses:

	Venture/Seed Capital Network available for financing.
	BCEDA will assist in introducing aerospace and manufacturing companies to local firms.

Quality of Life:

	EASI Quality of Life Index: 178 (US Average - 100).
	EASI Cultural Index: 152 (US Average - 100).
	Monster.com Cost of Living Index: 62 (US Average - 100).
	Sperlings Cost of Living Index (Fairhope): 94.6 (US Average - 100).
	ACCRA Cost of Living Index: 90.6 (US Average - 100).

(Reflects cost differentials for professional and executive households in the top income quintile)

Abundant Recreational Opportunities.