Area voters overwhelmingly approve both amendments

Northwest Alabama voters overwhelmingly endorsed two statewide amendments Tuesday, including one that will give the Shoals more state financial backing for an economic development project eyeing the area.

Voter turnout in Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale and Lawrence counties was light, but those who voted spoke clearly.

Amendment 1, which increases the limit for the Capital Improvement Trust Fund, received huge support -- carrying 8,627-3,482 in the four counties.

The 71.2 percent approval vote is nearly 9 percentage points below the state total even though the amendment directly affects the northwest Alabama region.

Raising the cap on the fund will help the state pay for commitments it has made to help a German steel plant open in Mobile and will be used to provide incentives for what has been dubbed "Project Tiger," a Canadian boxcar manufacturing operation looking to build in Colbert County.

Project Tiger promises to employ between 1,500 and 1,800 people. An announcement on the site selected for the project is expected later this month or in early July.

U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., said Tuesday's vote is a "victory for continued economic growth in Alabama."

"North Alabama has been aggressive with industry recruitment and the vote today will allow us to keep working to bring quality jobs to our area," said Cramer, who represents the Shoals.

Voters in the four counties also said they want state money that is set aside to pay health-care costs for retired state and education employees to be used only for that purpose. Passage of Amendment 2 will require that.

That measure was approved by voters in the four counties by a 9,669-2,481, or 79.6. That percentage is very close to the statewide vote.

About 10 percent of the registered voters in the four northwest Alabama counties participated in Tuesday's election.

"It's about what we expected," said Lauderdale County Probate Judge Dewey Mitchell. "Everyone had their opportunity, though."

Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade said the positive vote on Amendment 1 will help industrial development throughout Alabama.

Wade wouldn't answer specific questions about Project Tiger, but he said there are seven or eight "mega projects" being negotiated that will be helped by passage of Amendment 1.

Wade defined a "mega project" as anything promising more than 500 jobs.

He said there's another mega project being worked on for north Alabama, but he declined to identify it. The project is believed to be targeting Marion County.

"We're still negotiating an outstanding mega project (in north Alabama)," he said.

Wade said he couldn't disclose the state economic incentive package, including the amount being offered for Project Tiger.

"We have not completed negotiations on (Project Tiger), so until we complete negotiations we really don't know what the amount will be for the project," Wade said.

"Obviously, what we said since the special session (on Amendment 1) is there are seven or eight mega projects that the funding is affected by the Legislature taking action and (by Tuesday's) vote," he said.

Jeff Emerson, a spokesman for Gov. Bob Riley, was a little more direct when asked if Tuesday's vote was critical for the success of Project Tiger.

"There are about 30 projects that could be affected by Amendment 1," Emerson said. "Project Tiger is definitely one of them."

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb12345@aol.com.