Shared purpose

THE ISSUE

The Russellville City Council voted last week to contribute money to a cooperative district that is trying to attract a major employer to northwest Alabama.

Northwest Alabama could become the home of another major employer, and like National Alabama Corp., which announced a week ago it is building a massive railcar plant in Colbert County, incentives will be needed to lure the latest prospect.

Seven counties and several cities in the region have formed a cooperative district to provide incentives for the as-yet unnamed employer. Last week, Russellville joined other cities and counties in an important pledge of money to help entice the company, which is considering a site near Guin in Marion County.

Several million dollars have been pledged from area governments, including $120,000 from Russellville. The money is pledged for a 10-year period. If the company does not come to Marion County, the governments will not be obligated to pay into the incentive fund.

Mitch Mays, executive director of the Franklin County Development Authority, said the comapny's employment and economic impact would be comprarable to Nataional Alabama Corp.'s in the region. The railcar company is expected to employ 1,800 people.

While economic development officials are keeping mum, the TimesDaily learned the Guin site is one of two being considered for a plant location by the company. As many as 2,500 to 3,000 people could be employed at the Guin site by the company. Other companies supplying goods and services are expected to employ more people after the plant opens, officials said.

It seems the seven-county cooperative district, which extends from Pickens County in the south to Franklin County in the north, is a variation on the economic development authority created in Colbert and Franklin counties that helped attract National Alabama Corp. The two counties established a half-cent sales tax to sustain an economic development fund for the railcar and future projects. The seven-county district hasn't created a permanent development fund -- and probably doesn't need one at this time -- but the level of cooperation is impressive. The combined clout these counties bring to the negotiating table with the company should work in their favor and increase the chances of landing a major employer. They have recognized that what is good for one county's efforts to attract a major employer is good for all of them.

Working independently, Marion County or Guin would not be able to provide the incentives necessary to be contenders for the company and its jobs. Today, without a local incentive package, you simply aren't a player in the competition for big employers. By working together, Marion County and surrounding areas are now one of two finalists in the company's search for a new site. If the cooperative district is succesful, many people will benefit economically from its shared vision.