EDA partnering for ‘big project'

RANDAL YAKEY / Florida Freedom Newspapers

Twitter: @ryakey

PANAMA CITY — The Bay County Economic Development Alliance has partnered with three entities to bring a “big project to the I-10 corridor.”

The Alabama Development Office, Enterprise Florida and the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering in a project to develop a “megasite” near Interstate 10.

“When two states and a multitude of counties get together, good things can happen,” Neal Wade, executive director of the Bay EDA, said Thursday.

A site on State Highway 77 and I-10 is being considered, but it is just one of many sites being considered and no particular site or even state has been chosen for the megasite, Wade said Friday.

“A key to a lot of the sites will be 1-10 and there are a number of sites that are being considered,” Wade said.

“We’re looking at a number of sites across this whole area, in several counties and states,” Wade said. “The goal is to get all these regions cooperating, then get a company interested in the region. Then it would be up to the company to pick the site that works best for them.”

Economic development representatives from the three organizations have been meeting for more than six months to prepare for a project that could dramatically impact the region, Wade noted. He did not say which companies the group was courting.

“Southeast Alabama doesn’t have the megasites we have here in Northwest Florida.”

Wade has described the megasite as an industrial manufacturing center with a multitude of industrial-based companies. Megasites in states such as Alabama and Mississippi were developed to draw auto manufacturers and their suppliers.

In addition to identifying potential sites, the region has requested a study to ensure for potential companies that an available, trainable workforce exists in the region.

“This is a serious effort and we believe that we can be successful in attracting a major job creator for the region,” Matt Parker, president of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman of the effort, wrote as part of the collaboration announcement. “We know that we have the workforce and great sites with strategic infrastructure. It’s the perfect time to come together as a region for job creation.”

Greg Canfield, director of the Alabama Development Office, said a collaborative effort helps all those involved.

“From an Alabama perspective, we understand the benefits of working together with our neighboring states and look forward to further collaboration,” Canfield wrote in the news release issued Thursday morning.

In the same announcement, Gray Swoop, secretary of commerce and president and CEO of Florida’s public/private economic development agency, said he applauded the partnership.

“Florida’s focus is on job creation and our team supports any effort of this type to get companies focused on Northwest Florida,” he wrote.

Washington County News’ Randal Seyler contributed to this report.