New industrial park will add growth

By Staff
Rep. Ronald Grantland, Guest Columnist
During this past legislative session, it was my privilege to sponsor House Bill 888, which passed the Legislature, becoming Act No. 2007-339. With the passage of this Act, the potential for thousands of new jobs in this area was born.
The act will fund a new industrial park known as the Morgan County Industrial Park, which will be located along the Interstate 65 Corridor in Morgan County. In a few months, the bond money that built the infrastructure for the Mallard Fox Creek Industrial Park in Decatur will be paid off. The money that funded Mallard Fox Creek will now fund the new park established by this act.
We're all familiar with the success of Mallard Fox Creek Industrial Park. I believe the Morgan County Industrial Park has even more potential due to its prime location near Interstate 65.
Proximity to Interstate 65 means easy access to the Tennessee River, the Huntsville International Airport, the rail systems, and a straight shot to the Alabama State Port at Mobile.
The Morgan County Commission, the city of Hartselle, and the other municipalities in Morgan County are to be commended. They all passed resolutions in support of this bill.
These resolutions were essential in order for the bill to be introduced.
As your State Representative, I believe we should focus on preparing Alabama so that our families, our children, and our children's children can experience a better quality of life. Economic growth is necessary for this to occur, and it's the private sector, not government, that is the primary engine for economic growth.
The vision of those that created the Mallard Fox Creek Industrial Park has helped create the Morgan County Industrial Park. Let's make this new industrial park as successful as the first one so the vision will continue for many more years.