Industrial park generating positive economic buzz

By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
A decision by Morgan county’s elected officials to spend more than $14 million to purchase and develop land as new industry building sites in south Hartselle last week has generated new optimism surrounding the city’s future.
The park, yet to be named, will be developed in the I-65 corridor at the Thompson Road interchange and have its entrance on Thompson Road across from CR Compressors, the city’s largest industry. It will consist of 166 acres at its beginning, with 135 acres located on the west side of the interstate. Purchase agreements on four separate parcels of land are expected to be closed this month at a total purchase price of $1.03 million.
A formal groundbreaking ceremony will be conducted later, probably in October. At that time, officials will burn the note on the Mallard Fox Creek Industrial Park in Decatur.
Tankersley said Hartselle Utilities would be called on to play a major role in providing infrastructure for the park.
"HU already has completed engineering plans to extend sewer to the site and tunnels are in place to extend utilities under the interstate to the east side,” Tankersley said. “Part of the money from the bond sale will be used to do that. In addition, the city has about $1 million in federal grant money that can be used to help build infrastructure for the new park.
The level of cooperation behind the project from both elected and municipal and county officials was also noted by an officer of the company that handled the sale of the bonds. “What a great deal it is for governments to come together like you have,” said Ken Funderburk, executive vice president of Merchant Capital. “This project will e a tremendous success and it will have a positive influence on many lives.”