The Etowah County Commission was presented with a $3.3 million grant for the Northeast Alabama Regional megasite from the Alabama Department of Commerce on Tuesday.
The Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy is a matching grant program governed by the State Industrial Development Authority, according to the website. Angela Smith from the Alabama Department of Commerce attended the meeting to present the check on behalf of Governor Kay Ivey and the Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair.
“I’m excited to be here to celebrate yet another big step for the NEAR megasite,” Smith said. “This 3.3 million SEEDS award is about more than just infrastructure. It reflects the long-term planning and steady preparation Etowah County and partners have committed over the years.”
With the inclusion of locally matched $2.5 million, the $3,330,270 grant will fund the installation of the final 2.5 miles of water line along Canoe Creek Road, connecting the 500,000-gallon water storage tank to the water line currently ending at Steele Station Road, according to a press release.
“That kind of progress doesn’t happen by accident,” Smith said. “It takes vision, follow-through and strong partnership. The momentum here is real, and the site is well positioned and transformative opportunities ahead. So congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you for letting me be a part of the journey.”
Nearly $20 million has been contributed in federal money and the state has contributed $17 million, according to Commissioner Craig Inzer.
“This site, we’re looking at approximately $50 million plus that has been invested right here in my hometown,” Inzer said. “And we will land somebody, it’s not if, it’s when and I can’t wait.”
The completion of the final stage of the water project and extension of one mile of sewer line was recently awarded to the low bidder, Alabama Grading and Excavation, which is a local contractor, according to Chief Administrative Officer Shane Ellison.
“We will actually have water on the site at that point,” Ellison said. “We’ll be able to fill up the tank, test it and do all the things. That’s been a long time coming. Finally is the only word that comes to mind.”
The NEAR megasite has been in the works since 2008 when the Etowah County Commission began acquiring land. Since then, the project has grown into a 1,250 acre 100 percent county owned property with over one mile of Norfolk Southern Rail access and 2 miles of frontage on Interstate 59, according to the NEAR website. In 2023, a 500,000-gallon water storage tank was erected with a $3 million grant funded by Norfolk Southern, which totaled their investment to $8.7 million.
The site has been a collaborative effort between Etowah County, Norfolk Southern, Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, Alabama Department of Transportation, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and various others. The utilities are provided by Alabama Power, Utilities Board of Rainbow City, Boaz Gas Board, Comcast and AT&T.
“I feel like I’ve just had a newborn baby,” Statum said. “When you see something come from such an infant stage, and sometimes you wonder if it was going to happen or not, and you see a room full of people and see things happen, it just, absolutely, I’m telling you I get goosebumps.”
