By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
The Etowah County Commission has made many strides to improve the community it serves in the last few years. Recently, the commission has set its sight on developing the Little Canoe Creek Industrial Park.
The location for the site was chosen carefully, with nearby access from two major highways, I-59 and U.S. Hwy 11, and is closer to these main roads than similar sites in Alabama. It is also accessible by railroad, which is key to industrial development. It is one of only seven locations in Alabama with railroad access. The site is close enough to the Gadsden and Birmingham airports to attract the interest of potential businesses.
“It is very conveniently located,” said Commissioner Tim Choate.
Initially, the commission purchased the site for industrial development. Over the years, the site was further developed. The size of the area, about 1000 acres, contributes to its classification as a mega site. It is the largest tract of property available for industrial development in northeast Alabama. Currently, the commission is in the beginning stages of building an access road on the property.
“We have a lot of things going for us. It is just a matter of finding the right person and the right person finding us,” said Commissioner Larry Payne.
The large site could attract an industry giant, like a car manufacturing plant.
“It is primed for a large automobile (plant), that kind of business because of the area we are in. In this particular northeast region, there is nothing that large, except for the Honda plant,” said Commissioner Payne.
Potentially the site could produce 750 to 1000 new jobs, though it is possible that it could create even more than that as companies at similar sites can have as many as 4000 employees.