In the battle for new industrial tenants, smaller communities often have a difficult time gaining attention from companies or recruiters. One surefire way to garner much desired attention to a community, and improve the quality of life in that area, is by having an industrial park. A general definition of an industrial park is an area of land set aside for industrial development. These all-important areas are usually located close to transport facilities, especially where more than one mode of transport coincides: highways, railroads, airports, and navigable rivers.

Several concepts come into play when a community sets land aside through this type of zoning. The major concept is the infrastructure, which incorporates the following ideals:

-- Concentration of a dedicated infrastructure to reduce the per-business expense of that infrastructure. This includes roadways, railroads, ports, electricity, communications cables, water supplies, and gas lines.
-- Attracting new business by providing an integrated infrastructure in one location
-- Separating industrial sites from housing areas to reduce the environmental and the social impact of these industrial uses
-- Providing better job opportunities and a higher
quality of living for the communities affected by the influx of higher paying jobs

While the similarities of industrial parks have these ideals in common they may be accomplished to differing degrees. For example, many small communities establish industrial parks with only access to a nearby highway, and with only the basic utilities and roadways - but with room for expansion in mind.
Regardless of what type of industrial park is created or where it resides, the common thread is that every community should have one if they intend to thrive, prosper and endure.

Enter Johnny Rogers, Judge of Probate for the last seven years in Lamar County. Judge Rogers, who quickly asks you to call him “Johnny”, is one of the trailblazers for the new Lamar County Industrial Park. Rogers, who kindly submitted to an interview amid a hectically paced morning schedule, stated that the industrial park is located four miles east of Vernon on Highway 18. It is situated on 318.4 acres of land between the city of Vernon and the Crossville Community.
In discussing the parks infrastructure plans Rogers stated that the parks utilities include electricity by Tombigbee Electric; garbage pickup by the Waste Management Disposal Company; a natural gas pipeline from NWAL Gas District; water and sewer by Lamar County Water Department; sewer will also be supplied from the Town of Vernon. Rogers stated that small projects would most likely have on-site septic tanks, while larger projects would be placed on the city sewer.
Other amenities for the park includes fire support from Crossville Fire and Rescue, and Vernon Fire and Rescue which is within a four-mile radius of the site with police support from the City of Vernon and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department
Currently parcels of land are available with a five acre minimum for smaller companies. Rogers said that there would not be an acreage requirement for larger industrial projects, adding, “We hope to attract industrial, manufacturing, and technology based industries and companies.”
Infrastructure is not just limited to utilities and safety. For companies and industries to consider coming into a location site other factors must also be present; one high priority is transportation. The Lamar County Industrial Park is conveniently located near four major highway systems; Highway 17, Highway 18, Highway 278, and I-22/Corridor X. “In addition to the highway systems, Lamar County has a phenomenal trucking industry. We’re also fortunate to have the Burlington Northern Railroad, in Sulligent, which operates an extensive route, and the Luxapalila Valley Railroad, in Millport to the south of the county, which operates out of Columbus, Mississippi,” Rogers said.

For water transportation the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway is an easy forty minutes away in the Columbus/Aberdeen, Mississippi area, and air transportation is available at both the Lamar County Airport, in Vernon, and through the major hub at the Birmingham International Airport.
“With the parks infrastructure in place and ready for tenants there is still more good news for incoming prospects, said Rogers. “If we locate a project that creates 100-plus jobs, then Lamar County will donate the property to the project at no cost as an incentive for that company to locate in our county,” said Rogers. With local city and county tax abatements in place as well the incentives for interested companies or recruiters is enticing.

Rogers, who serves as Chairman of the County Commissioners, is quick to point out that there has been a core group of individuals working on this project. They include Greg Norton, of District 1, Dewy Carruth, of District 2, Terry Roberts, of District 3, Geary Beard, of District 4, and the support of the West Alabama Economic Development Authority, under the direction of Deanna Morgan.
“We are desperately trying to create jobs throughout Lamar County to give our citizens the opportunity for a better lifestyle. More importantly, we need to bring people back into our community to live, and stop the flood of young people leaving the communities after graduation. This would also bring positive changes for our quality of life in Lamar County through better housing, a better infrastructure, higher property values, and an increase in sales and purchases for our local retailers and merchants within the county,” said Rogers.
Buildings and land are ready now, including a 192,000 square foot building located on approximately 20 acres and an 8,500 square foot building in the city limits of Vernon. Available adjacent to these facilities is a 25 acre parcel of land that is ready for development with infrastructure in place for these properties.

For more information on the Lamar County Industrial Park or these properties please contact Judge Rogers at 205.695.9119, or Deanna Morgan at 205.932.8842. d