Over the past few months local area industrial development parks have been reviewed. From what you can read, here in these pages, our area is hard at work trying to encourage industry, business, and corporations to establish a footing in Marion and Lamar counties. Kudo’s to those who diligently strive to bring better work opportunities to us!

This month our focus turns to the on-going efforts of our neighboring community, Guin.

Guin is a community of survivors. Survivors of natural disaster and survivors of economic abatement. You can get this community down but not for long. These citizens love their town, and they remain committed to its development and prosperity.

Since the devastating tornado of 1974, Guin has risen from the ashes and now finds itself sitting on the cusp of new potential for favorable economic growth. With hard-work and foresight, Guin now has the ability to attract new industrial prospects to the area, and revamp the socio-economic status of many of the area’s residents.

In 2000 the man leading this call to arms became the Mayor of Guin. Phil Segraves, a native Guinite, decided to roll up his sleeves and do what he could to help his town. His goal was to create a more inviting atmosphere for industrial recruiters. His hope was that they would give Guin more than a cursory look-see, and geniunely contemplate moving an industry or company into Marion County. His efforts, and those of his council and committed Industrial Development and Guin Cooperative District Board members, are now being realized through the development of the Guin Industrial Park.
Currently the Park’s primary infrastructure is comprised of the following:

w Electricity - Tombigbee EC and Alabama Power
w Water/Sewer - City of Guin and Twin Water

• Gas - NW Alabama Gas District
• Fire - City of Guin, and Twin VFD
• Police - City of Guin
• Communication / Internet - CenturyTel
• Garbage - City of Guin

The Guin Industrial Park is located in the center of Marion County, along highway 44, Exit 26, on future I-22. It has easy access from Guin, Winfield, Brilliant, Hamilton and Twin, and will encompass six hundred acres of Industrial and Commercial use with options to expand.
The fact that I-22 (aka Corridor “X”) plays a part in all of our area Industrial Parks is nothing to sneeze at; we are lucky to have this interstate system right in our back door - or pocket. “History already shows the benefits of an interstate for industry due to the high demand of truck use and the Just-In-Time Delivery System used today,” said Segraves. “A Commercial park must have high traffic counts to succeed,” he said.

Guin’s Industrial Park’s transportation structure includes the Burlington Northern Railroad, local, county, and International airport systems from the Shoals to Tupelo, MS, to Birmingham, and the Tenn-Tom waterway provides low-cost and energy efficient trade links.

The State of Alabama offers incentives for industrial development within the state which acts as an aide for all statewide Industrial Parks. As for local incentives Mayor Segraves stated, “At the current time we are in negations with a viable prospect. Our region in Northwest Alabama has come together to offer local incentives. Our partnership consists of seventeen government entities all working toward this common goal,” he said.

Currently the park is under construction. Its infrastructure is worked out but not yet installed. “Site prep and Infrastructure will need to be put into place, but grants and engineering are completed and are ready to begin this process, Segraves stated.
When completed, the Park’s six hundred acres

will be able to accommodate the needs of Industrial prospects of varying sizes, with parcels being determined and based on need. Tenants being sought consist of commercial, retail, industrial, and technology based businesses - all which would bring much needed relief to our economy.

The goal is simple in premiss - promote the city and park to prospects, work with county and state officials to recruit Industry to the park - but the road to the goal has been a concentrated effort, and one that will continue to need, and rely upon, the citizens of the area.
“We have an excellent opportunity to provide for our citizens a great place to live and work while improving their quality of life. The automotive presence of Toyota in Mississippi, and other automotive companies, gives us the chance for growth we have never had before. Now is the time to take advantage of these opportunities. The completion of I-22 to Birmingham further enhances our growth opportunities,” said Segraves.

For more information on the Guin Industrial Park please contact Guin City Hall at 205.468.2242, or visit them online at www.GuinAL.org.

Those wishing may also email the Mayor or the IDB board at the following email addresses:

Mayor Phil Segraves - mayor@guinal.org
Guin IDB - guinidb@tombigbee.net