Selma Growth Study – Our Economy and More Friends

The 2007 new YMCA and Holiday Inn Express along Medical Center Drive Parkway

If you are considering a Healthcare career, how much consideration should be placed on the economy of the community you are evaluating? At Vaughan Regional Medical Center, we believe it's important for you and your family to have an understanding of companies in our area, those who are working to drive business to Dallas County, and what they are working on.

Selma has infrastructure uniquely in place that other communities our size simply don't have, and within 30 miles of Selma we have 10,000 acres of public land available. Dallas County may also have some of the lowest property taxes in the country.

State and Regional: A compelling combination of factors like affordable land, a trained workforce, state and local incentives, and signs of growth, exist not only in Selma and Dallas County, but through our state. To date, four (4) auto manufacturers were attracted to Alabama – Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, and Hyundai. As major auto assembly plants create numerous supplier jobs, Hyundai's location in Montgomery has positively affected our area and Dallas County.

The Economic Development Authority markets Selma and Dallas County to new industry.  It developed “Team Selma” in 2002 as a forum for community decision makers to come together to support new companies who relocate to Dallas County. The Selma and Dallas County Centre for Commerce was created in 2003 when the Economic Development Authority (The EDA), the Chamber of Commerce, the Tourism & Convention Bureau, and the Leadership program came together in one location at 912 Selma Avenue. Each of these organizations maintains autonomy as they share workspace and expenses in the beautifully renovated 1904 Carnegie Library building.

Selma Industry and business growth prospects are compelling – what was once an eyesore in the community – the decommissioned Craig Field, with its airstrip and facilities already in place, has been reinvented into the largest of 4 industrial parks in our area.

Selma Tourism continues robust numbers.  A corner of Waters Avenue and Broad Streets has been designated for a Voter’s Rights Interpretive Center by 2012 which will grow local tourism by 100,000 per year.

Selma Lifestyle amenities are clear signs of a growing community – new facilities for recreation and families, academic buildings, and medical services facilities, follow a robust and growing economy.

Growth in Selma…

Wallace Community College's planned Health Science Building (Started in 2006) Featured in Schools section	$5 Million YMCA adjacent to Vaughan RMC (Opened in 2007) Featured in Life section	Vaughan RMC's Outpatient Surgery Center (Completed in 2007) Featured in Hospital section

… in 2008:

Additional Community Facilities Developed:

• AL State Park Canoe and Kayak Trail with trail heads/picnic areas along the Alabama River
• 2008 $180,000 Skate Park
• New Holiday Inn Express completed in 2008 across from hospital

The presence of new Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Walgreens are clear signs of Selma's positive long-term prospects for growth

More Growth in our County – Meet Mayor Tom Lee and Valley Grande

Between 2004–2007, newly–incorporated Valley Grande's population doubled from 1,800 to 4,000, offering more acreage for home sites, new subdivisions, and a future town centre. Mayor Lee's focus is on developing a "bedroom community" to Selma where people can "come out – spread out."

Craig Field and Industrial Park – the largest of 4 Industrial Parks in Dallas County

Extension road completed in 2007 for easier access to Highway 80 from Craig Industrial Park

Craig Field, formerly the busiest military airstrip in the country and former Air Force training base, decommissioned in the 1970s, is now one of four industrial complexes, which is expanding, with Team Selma aggressively marketing attractive incentive plans and pitching low costs of doing business combined with in–place sewer, water, rail, pre–wired fiber optics, a FBO municipal airport, onsite fire station, and jet fuel tanks, along with an executive golf course and a growing list of high profile tenants.

Craig Field sits on Highway 80, a 4–lane east–west connector of I–65 and I–59 through southern Alabama, and a connector to I–85 in Montgomery, has rail, and full FBO services for recreation and corporate aircraft.

Craig Field Facilities/Services:

• Daily use FBO with 8,000' lighted runway at airport (1,000' overruns = 10,000')
• CAT 1 landing system
• Resurfaced runway in 2005–2006
• Available covered private plane hangars (rent is just $150 per month) – hangar and fuel costs cheaper than Montgomery
• Jet Fuel for Charter and Corporate jets
• Alabama River and inland docks (part of state system)
• Aggressive financial incentives (tax abatements, enterprise zones, zero cap gains rates, accelerated depreciation schedules, et. al.)
• 4 Industrial Parks with 1,500 acres prepped for new tenants
• On Highway 80 – 4–lane federal highway, with sewer, rail (2 railroads), fiber optics
• 9–hole Golf Course
• Fire Station
• 1 million gallon water tank

South Dallas Industrial Park, right, is one of four (4) in Dallas County Photo Tour of Craig Field and Industrial Park

The Centre for Commerce Building, which is a restored Carnegie Library building, on the corner of Selma Avenue and Lauderdale Street. The stained glass skylight adorns the ceiling.

Jim Hodo, local apparel company president, with Wayne Vardaman, president of the Centre for Commerce and Executive Director of our EDA

M. Wayne Vardaman, Sr.
Selma & Dallas County Centre for Commerce
President, Economic Development Authority, since 2002
Team Selma

Wayne and his wife Paula raised Wayne Jr. and Paul in Selma. Both graduated from Morgan Academy and Auburn University.  He played college football for the legendary Coach Bear Bryant at The University of Alabama.

"Dallas County is a nice area to raise a family and has all the attributes of a small community. Yet, it is close enough to larger cities to avail one of extensive cultural activities. Also, traffic to and from the workplace is not a problem.  Dallas County is made up of a diversity of people that are caring and considerate. There are many examples of someone in need being helped by individuals and the community at–large."

Jim Hodo
President
American Apparel, Inc.

"If you like historic homes, this is one of the best places in America.  We also have unique access to the best natural resources in the eastern US and a diverse geography:  trees, water, foothills, prairies, with Montgomery 35 miles away, Birmingham and the University of Alabama in just over an hour, and we're 3 hours to the Gulf Coast.

You simply can't get our combination of small town charm, tremendously inexpensive real estate low taxes, and such easy, traffic–free access to larger city amenities – that's why we are attracting business as well as new residents."

James Bearden, Chairman of world-famous Bush Hog, LLC, with William Deavor, MD, speaking at the groundbreaking of Vaughan Regional's Surgery Center

Companies in Dallas County:

• International Paper (County's largest employer)
• Bush Hog, LLC
• New Gas Concepts d/b/a Dixie Pellets
• Globe Metallurgical
• Lear – Kyungshiun (Fortune 100/Wiring harnesses/1st tier supplier to Hyundai)
• M&B Railroad
• Henry Brick Company
• La Bour Pumps – Peerless Pump Co. (industrial pumps)
• Hanil E–Hwa (400 employees 1st tier supplier to Hyundai – 210,000 SF facility)
• Meadowcraft (500 employee/outdoor patio furniture – 400,000 SF facility)
• Honda Lock of America (Car locks)
• Taylor Made (Shipping/trucking)
• Crown Laundry (commercial laundry)
• Cahaba Valley (Lumber, Mulch, and Timber products)
• Renosol (Tier 2 foam/rubber seating for autos supplier)
• Rayco Industrial, Inc. (300 employee/special welding)
• Pioneer Electric Coop (300 employees)
• State Trooper academy
• M&B Rail
• American Apparel, Inc.
• Innovation Center
• Citation
• FEMA
• Global Security Glazing
• Ross Neely Systems
• Waters, Inc.
• Bellsouth
• Talton Communications

"A Place With A Celebrated Past Invites Your Company To Come Make History."

Companies considering relocation to Selma and Dallas County, as well as residents who wish to start businesses/companies, may be entitled to federal, state, and local incentives, and are invited to contact the Selma EDA for information on:

• Renewal Community, Enterprise Zone, Capital Credit Program, Industrial Revenue Bonds, Property Tax Exemption, and Site Preparation Grants.
• Other State and Federal Programs include: Industrial Access Roads, ADECA Economic Development Grants (used for Infrastructure), Economic Development Administration, Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT), USDA Rural Development Loans and Grants, and Small Business Administration HUBZone.

Click on Image to View

New Industry/Job Expansions 2004 to Date: Approximately 1,200 jobs created
Bell Road Industrial Park
Craig Industrial Park
Selfield Industrial Park
South Dallas Industrial Park
Industry Outside Industrial Parks

Business Outside Industrial Parks:
Bush Hog announced capital investment of $13.4 million in 2007.
County Road 145 widened and paved for faster access to Highway 80.
Rail Project completed to provide additional access to Craig Industrial Park and first–time access to Dallas Industrial Park.
2–year option secured on 190–acre site to attract large industry company.
Wage and Benefits Survey of Dallas County employers recently completed.

Additional Thanks:
Menzo Driskell, Director, Craig Industrial Park, 334–874–7419
Wayne Vardaman: 800–335–1332, www.selmaeda.com
Tom Lee: 334–874–3623, www.cityofvalleygrande.com

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