Etowah County is, in a big way, taking advantage of the Alabama AdvantageSite designation bestowed upon a tract of land there by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.  Currently, over a thousand acres of land off I-59 is being prepared for a $2.7 million project.

That list of improvements for Little Canoe Creek Mega-Site includes – grading, natural gas lines and a new railroad crossing to an industrial access road off of U.S. 11. Those upgrades are intended to create a pad-ready, rail-served site that can accommodate a large industry.  The project is being funded through a donation from Norfolk Southern Corporation.

Marilyn Lott, Economic Development Director for Etowah County said those improvements will enhance the site’s marketability by reducing a company’s construction timeline, saving both time and money.  Chris Ingram with Norfolk Southern stated that the company and the county are partnering “to develop a rail-served industrial site to generate mutual benefits for everyone involved –  including increased opportunity for new jobs and private investment across the region.”

The “Growing Alabama Credit Program” which is administered by the Alabama Department of Commerce, allows private companies and individuals to get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit up to 50% of their income tax liability for investing in approved projects, including the site preparation for industrial sites.

More information about the site can be found here.

(AL.COM/www.al.com)