Bill may bring jobs
The Times-Journal
Published April 8, 2010
A bill in the state Legislature could help bring more jobs and industry to DeKalb County.
The bill, if passed, would establish the Jackson/DeKalb counties Industrial Development Authority. The authority's sole purpose would be to market and develop the Northeast Alabama Technology Park near Northeast Alabama Community College.
"There's about 1,000 acres of prime property adjacent to Northeast that sits partially in DeKalb and partially in Jackson," said Sen. Lowell Barron, the bill's sponsor. "This would set up an industrial board to market this property. It allows the two counties to work in conjunction to recruit industry and grow jobs in that area.
The bill passed the Senate and is currently in a House committee, but Barron expects it will pass before the regular session is over in early May.
"I think we will get it passed," Barron said. "There's a group that includes the EDA and Jimmy Durham in DeKalb County, the EDA in Jackson County and officials with Northeast that will make up the authority board. They will work hard to recruit industry to this area."
The authority will be made up of Northeast president David Campbell, who would serve as chairman; a member each appointed by the Jackson and DeKalb county commissions, a member each appointed by the senator and representative delegation in Jackson and DeKalb counties, Durham, Dus Rogers, the president of the Jackson County EDA, Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative CEO Mike Simpson and the CEO of the North Alabama Electric Cooperative. The appointed members would serve four-year terms.
Northeast would provide clerical assistance, and the authority could receive funding from any public or private source.