|
Opelika Offers Auto Industry Strategic Truckload of Advantages
Why did Mando America Corporation relocate its corporate headquarters from Detroit to Opelika and invest $35 million to expand its facilities there? Because the automotive supplier wanted a home close to the growing list of automotive manufacturers in the South. It also wanted a low cost of doing business, a high quality of life and location from which it could get just about anywhere in a hurry.
Located in the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Opelika is strategically positioned in east central Alabama along Interstate 85 between Atlanta and Montgomery. Opelika is only 30 miles from Columbus, Ga., one hour from Montgomery, less than two hours from Birmingham, and only one hour and fifteen minutes from Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport, the transportation capital of the country.
“Companies that locate or expand in our state are achieving great success because we have a highly trained workforce, an outstanding educational delivery system, and Alabamians have a work ethic that is second to none," says Al Cook, director of economic development for the City of Opelika. “Opelika offers automotive players a strategic location with five interchanges on Interstate 85 and we are one of the fastest growing MSAs in the country.”
Northeast Opelika Industrial Park, a 1,900-acre project in the northern portion of Opelika along Interstate 85 with a CSX mainline on the western boundary of the site, has gained a reputation as a top spot for automotive plants. Mando recently completed its 159,000 square-foot facility on 42 acres there to produce its braking, steering and suspension systems.
And Benteler Automotive recently completed a 144,000 square-foot manufacturing facility on 38 acres in the park to manufacture its chassis systems. BF Goodrich Tire Co., Briggs & Stratton and Falk Corp. call the Opelika region home. Wal-Mart also invested more than $55 million to build its 888,000 square-foot distribution center and, most recently, Jo-Ann Stories announced plans to build a 700,000-square-foot distribution facility in Opelika, which validates the city as a strategic location for manufacturers and distributors of all types.
Auburn University, with over 22,000 students, including approximately 3,400 engineering students, is 15 minutes away from Northeast Opelika Industrial Park; and Southern Union State Community College, with over 4,000 students, is less than five minutes away. That gives Opelika access to an educated, skilled labor force that totals more than 450,000 in a 30-mile radius. The Auburn-Opelika MSA is the fastest growing in the state, with a 32 percent population growth rate between 1990 to 2000.
There are plenty incentives for automotive manufacturers and suppliers in this southern state. The Opelika Industrial Development Authority (OIDA) has the ability to grant property tax abatements on real and personal property for up to a 10-year period for qualifying companies, excluding taxes allocated for schools. The OIDA also has the authority to grant sales and use tax exemptions for purchases of machinery and equipment and construction materials. This initial sales tax exemption could save a company a substantial amount in up front expenditures.
“Opelika has an award-winning economic development organization recognized for exceptional customer service,” Cook says. “Opelika’s resident industries and businesses are constantly expanding, and still others continue to look to Opelika as the place to locate a business. We are right here to help automotive companies pave the way to success in east central Alabama.”
As the county seat of Lee County, Opelika is a favorite spot for tourists with many sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including Historic Downtown Opelika with the majestic Lee County Courthouse. There are also quaint Southern neighborhoods filled with restored historic 19th Century and turn-of-the-century homes. Add it all up and it spells out tremendous advantages for automotive industry players looking for a place to thrive in the Southern Automotive Corridor.
For more information on Opelika call 334-705-5115, e-mail acook@ci.opelika.al.us or visit www.opelika.org.
|
