Fairhope, Alabama
fairhopetimes@att.net
BOB GENTLE RETURNS
The city's Industrial Development Board met recently to reorganize after a period of inactivity (over 14 months) and selected former city councilman Bob Gentle to be its new chairman.
Gentle had moved to Birmingham last summer but, after undergoing successful medical treatment there, said he became homesick for Fairhope and decided to return "home" for good.
Carl Wegener was elected as Vice Chairman and Robert Lee as Secretary/Treasurer.
Other members are: Michael Baugh, Hubert Hinote, Rusty Winfree and Jack Burrell.
PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE
Burrell said that by state statute, the committee consists of 7 members, 5 of which must live within city limits.
According to city Treasurer Nancy Wilson, the Board currently has a checking account at BBT bank containing $10,336; and the last deposit was $5,000 from the AMEA (city's electricity supplier).
The last check written was for $5,000 to help stage the Festival of Flight at the airport in 2008.
The Board was established in 1961 as a 501(c) non-profit corporation"for the acquisition, ownership, lease, and other dispositions to promote industry, develop trade by inducing manufacturing, industrial and commercial enterprises to locate in the (city) ... and further the use of agricultural products and natural resources ... ."
Gentle said he would like the Board to work more closely with the BCEDA, Chamber of Commerce and Airport Authority -- and to be more aggressive: " It ... needs to be kicked up a notch ... be more than a facilitator to get tax abatements."
AIRPORT MAIN INDUSTRIAL SITE
Currently the primary site for industry is land around the airport; and Lee Johnson, project manager for the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, told the Board the "Advantage Site" (shovel ready for development) on the west side will be of great benefit to help "pitch Fairhope as a potential location for ... businesses."
Johnson said Fairhope is set up well as a supplier for aerospace companies -- especially Airbus-related -- which typically provide "high paying jobs."
He said he did not see the county's Mega-site in Bay Minette as a competitor -- since that is on a much larger scale.
Johnson said he looked forward to being a resource and working with the Board.
CLEAN INDUSTRY NEEDED
Chairman Gentle called Fairhope a "bedroom community" that needs to provide more opportunity for the younger generations.
Gentle: "You can't make a living mowing grass."
He cited as example the need for more office space vs. more retail -- to become a more "balanced city" -- and suggested doing an inventory to "see what we have here ... and what we need."
"We need to think a little bit different ... think outside the box."
Burrell thought a model for an office building (that "need not be built") at the airport may be appropriate and suggested an aviation engineering center might be induced to locate there.
Another member mentioned the possibility of an electrical storage device manufacturer locating there as well.
BOB GENTLE RETURNSThe city's Industrial Development Board met recently to reorganize after a period of inactivity (over 14 months) and selected former city councilman Bob Gentle to be its new chairman.
Gentle had moved to Birmingham last summer but, after undergoing successful medical treatment there, said he became homesick for Fairhope and decided to return "home" for good.
Carl Wegener was elected as Vice Chairman and Robert Lee as Secretary/Treasurer.
Other members are: Michael Baugh, Hubert Hinote, Rusty Winfree and Jack Burrell.
PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE
Burrell said that by state statute, the committee consists of 7 members, 5 of which must live within city limits.
According to city Treasurer Nancy Wilson, the Board currently has a checking account at BBT bank containing $10,336; and the last deposit was $5,000 from the AMEA (city's electricity supplier).
The last check written was for $5,000 to help stage the Festival of Flight at the airport in 2008.
The Board was established in 1961 as a 501(c) non-profit corporation"for the acquisition, ownership, lease, and other dispositions to promote industry, develop trade by inducing manufacturing, industrial and commercial enterprises to locate in the (city) ... and further the use of agricultural products and natural resources ... ."
Gentle said he would like the Board to work more closely with the BCEDA, Chamber of Commerce and Airport Authority -- and to be more aggressive: " It ... needs to be kicked up a notch ... be more than a facilitator to get tax abatements."
AIRPORT MAIN INDUSTRIAL SITE
Currently the primary site for industry is land around the airport; and Lee Johnson, project manager for the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, told the Board the "Advantage Site" (shovel ready for development) on the west side will be of great benefit to help "pitch Fairhope as a potential location for ... businesses."
Johnson said Fairhope is set up well as a supplier for aerospace companies -- especially Airbus-related -- which typically provide "high paying jobs."
He said he did not see the county's Mega-site in Bay Minette as a competitor -- since that is on a much larger scale.
Johnson said he looked forward to being a resource and working with the Board.
CLEAN INDUSTRY NEEDED
Chairman Gentle called Fairhope a "bedroom community" that needs to provide more opportunity for the younger generations.
Gentle: "You can't make a living mowing grass."
He cited as example the need for more office space vs. more retail -- to become a more "balanced city" -- and suggested doing an inventory to "see what we have here ... and what we need."
"We need to think a little bit different ... think outside the box."
Burrell thought a model for an office building (that "need not be built") at the airport may be appropriate and suggested an aviation engineering center might be induced to locate there.
Another member mentioned the possibility of an electrical storage device manufacturer locating there as well.
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