DOTHAN, Alabama — Officials in Dothan have formally kicked off a project to build a 100,000-square-foot speculative building in the Sam Houston Industrial Park to better prepare the Southeast Alabama city for industrial prospects.
The building will be located on a 41-acre site called Lot 3 in the platted industrial park at 102 Austin Court. Construction on the new building is scheduled for completion in Fall 2022.
Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said having available building for prospects is needed to continue to spur economic development. Studies indicate that 85% of companies with projects are seeking existing buildings as opposed to greenfield development.
“The availability of quality-sized buildings in Alabama needs to be expanded, so seeing the Dothan-Houston County area spearhead this new addition to the state’s building inventory is a big enhancement to continue Alabama’s growth in the industrial development arena,” Secretary Canfield said.
“We commend all the state, county, city and business leaders working together to put this facility in place to create future opportunities for the Wiregrass region.”
The project was officially launched this week with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by officials from the city of Dothan, the Houston County Commission, the city’s Industrial Development Board, the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce/Grow Dothan, and others.
TARGETING GROWTH
The spec building will be a finished shell building with only a few elements needed for completion, including flooring, electrical, sprinkler system and dock/drive-in doors based on the customized needs of the prospect.
“This project continues to showcase the partnerships we have in our area from the local to state levels, to work collaboratively to enhance economic development progress for our area and continue to create employment opportunities for our residents,” Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said in a joint statement.
The building will be expandable to add another 100,000 square feet, with 25’-by-50’ column spacing, and a 32-foot eave height. It will be served by Dothan Utilities (Alabama Municipal Electric Authority) with water, sewer and electric service. Natural gas service will be by Southeast Gas and telecommunication providers will include Troy Cable, WOW!, Spectrum and CenturyLink.
“This approximately $4 million project would not be possible without the teamwork of many entities to develop this project to lure more manufacturing or distribution related operations into the area,” said Brad Kimbro, chairman of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Projects like this take on certain risks and there are no guarantees but based on our rich history of undertaking past speculative building projects we are convinced this is the right time and place to move ahead.”
This project represents the fifth speculative building developed in the Dothan area to spur economic activity, with the size of buildings varying in size from 40,000 square feed to now 100,000 square feet.
“We have a great team and we all work together collaboratively to focus on the needs of our area and this project exemplifies the continued teamwork we have in our area,” State Rep. Dexter Grimsley said.
(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)
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