LOXLEY, Alabama – To fuel its growth plans in Gulf Coast region, Imperial Dade, a distributor of food service packaging and janitorial supplies, is planning a move into a new 220,000-square-foot logistics hub in Baldwin County.
The $20 million project, announced this week, will support the company’s expanding customer base and its continued growth along the Gulf Coast.
The logistics hub, developed and owned by I-10/Gulf Coast Logistics Center LLC, will be the first Class-A industrial facility constructed in Baldwin County, with Imperial Dade making the move from an existing Loxley location.
“We are thrilled to be building our new facility here in Baldwin County. This is our home, and we are committed to this community,” said Craig Huey, Loxley branch manager.
Imperial Dade, which serves 65,000 customers across the United States and Puerto Rico, is a national leader in specialty distribution, with over 3,000 employees.
“Imperial Dade’s new facility will support demand across their Gulf Coast footprint and drive the growth in distribution operations in Loxley and throughout Baldwin County,” said Baldwin County Commissioner Joe Davis.
SOUTH ALABAMA LOGISTICS PARK
Earlier in April, officials in Mobile announced plans for a master-planned industrial park, South Alabama Logistics Park (SALP), a new development to attract warehouse, distribution and manufacturing operations.
“With over 6 million square feet planned in Phase 1, this development would not only be the largest in the state but one of the largest in the Southeast,” said Philip Burton, president of Burton Property Group, a Mobile-based real estate development firm.
A three-year collaborative effort between the Alabama State Port Authority, Burton Property Group, City of Mobile, Mobile County and the Mobile Area of Chamber of Commerce, the 1,300-acre park will be located off I-10 near the Theodore Dawes exit, just south of the Amazon sortation center in South Mobile County.
At full build-out of the initial phase, Burton estimates the development will exceed $350 million in value.
“The new park offers up new land options for light manufacturing and distribution investments that rely on modern, deep-water seaport terminals for their import/export activities,” Alabama State Port Authority Director and CEO John Driscoll said.
“We’re excited by this public/private initiative that will only strengthen the region’s growth opportunities.”
Features include Class A industrial warehouse and distribution space for the growing number of shippers and light manufacturers that need to locate in close proximity to either the Port of Mobile or Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley.
“This is a huge step in continuing our success in economic development,” Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development David Rodgers said. “Product development is a core focus of what we do, and we must have quality sites ready for the final site selection process.”
GROWTH PROJECTS
The projects follow other logistics and distribution hub projects announced for the Mobile-Baldwin region in recent months. Grocery retailer ALDI recently kicked off construction on a $100 million distribution center and regional headquarters in Loxley as part of a project that will create 200 jobs at the 564,000-square-foot facility.
“Loxley is very pleased with the amount of growth we have seen recently. Along with new development, we are also seeing existing companies like Imperial Dade continue to grow and thrive,” Mayor Richard Teal said.
“It is exciting to see Imperial Dade expand their business as well as bring new job opportunities for our citizens,” he added.
The Alabama Department of Commerce reports that there has been robust activity in the distribution and logistics sector across the state, with large-scale projects from companies including Amazon, Dollar General, Lowe’s Home Improvement and FedEx.
Altogether, these projects, all announced during 2020, involve over $500 million in new capital investment and the creation of at least 2,000 jobs in Alabama.
“When it comes to logistics and distribution, Alabama is proving to be a prime location for many major businesses,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“Thanks to our central location in the Southeast, an extensive infrastructure network and a motivated workforce, it looks like all roads are leading to Alabama.”
(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)
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