March 31, 2008
For more information: Bill Beasley at 270.556.4995
Purchase Region Industrial Park
Certified as Megasite by McCallum Sweeney Consulting
 MAYFIELD, Ken. – The Purchase Region Industrial Park (PRP) celebrated a milestone event today as McCallum Sweeney Consulting (MSC), one of the nation’s premiere site-selection firms, certified the Park as a “Megasite.”
“Achieving certification is no small feat,” said Ed McCallum, Senior Principal with MSC. “This site will now be very easy to market to prospective industries. You won’t have to spend valuable time going through site due diligence. This certification enables you to close the deal much more quickly.”
Megasites have gained fame and enviable results in recent years. In 2008 more than $2.2 billion in investments was brought into two Tennessee Megasites through the announcements of Hemlock Semiconductor in Clarksville, Tennessee’s Commerce Park and Volkswagen’s location in Chattanooga’s Enterprise South Industrial Park.
In addition to meeting basic requirements such as a minimum size of 1,000 acres, rail service, and control of the property, the PRP had to respond to a rigorous battery of information-gathering by MSC. “We had to satisfy that all zoning, right-of-way, easement, wetland, flood plain, geotechnical, environmental, ownership, access to utilities and availability of workforce issues were solved,” said Bill Beasley, President and CEO of the Regional Industrial Park.
“Essentially this stamp of approval sends the message to those looking for large-acre sites that we are project-ready,” said Tony Goodman, Chair of the PRP Board of Directors. “It lets companies know that they can get started on their project, right away. By going through this process, we have saved potential companies anxiety, time, and money - making their location decision easier.”
As part of the Certification, MSC provided suggestions for target industries that are a fit with the PRP. “In addition to automotive-related industries, the data shows that primary metal and fabricated metal production, alternative energy equipment manufacturing, and chemical / advanced materials would be well-suited for the site and workforce,” said Jeannette Goldsmith, Principal at MSC.
Betsy Flynn, Chair of the PRP’s Marketing Committee said, “This information is invaluable as we refine our strategy and direction for the PRP’s marketing efforts. We are excited to promote the Megasite Certification and are going after the target industries, aggressively, with this information.”
Located in Graves County, Kentucky on U.S. 45 eight (8) miles from the Purchase Parkway and ten (10) from Interstate 24, the PRP is also served by five (5) Class I railroads boasting excellent transportation access via rail or road. Within a 70-mile radius there are approximately 430,000 in the workforce. The park is owned by an 8-county board with a representative from each county in the Purchase Area.
The PRP is the first site to contract with MSC, directly, for certification. TVA worked in conjunction with MSC for 3.5 years to certify sites in the Valley. Of eight sites certified through that program, five have been sold resulting in an estimated 5,000 direct jobs and $4 billion in investments. TVA is no longer certifying additional sites.
“I hesitate to start listing all of the local, state, and regional entities – public and private – that assisted in the Certification process because I know I will leave someone out,” said Beasley. “Suffice it to say that the 6-inch stack of paper and all the accompanying information MCS needed took a great and cooperative team to provide. On behalf of the board and myself, thanks to everyone who made our certification a reality.”
Certified status to aid Purchase park
Bill Bartleman, Paducah Sun Senior Reporter, Politics & Government
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
MAYFIELD, Ky. - Adding one word to the description of the Purchase Regional Industrial Park should elevate its status for companies looking for a site for a new plant.
It is now a “certified” megasite.
The 2,200-acre park in north Graves County near the McCracken County line earned the certified designation from McCallum Sweeney Consulting because it has in place or commitments to provide the utilities and infrastructure necessary for development. The designation was formally announced Tuesday at a press conference in Mayfield.
McCallum Sweeney is a nationally recognized industrial recruiting firm that helped the Tennessee Valley Authority develop its megasite certification program. The firm over the past five years has approved fewer than 10 sites for that designation, said Ed McCallum, principal partner in the firm.
The industrial park board paid McCallum Sweeney to review the site and help it meet the certification criteria, said Bill Beasley, president and CEO of the regional industrial park. The board did not reveal the consultant’s cost. The South Carolina firm also serves as the park’s recruiter to help find a developer.
“The reason we have certified so few sites is that it takes a lot of work and isn’t easy,” McCallum said. “It means that this site is shovel ready.”
Local officials hope the site attracts a large industry that would employ more than 1,000 workers. McCallum said it is perfect for an auto manufacturing plant, alternative energy production plant, steel or other type of mill, or other capital-intensive manufacturing operation.
A certified site is important to industries because it means they won’t have to spend time conducting studies and seeking commitments for utilities, McCallum said. He said that while utilities such as gas, water and sewer may not be at the site, it means there are firm commitments to quickly provide them for a developer.
He said megasites are easier to get on a company’s short list for consideration.
“I won’t guarantee you that next week we are going to have a project, but I will guarantee you that when a big major project comes along, you won’t be eliminated because you didn’t do your homework,” he said.
“You won’t have to spend time filling out questionnaires or answering basic questions about the site,” McCallum said. “You can spend your time on something more important, and that’s closing the deal.”
McCallum praised officials for their continued effort to prepare the site for development, although the economy is down and industrial expansion is limited.
“While everyone else is sitting on a log and bemoaning what’s going on in the economy, you guys are doing what needs to be done,” he said. “When the economy turns around, and it will turn around, the communities that win will be those that are getting ready now.”
Adam Edelen, chief of staff for Gov. Steve Beshear, also praised officials of the eight counties of the Jackson Purchase for their cooperative effort to develop the park. Successful economic development not only helps one county, but nearby counties and the entire state, he said.
“You are showing that western Kentucky is open for business,” he said.
Contact Bill Bartleman, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8651.
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