Local economic development officials will take plans to turn the former South Point Ethanol plant into an industrial complex to state leaders next month.

Monday, April 24, 2000

Local economic development officials will take plans to turn the former South Point Ethanol plant into an industrial complex to state leaders next month.

The Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce membership has scheduled its annual "Legislative Day" trip to Columbus for May 18 to meet with legislators and state department heads about concerns specific to the Lawrence County area.

Transportation, family services, economic development and other topics are on the all-day meeting’s agenda.

Roger Haley, the chamber’s newly-hired industrial site manager, will present information about the South Point site to Joseph Robertson, assistant director of the Ohio Department of Development.

The plan is to keep key state leaders informed of the county’s plans for the future, Haley said.

"What we’re after also is to network with people to let them know what we do have here," he said.

If a business comes to Columbus looking for a place to locate in Ohio and state leaders can say the South Point site is perfect for that business, everybody wins, Haley said.

"Hopefully, they’ll refer them to us."

If referred, Haley, chamber leaders and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation officials will talk up that "prime industrial space," Haley added.

"We’re not trying to market something with little value," he said.

The 504-acre site offers "intermodal transportation," meaning it has access to major roads, the river and a rail line that enters the site.

Rail lines inside the site can also be used to connect to a company’s loading docks, which is an even better asset, Haley said.

There is already a company – Biomass Energy – working on part of the site to develop a power co-generation plan that could offer services to future industrial tenants.

The LEDC has an offer in the works to buy the rest of the site from Ashland Inc. The group is also ready to get a contract for a master plan, funded by the 10-year, $100 million federal Empowerment Zone grant.

Plus, the site features a long stretch of nice, flat land, Haley said.

"We think we will have interest," he said.

The upcoming marketing plan will examine site access, marketing and other strategies, Haley said.

For example, ideas regarding water, sewer, electric, gas and other utility service will be included in the plan.

"We want to look at it from a standpoint of where we want to put utilities for the future," he said. "What we are looking at also from a marketing standpoint is: Would it be beneficial to be in a foreign trade zone?"

There is 3,370 feet of riverfront associated with the South Point site – across from the main entrance on County Road.

The LEDC is looking into a port authority for that riverfront, Haley said.

Such a port not only would allow local officials to issue bonds for projects but also to develop a foreign trade zone, he said.

One benefit of a foreign trade zone is the ability of some manufacturers to delay paying import tariffs until after products are made, Haley said.

That could lower manufacturing costs, which could entice an industry to locate in South Point, he said.

"Our primary concern is job creation, to bring new business into the area."

For more information about the Legislative Day trip, contact the chamber at 377-4550.