State approves funding for new Nucor roadway

By M.J. Ellington
mjellington@decaturdaily.com · (334) 262-1104

MONTGOMERY — A Decatur steel giant's expanding industrial park is getting $759,000 in state funds to build a road on its property.

Approval by the Industrial Access Road and Bridge Corp. on Thursday means Nucor Steel Decatur can move forward with plans to develop an industrial park next to its plant on Alabama 20.

Nucor confirmed in September that the company plans to built a 75- to 90-acre industrial park and attract customers that use the products the company makes in Decatur.

Morgan County Economic Development Association President Jeremy Nails was in Montgomery for the meeting.

He praised the efforts of Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, who worked to help corporation members understand the project's value to the community.

"We are excited," Nails said.

Orr and Hammon were pleased as well.

"They are such a good corporate citizen," Orr said of Nucor's involvement locally.

Hammon agreed. "Nucor has been good to us," he said.

"The money for road projects is really tight this year," Hammon said. "We were lucky to get approval with the number of project requests that they had."

In its early phase, the expansion should bring about 130 jobs to the area with potential for more later.

Nails said the road near Nucor will open access to areas of the adjacent Mallard Fox Industrial Park that are undeveloped and brings the possibility of new industry in the future.

The road will open access to about 160 acres, he added.

Treasurer Kay Ivey, Finance Director Jim Main and Transportation Director Joe McInnes make up the corporation membership. McInnes said that with only $11.94 million to fund projects across the state, money was tight.

The Legislature established the corporation to fund industrial road projects in Alabama counties as an aid to economic and job development. Money for the projects comes from state gasoline and diesel taxes.

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