A 21-acre portion of the Richmond Industrial Park is now officially designated as a Build-Ready-certified site. State and local officials participated in a ribbon cutting Tuesday.
Richmond Industrial Development Corporation Director David Stipes said the project benefits from a state matching grant program. He noted an attractive industrial location can also mean good paying jobs. “It is something that you really look at when you’re trying to get market-ready sites is to go after those companies that pay high wages, that provide good benefits, and have that good sustainability for employees that want to work there and retire from there,” said Stipes
The Richmond tract has a 174,500 square foot building pad, is zoned for industrial use, and includes access to water, sewer, natural gas, electric and high-speed internet. While two factories might be able to fit on the Build-Ready site, Stipes anticipates one firm to call the Madison County location home.
Stipes called the current competitive environment to attract a company with good-paying jobs and benefits “very fierce.” The RIDC official said the industrial park is three and a half miles from interstate 75 with a four-lane road leading to the Build-Ready site.