Daphne Breaks Ground on new Technology Park

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Daphne Breaks Ground on New 225 Acre Commerce and Technology Center

Friday October 22, 2004

Daphne, AL – Daphne Mayor Fred Small, President of Spanish Trail Investments Sonny Nichols, Industrial Development Board Chairman Jack Ehlenberg, and BCEDA President Lance LaCour today announced and broke ground on the new 225 Acre Commerce and Technology Center located approximately one mile east of AL181 and I-10. The Center is a public/private partnership between Spanish Trail Investments LLC, owned by Sonny and Claudene Nichols, and the Industrial Development Board of the City of Daphne (IDB). “This groundbreaking is the culmination of over four years of work by the IDB to identify and develop a commerce park”, noted Jack Ehlenberg, Chairman of the IDB. “It was a long hard process, but are pleased to break ground with Spanish Trail Investments today;” noted Ehlenberg. The project was a goal and objective of the Daphne Strategic Economic Development Plan developed by the Board and City Council, BCEDA and Eastern Shore Chamber in 1999.

Spanish Trail Investments purchased the property and has entered into a two-year option, with an option for another year, on 80 of the 225 acres and a public/private partnership agreement with the Daphne IDB “We are pleased to be in partnership with IDB and the City of Daphne and look forward to working together to recruit good, high paying jobs to the City and to Baldwin County,” noted Sonny Nichols.

Mayor Fred Small echoed the comments noted above and appreciated the hard work put forth by the IDB. “I am excited about this project and our prospects of recruiting good employers to Daphne and Baldwin County”, noted Small. “Let me publicly thank the volunteers on the IDB, David Cohen and BCEDA for their hard work to help make this partnership a reality.”

The Daphne Commerce and Technology Center (DCTC) Site was formerly owned by International Paper (IP) Company and has over 2,000 feet fronting I-10. In FY 2000, the Daphne IDB commissioned Volkert and Associates to do an analysis of four sites to determine the best site for commerce/business park based on size, infrastructure cost, transportation and development cost. Volkert and Associates recommended the IP Site.

“The DCTC will be seeking light manufacturing, technology, information technology, call centers, small distribution, and corporate headquarters type companies as new tenants”, noted Lance LaCour, President of BCEDA. “We are already working with several clients interested in the Center”, noted LaCour. “On behalf of BCEDA, I also thank the City, IDB and Spanish Trail Investments for the opportunity to work with them on this project.”

Also, speaking at the ground breaking were: Senator Bradley Byrne, County Commissioner David Ed Bishop, Rep. Randy Davis, Darrelyn Bender of Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce and Patrick Collins (Daphne Utilities Board). Attending the groundbreaking were members of the Industrial Development Board of the City of Daphne, Daphne Planning Commission, Daphne Utilities Board, Spanish Forty City Council, Baldwin County Commission, Baldwin Legislative Delegation, Area Commercial Realtors and Members of the Eastern Shore Chamber and BCEDA Board.

Location:	Located in Baldwin County, Outside of City Limits of Daphne, One Mile East of Highway 181, East of new Eastern Shore Center. Lat: 300 40’24” Lon: 870 50’ 3”
Owner:	Spanish Trail Investments, Sonny Nichols/ Claudene Nichols
Site Size:	Total: 225 Acres Optioned by IDB: 80 Acres Option Length: 2 Years with Option to Renew to Another year.
Types of Companies Sought for Tenancy:	Light Manufacturing Small Distribution Corporate Headquarters Technology/Information Technology
Project Started:	2000
Public/Private Partnership:	Between Spanish Trail Investments and the IDB* (Option and Statement of Intent)

Lance LaCour, President and CEO, BCEDA, welcoming guests and media.

Sonny Nichols, Prudential Real Estate discussing the private/public partnership between Daphne IDB and Prudential Real Estate.

Fred Small, Mayor, City of Daphne, addressing the press.

Jack Ehlenberg, Daphne IDB, discussing the importance of the Park and the 80-acres option by the Daphne IDB.

Patrick Collins, Daphne Utilities, explaining the utility infrastructure.

Ed Bishop, County Commission, addressing the press.

Senator Bradley Byrne, Alabama Senator, speaking at the ground breaking.

Rep. Randy Davis, Alabama Representative, Talking about how the Park will help the economy grow.

Darrelyn explaining to the audience how important this Park will be for the Eastern Shore.